(a) The Opp City Council shall take necessary steps to ensure that this part complies with the Federal Voting Rights Act of 1965, as amended.

(b) The Opp City Council shall call an election to elect the initial members of the board of education and, pursuant to this part, shall call the elections to elect subsequent board members.

(c) The initial election and the initial runoff election, if necessary, and all subsequent elections held pursuant to this part 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 part.

(d) The initial election to elect members of the board of education from District 1, District 2, and District 4 shall be held during a special election on the third Tuesday in August 2002. A runoff election, if necessary, shall be held on the second Tuesday in September 2002. Subsequent elections for District 1, District 2, and District 4 shall occur every four years thereafter. The last two board of education members appointed before the initial election in 2002 shall represent District 3 and District 5, respectively, as determined by the city council, and shall continue to hold office until their successors are elected and assume office. The initial election and runoff election, if necessary, to elect members of the board of education from District 3 and District 5 shall be held at the same time as the Opp City Council election and runoff election, if necessary, held in 2004, with subsequent elections for those districts occurring every four years thereafter.

(e) The initial and subsequently elected members of the board of education shall assume office at noon on the first Monday in October following their election and shall serve terms of office of four years.