CHAPTER XXVIII

The Town

Two school directors shall be elected for each town at the general election held in 1910, one of such directors to serve until Jan. 1, 1913, and the other until Jan. 1, 1916. 382

A director shall be elected at the general election in 1912 and every fifth year thereafter. 382

The term of office of the directors elected in 1912 and thereafter shall commence on Jan. 1 following their election and continue for 5 years. 382

Such directors shall be elected in the same manner that town officers are elected at town meetings held at the time of a general election, and the provisions of the election law relating to the nomination and election of such town officers shall apply to the nomination and election of such directors. 382

A school director shall vacate his office by removai from the town or by filing a written resignation with the town clerk. 382

A vacancy in the office of school director shall be filled by the town board of the town in which such vacancy exists. If the town fails to elect a director a vacancy shall be deemed to exist in such office. 382

A school director before entering upon the discharge of the duties of his office and not later than 30 days after the date on which he was elected to office shall take the oath of office prescribed by the constitution. 382

Such oath may be taken before a justice of the peace or a notary public, and must be filed in the office of the clerk of the town. 381

A school director shall receive $2 per day for each day's service and his necessary travelling expenses, and the town board of the town for which such director is chosen shall audit and allow the same. 382

The school directors of the several towns comprising a supervisory district shall meet for organization at 11 a.m. on the 3d Tuesday in May following their election, electing from their number a chairman, a clerk, and 2 inspectors of election. 383

Such meeting shall be held at a place in the supervisory district designated by the county clerk at least 10 days previous to the date thereof. At the time the county clerk designates such place of meeting he shall also mail a notice of the time and place of such meeting to each school director of the district. The school directors at such meeting shall designate a place for holding future meetings. 383

The school directors of the several towns composing a supervisory district shall be a board of school directors, and such board of directors shall meet at 11 a.m. on the 3d Tuesday in August, 1911, and on the 3d Tuesday in June every 5th year thereafter, and elect a district superintendent of schools. 383

The clerk of such board shall give each director at least 10 days notice in writing of the hour, date, and place of such meeting. 383

If such directors fail to elect a district superintendent before the Jan. 1 following the date of such meeting, the county judge shall appoint such superintendent, who shall serve until the board of directors shall fill such vacancy. 383

In the election of such district superintendent the vote shall be by ballot and the person receiving a

majority of the votes shall be elected. Each school director shall be entitled to 1 vote in such election. 383

The clerk of such board shall file a copy of the proceedings of each meeting and each election, certified by himself and the chairman, in the office of the county clerk within 3 days after the close thereof. 383

The only town officer whose duties are entirely connected with schools is the attendance officer.

The town board of each town appoints subject to the written approval of the school commissioner of the district, one or more attendance officers, whose jurisdiction extends over all common school districts in the town. (535) 632

The town board fixes their compensation, which is a town charge. (535)

Such attendance officers, appointed by said board, are removable at the pleasure of the school commissioner in which commissioner's district such town is situated.

(535)

Most of the other town officers have important duties in relation to schools. As the executive officer of the town, the supervisor is entrusted with many responsibilities:

1. To disburse the school moneys in his hands applicable to the payment of teachers' wages, upon and only upon the written orders of a sole trustee or a majority of the trustees, in favor of qualified teachers. 360

Whenever the collector in any school district has given bonds, or whenever any school district elects a treasurer, the supervisor must, upon the receipt by him of a copy of the bond executed by said collector or treasurer, certified by the trustees, pay over to such collector or treasurer, all moneys in

his hands applicable to the payment of teachers' wages in such district, and the said collector or treasurer must disburse such moneys so received by him upon such orders as are specified herein to the teachers entitled to the same. (171, 173, 280) See page 48. 360

2. In the case of a union free school district, to pay all the school money apportioned thereto, to the treasurer of such district, upon the order of its board of education. (234, 280) 360

3. To keep a just and true account of all the school moneys received and disbursed by him during the year, and to lay the same, with proper vouchers, before the board of town auditors at each annual meeting thereof. (280) 360

4. To have a bound blank book, the cost of which shall be a town charge, and to enter therein all his receipts and disbursements of school moneys, specifying from whom and for what purpose they were received, and to whom and for what purposes they were paid out; and to deliver the book to his successor in office. (280) 360

5. To make out a just and true account of all school moneys received by him and of all disbursements thereof within 15 days after the termination of his office, and to deliver the same to the town clerk, to be filed and recorded, and to notify his successor in office of such rendition and filing. (280) 360

6. So soon as the required bond to the county treasurer has been given by him and approved by the treasurer, to deliver to his predecessor the county treasurer's certificate of these facts, to procure from the town clerk a copy of his predecessor's account, and to demand and receive

from him all school moneys remaining in his hands. (280)

7. Upon receiving such a certificate from his successor, and not before, to pay to him all school moneys remaining in his hands, and to forthwith file the certificate in the town clerk's office. (280)

8. By his name of office, when the duty is not elsewhere imposed by law, to sue for and recover penalties and forfeitures imposed for violations of this chapter, and for any default or omission of any town officer or school district board or officer under this chapter; and after deducting his costs and expenses to report the balances to the school commissioner. (280)

9. To act, when thereto legally required, in the erection or alteration of a school district, and to perform any other duty which may be devolved upon him relating to common schools. (2, 280)

10. To take and hold possession of the gospel and school lots of their respective town. (280)

11. To lease the same for such time not exceeding 21 years, and upon such conditions as they shall deem expedient. (280)

12. To sell the same with the advice and consent of the inhabitants of the town, in town-meeting assembled, for such price and upon such terms of credit as shall appear to them most advantageous. (280)

13. To invest the proceeds of such sales in loans, secured by bond and mortgage upon unincumbered real property of the value of double the amount loaned. (280)

14. To purchase the property so mortgaged upon a