The board of trustees shall also:

(1) Provide schoolhouses. Provide suitable schoolhouses in its district and make them comfortable, paying due regard to any schoolhouse already built or site procured, as well as to all other circumstances proper to be considered so as best to promote the educational interest of the districts;

(2) Employ and discharge teachers. Employ teachers from those having certificates from the State Board of Education, fix their salaries and discharge them when good and sufficient reasons for so doing present themselves, subject to the supervision of the county board of education. In reaching a decision as to whether or not to employ any person qualified as a teacher, consideration may be given to the residence of such person but it shall not be the deciding factor or a bar to employing such person.

(3) Promulgate rules and regulations. Promulgate rules prescribing scholastic standards of achievement and standards of conduct and behavior that must be met by all pupils as a condition to the right of such pupils to attend the public schools of such district. The rules shall take into account the necessity of proper conduct on the part of all pupils and the necessity for scholastic progress in order that the welfare of the greatest possible number of pupils shall be promoted notwithstanding that such rules may result in the ineligibility of pupils who fail to observe the required standards, and require the suspension or permanent dismissal of such pupils;

(4) Call meetings of electors for consultation. Call meetings of the qualified electors of the district for consultation in regard to the school interests thereof, at which meetings the chairman or other member of the board shall preside, if present;

(5) Control school property. Take care of, manage and control the school property of the district;

(6) Visit schools. Visit the public schools within its district from time to time and at least once in every school term and take care that they are conducted according to law and with the utmost efficiency;

(7) Control educational interest of district. Manage and control local educational interests of its district, with the exclusive authority to operate or not to operate any public school or schools;

(8) Charge matriculation and incidental fees. Charge and collect matriculation and incidental fees from students; however, regulations or policies adopted by the board regarding charges and collections must take into account the students' ability to pay and must hold the fee to a minimum reasonable amount. Fees may not be charged to students eligible for free lunches and must be reduced pro rata for students eligible for reduced price lunches;

(9) Transfer and assign pupils. Transfer any pupil from one school to another so as to promote the best interests of education, and determine the school within its district in which any pupil shall enroll; and

(10) Prescribe conditions and charges for attendance. Be empowered to prescribe conditions and a schedule of charges based on cost per pupil as last determined, for attendance in the public schools of the school district for

(a) children of parents temporarily residing within the school district;

(b) children whose parents or legal guardians live elsewhere but who are residing with residents of the school district; and

(c) children of parents residing on Federal property or military or naval bases of the United States located within or adjacent to the boundaries of such school district; and

(d) all other children specially situated and not meeting the eligibility requirements of Section 59-63-30, but who shall have petitioned the trustees in writing seeking permission to attend the public schools of the school district.

(11) Provide school-age child care program or facilities therefor. Provide:

(a) a school-age child care program for children aged five through fourteen years that operates before or after the school day, or both, and during periods when school is not in session;

(b) a school-age child care program that operates during periods when school is in session for students who are enrolled in a half-day kindergarten program; or

(c) classrooms, other space, or both, in a school for use by an organization that is operating a school-age child care program before or after the school day, or both, and during periods when school is not in session for children aged five through fourteen years.

All latchkey programs operating pursuant to this item must be licensed.

(12) Establish the annual calendar. Have the authority to establish an annual school calendar for students, faculty, and staff to include starting dates, ending dates, holidays, make-up days, in-service days, and professional development days.

HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 21-230; 1952 Code Section 21-230; 1942 Code Section 5358; 1932 Code Sections 5384, 5596; Civ. C. '22 Sections 2616, 2630; Civ. C. '12 Sections 1753, 1761; Civ. C. '02 Sections 1211, 1218; Cr. C. '22 Section 452; 1896 (21) 165; 1920 (31) 1046; 1923 (33) 180; 1937 (40) 75; 1955 (49) 83; 1964 (53) 2171; 1978 Act No. 504; 1989 Act No. 189, Part II, Section 43 Sub 6; 1996 Act No. 458, Part II, Section 72; 2003 Act No. 21, Section 1, eff April 21, 2003; 2003 Act No. 89, Section 3, eff July 23, 2003.

Effect of Amendment

The first 2003, by Act No. 21, Section 1, amendment rewrote paragraph (8).

The second 2003, by Act No. 89, Section 3, amendment added item (12) relating to the board's duty to establish the annual calendar.