72-1138. Boards of education; meeting times; quorum; abstention from voting; general powers; legal counsel for officers and employees. (a) The board shall meet at least once each month. During the month of July of each year, the board shall adopt a resolution specifying a regular meeting time of the board and the regular hour of commencement of the meeting, as well as the day of the week and the week of the month. Such resolution also shall specify the alternative date and time of any meeting if the regular meeting date occurs on a Sunday or on a legal holiday or on a holiday specified by the board. Such resolution also shall specify the regular meeting place of the board and may specify that any regular meeting may be adjourned to another time and place. If the board cancels a regularly-scheduled meeting because of an emergency, within 24 hours of such cancellation, the board shall establish and give notice of the new meeting date and time. Special meetings may be called at any time by the president of the board or by joint action of any three members of the board. Unless waived, written notice, stating the time and place of any special meeting and the purpose for which called shall be given each member of the board at least two days in advance of the special meeting and no business other than that stated in the notice shall be transacted at such meeting. A majority of the full membership of the board shall constitute a quorum for the purpose of conducting any business of the school district, and the vote of a majority of the full membership of the board shall be required for the passage of any motion or resolution. Any member who abstains from voting shall be counted as having voted against the motion or resolution. If a member announces a conflict of interest with regard to the issue, the member may leave the meeting until the voting on the issue is concluded and the member who abstains from voting thereby shall not be counted as having voted.

(b) Except as otherwise provided by law, the board shall have and may exercise the same powers and authorities as were immediately prior to this act conferred uniformly upon boards of education in cities of the first class, and, in addition thereto, the powers and authority expressly conferred by law.

(c) The board shall have authority to prescribe courses of study for each year of the school program and to adopt rules and regulations for teaching in the school district and general government thereof, and to approve and adopt suitable textbooks and study material for use therein subject to the plans, methods, rules and regulations of the state board of education.

(d) The board may provide legal counsel at district expense to any members of the board of education, or school district officers or employees who are sued in situations relating to and arising out of the performance of their office or employment. No teacher or other employment contract shall make reference to or incorporate the provisions of this subsection, nor shall the provisions of this subsection be construed as any part of the consideration of employment of any teacher, officer or other employee of the board.

(e) (1) The board may transact all school district business and adopt policies that the board deems appropriate to perform its constitutional duty to maintain, develop and operate local public schools.

(2) The power granted by this subsection shall not be construed to relieve a board from compliance with state law.

The power granted by this subsection shall not be construed to relieve any other unit of government of its duties and responsibilities which are prescribed by law, nor to create any responsibility on the part of a school district to assume the duties or responsibilities which are required of another unit of government.

(3) The board shall exercise the power granted by this subsection by resolution of the board of education.

History: L. 1963, ch. 393, § 21; L. 1965, ch. 410, § 15; L. 1968, ch. 209, § 1; L. 1981, ch. 293, § 1; L. 2003, ch. 40, § 1; L. 2003, ch. 158, § 8; July 1.