Sec. 8.1. (a) The registered voters of the metropolitan school district shall elect the members of the metropolitan board of education at general elections held biennially, beginning with the next general election that is held more than sixty (60) days after the creation of the metropolitan school district as provided in this chapter.

(b) Each nominee for the board must file a petition of nomination signed by the nominee and by ten (10) registered voters residing in the same board member district as the nominee. The petition must be filed in accordance with IC 3-8-2.5 with the circuit court clerk of each county in which the metropolitan school district is located.

(c) Nominees for the board shall be listed on the general election ballot:

(1) in the form prescribed by IC 3-11-2;

(2) by board member districts; and

(3) without party designation.

The ballot must state the number of board members to be voted on and the maximum number of members that may be elected from each board member district as provided under section 5 of this chapter. A ballot that contains more votes than the maximum number allowed from a board member district is invalid.

(d) The precinct election boards in each county serving at the general election shall conduct the election for school board members.

(e) Voting and tabulation of votes shall be conducted in accordance with IC 3, and the candidates who receive the most votes are elected to the board.

(f) If there are more candidates from a particular board member district than may be elected from the board member district under section 5 of this chapter:

(1) the number of candidates elected is the greatest number that may be elected from the board member district;

(2) the candidates elected are those who, among the candidates from the board member district, receive the most votes; and

(3) the other candidates from the board member district are eliminated.

(g) If there is a tie vote among the candidates for the board, the judge of the circuit court in the county where the majority of the registered voters of the metropolitan school district reside shall select one (1) of the candidates who shall be declared and certified elected.

(h) If, at any time after the first board member election, a vacancy on the board occurs for any reason, including an insufficient number of petitions for candidates being filed, and regardless of whether the vacating member was elected or appointed, the remaining members of the board, whether or not a majority of the board, shall by a majority vote fill the vacancy by:

(1) appointing a person from the board member district from which the person who vacated the board was elected; or

(2) if the person was appointed, appointing a person from the board member district from which the last elected predecessor of the person was elected.

If a majority of the remaining members of the board is unable to agree or the board fails to act within thirty (30) days after a vacancy occurs, the judge of the circuit court in the county where the majority of registered voters of the metropolitan school district reside shall make the appointment.

(i) At a general election held on the earlier of:

(1) more than sixty (60) days after an elected board member vacates membership on the board; or

(2) immediately before the end of the term for which the vacating member was elected;

a successor to a board member appointed under subsection (h) shall be elected. Unless the successor takes office at the end of the term of the vacating member, the member shall serve only for the balance of the vacating member's term. In an election for a successor board member to fill a vacancy for a two (2) year balance of a term, candidates for board membership need not file for or with reference to the vacancy. However, as required by IC 3-11-2, candidates for at-large seats must be distinguished on the ballot from candidates for district seats. If there is more than one (1) at-large seat on the ballot due to this vacancy, the elected candidate who receives the fewest votes at the election at which the successor is elected shall serve for a two (2) year term.

(j) At the first general election where members of the board are elected under this section, the elected candidates who constitute a simple majority of the elected candidates and who receive the most votes shall be elected for four (4) year terms, and the other elected candidates shall be elected for two (2) year terms.

(k) Board members shall be elected for four (4) year terms after the first election and shall take office on the date set in the school corporation's organization plan. The date set in the organization plan for an elected member of the governing body to take office may not be more than fourteen (14) months after the date of the member's election. If the school corporation's organization plan does not set a date for an elected member of the governing body to take office, the member takes office January 1 immediately following the member's election.

As added by P.L.179-2011, SEC.14. Amended by P.L.219-2013, SEC.79.