18A:46-47 Establishment of one board of education for county special services, vocational school district.

1. a. Notwithstanding any provisions of law to the contrary, a board of chosen freeholders may, by resolution, establish one board of education for the county special services school district established pursuant to section 1 of P.L.1971, c.271 (C.18A:46-29) and the county vocational school district established pursuant to chapter 54 of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes. This board of education shall be known as "The Board of Education of the Special Services School District and the Vocational School District of the county of...." This board shall have all the powers, functions and duties provided to a board of education of a county special services school district pursuant to article 8 of chapter 46 of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes and a board of education of a county vocational school district pursuant to article 3 of chapter 54 of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes.

b. The consolidated board of education established pursuant to subsection a. of this section shall consist of the county superintendent of schools, ex officio, and six persons to be appointed by the chief elected executive officer of the county, or the director of the board of chosen freeholders, with the advice and consent of the remaining members of the board of chosen freeholders, as appropriate to the appointment procedures established by the form of government of the county. In any county having a county mental health board, the chairman thereof, or his designee, shall also serve as an ex-officio, nonvoting member of the board. At least three of the appointed members shall have an interest in children with an educational disability or in the field of mental health and at least three of the appointed members shall have an interest in the field of vocational education. The appointed members shall serve for terms of three years and shall continue to serve until their successors are appointed and qualify. A vacancy in the board shall be deemed to exist, and shall be filled, in the manner prescribed in P.L.1979, c.302 (C.40A:9-12.1).

Each appointed member shall be a citizen and resident of the county and shall have been a citizen and resident for at least two years immediately preceding becoming a member of the board. If an appointed member ceases to be a resident of the county, membership on the board shall cease.

c. Of the initial members appointed to the board of education established pursuant to subsection a. of this section, two shall serve a one-year term, two shall serve a two-year term, and two shall serve a three-year term. Thereafter when a term of one of the appointed members expires, the vacancy shall be filled as provided pursuant to this section and the member shall serve a three-year term from November 1 next succeeding the date of his appointment.

L.2007, c.222, s.1.