(a) A school board as established by the City of Anniston, Alabama, shall be called "The Anniston City Board of Education." The board shall be composed of one member being elected from each of the wards in the city as defined in this section by a majority of the qualified electors voting who reside in each of the wards, and one member elected citywide.

(b) The initial school board districts for the elected members shall be geographically identical to the wards of the city council. If the boundaries of the wards for the election of the city council should be changed for any reason, the boundaries of the corresponding school board district shall automatically change accordingly without the necessity of further action by the Legislature.

(c) Candidates for each elected place on the board of education shall be at least 21 years of age, residents of the board of education district which they seek to represent on the board for at least 90 consecutive days immediately preceding the deadline date for qualifying as a candidate, and may not have a record of conviction for any crime involving moral turpitude. The qualification fee for the initial election to be held for the election of the members of the board shall be fifty dollars ($50) for each candidate. Thereafter, each candidate shall pay a qualifying fee in an amount prescribed by the Anniston City Council.

(d)(1) The Anniston City Council shall take necessary steps to ensure this act complies with the Federal Voting Rights Act of 1965, as amended.

(2) Within 10 days after the receipt of notification of compliance with the Voting Rights Act of 1965, as amended, and the provision of proper notice, the Anniston City Council shall call an initial election to elect the members of the board of education. The election for the Anniston City Board of Education may be held concurrent with other elections held within the city.

(3) The initial election and the initial run-off election, if necessary, and all subsequent elections held pursuant to this section shall be conducted, the vote canvassed, and the results declared in the same manner as provided for the election of members of the city council, unless otherwise required in this section.

(4) The initial elected members of the board of education shall assume office immediately upon their qualification. The initial elected members of the board shall serve an initial term of office which shall expire at the same time as the expiration of the current term of office of the current city council.

(5) Upon completion of the initial term of office of members of the city board of education, succeeding elected members shall be elected at the same time and in the same manner as the city council. All succeeding members shall assume office at the same time and for the same term as the city council.

(e)(1) Upon the assumption of office of the initial members of the board of education, the Anniston City Board of Education as provided in subsection (a) shall be constituted. At this time, the terms, powers, duties, responsibilities, and emoluments of office of the prior members of the board of education shall end.

(2)a. Upon assumption of office of the members of the board of education as provided by this section, these members shall have the powers, authority, duties, and responsibilities as are otherwise provided by law for members of city boards of education as set forth in Chapter 11, commencing with Section 16-11-1, of Title 16.

b. At the first meeting after the board takes office and each year thereafter, the board shall select a chair from among its members. The chair shall preside over meetings of the board and shall possess the same powers and duties as other members of the board.

c. All property, records, supplies, and equipment of the prior board of education shall be vested in the succeeding board.

(3) The establishment of the board of education as provided in this section shall not affect or impair any of the following:

a. Existing rights or privileges of employees of the board including, but not limited to, employment, personnel, salary, and retirement rights and privileges.

b. Existing contractual obligations of the board of education.

c. Existing civil and criminal actions.

(f) A vacancy in the board of education shall be filled by appointment by a majority of the members of the Anniston City Council for the unexpired term. If the vacancy is not filled by the Anniston City Council within 30 days, the State Superintendent of Education shall fill the vacancy by appointment. The city superintendent of education shall notify the State Superintendent of Education when a vacancy on the city board of education has not been filled within 30 days.

(g) The compensation for the members of the board of education shall be three hundred dollars ($300) per month to be paid from city school system funds. The board may change this amount by majority vote, which change may be made not later than six months prior to the deadline for qualification of candidates for seats on the board of education. Thereafter, the compensation as set by the board from time to time shall be in effect for successor boards.