§ 2003. Notice of annual meeting in common school district. 1. The district clerk of each common school district shall give notice of the availability of the statement of expenditures pursuant to the provisions of section sixteen hundred eight of this chapter and shall also give notice of the time and place of the annual meeting by publishing a notice four times within the seven weeks next preceding such annual meeting, the first publication to be at least forty-five days before said meeting, in two newspapers if there shall be two, or in one newspaper if there shall be but one, having general circulation within such district. But if no newspaper shall then have general circulation therein, the said notice shall be posted in at least twenty of the most public places in said district forty-five days before the time of such meeting.

2. Such notice shall also state that petitions nominating candidates for the office of member of the board of trustees must be filed with the clerk of the district between the hours of nine a.m. and five p.m., not later than the thirtieth day preceding the school meeting or election at which the candidates so nominated are to be elected.

3. Such notice and all other notices and reports required to be published in newspapers under the provisions of this chapter shall be printed at the rates and for the fees prescribed in the civil practice law and rules. In the event that the publishers of one or both of the newspapers having general circulation in such district shall refuse to print and publish the notices or reports at the rates and for the fees so prescribed, publication in such newspaper or newspapers so refusing may be omitted, in which case the notices or reports shall be posted as required by this section in lieu of such publication.