Wisconsin

W.S.A. 120.01

WEST'S WISCONSIN STATUTES ANNOTATED

SCHOOLS

CHAPTER 120. SCHOOL DISTRICT GOVERNMENT

SUBCHAPTER I. COMMON AND UNION HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICTS

§ 120.01. Number of school board members

In common or union high school districts, school boards shall be composed of the following number of members:

(1) A common school district operating elementary grades or a union high school district shall have 3 school board members, except that if such school district is coterminous with a town or has a population of 500 or more it may have 5 school board members.

(2) A common school district operating elementary and high school grades may have 3, 5, 7 or 9 school board members.

(3) A common or union high school district may have not exceeding 11 school board members if a plan of apportionment is established under s. 120.02(2).

W.S.A. 120.02

§ 120.02. Method of changing number, apportionment or election of school board members

(1) Change in number of school board members. If, at least 30 days prior to the day of the annual school district meeting, in a common or union high school district, or at least 45 days prior to the day of the election of school board members in a unified school district, a petition conforming to the requirements of s. 8.40 requesting a change in the number of school board members is filed with the school district clerk the clerk shall incorporate in the notice of the annual meeting or election a statement that at the meeting or election the question of changing the number of school board members to the number requested in the petition will be voted upon. The petition shall be signed by not less than 100 electors residing in the school district, except that in school districts which contain, in whole or in part, a city of the 2nd or 3rd class, the petition shall be signed by not less than 500 electors residing in the school district. If, at the meeting or election of school board members, a resolution based on a petition requesting a change in the number of school board members is adopted by a majority vote, school board members shall be elected at the next school board election and thereafter in accordance with sub. (3).

(2) Plan of apportionment. (a) If, at least 30 days prior to the day of the annual meeting, in a common or union high school district, or at least 45 days prior to the day of the election of school board members in a unified school district, a petition conforming to the requirements of s. 8.40 requesting the establishment of a plan of apportionment of school board members is filed with the school district clerk the clerk shall incorporate notice of receipt of such petition in the notice of the annual meeting or election. The petition shall specify the proposed plan of apportionment of school board members among the cities, towns and villages or parts thereof within the school district and set the total number of school board members at not more than 11. The petition shall be signed by not less than 100 electors residing in the school district, except that in school districts which contain, in whole or in part, a city of the 2nd or 3rd class the petition shall be signed by not less than 500 electors residing in the school district. If a majority vote of the annual meeting or election approves the plan set forth in the petition, the plan shall remain in operation until revised by the same procedure. School board members elected under this subsection shall be elected by a vote of the electors of the entire school district in accordance with the plan prepared under sub. (3).

(b) An order of school district reorganization issued under s. 117.08, 117.09 or 117.27 may contain such a plan of apportionment of school board members, and the determination of terms of school board members shall be as provided in sub. (3).

(3) Election plan. (a) If a common, unified or union high school district votes to increase the number of school board members, the school district clerk shall promulgate, before the next election of school board members, a plan providing:

1. The number of school board members to be elected each year, distributing the number as evenly as possible.

2. The total number of positions to be filled at the first election for 1, 2 or 3 years.

3. An allocation of the number of candidates to be elected to 1, 2 and 3 year terms at the first election, the 3-year terms to be filled by the appropriate

number of candidates receiving the highest number of votes, the 2-year terms to be filled by the appropriate number of candidates receiving the next highest number of votes and the 1-year terms to be filled by the appropriate number of candidates receiving the next highest number of votes.

(b) In case of a tie vote in the election of school board members, the election shall be determined by lot and the loser by lot shall become next in order of election if additional positions on the school board are to be filled.

(d) If a school board in its order changing a school district type under s. 117.27 designates a school board of 5, 7 or 9 members, it shall prepare a plan for allocating terms in accordance with this subsection.

(e) Whenever a school district with more than 3 school board members votes to reduce the number of school board members, one less school board member shall be elected annually thereafter until the school board is reduced to the approved number of members, but not less than one member shall be elected each year.

(4) Election to numbered seats. If, at least 30 days prior to the day of the annual meeting, in a common or union high school district, or at least 45 days prior to the day of the election of school board members in a unified school district, a petition conforming to the requirements of s. 8.40 which sets forth a plan for the assignment of a number to each seat on the school board is filed with the school district clerk, the school district clerk shall incorporate notice of receipt of such petition in the notice of the annual meeting or election required under s. 120.06(8)(c). The petition shall be signed by not less than 100 electors residing in the school district, except that in school districts which contain, in whole or in part, a city of the 2nd or 3rd class, the petition shall be signed by not less than 500 electors residing in the school district. If a majority vote of the annual meeting or election approves the plan set forth in the petition, the plan shall remain in operation until revised by the same procedure.

W.S.A. 120.06

§ 120.06. Election of school board members

In a common or union high school district:

(1) The school board shall be elected at the spring election.

(2) School board members shall be electors of the school district and shall be elected at large by a plurality vote of the electors of the school district.

(3) The regular terms of school board members shall be 3 years, except as otherwise provided under s. 17.26.

(4) School board members elected for regular or unexpired terms shall take office, provided they have taken and filed the official oath, on the 4th Monday in April.

(5) If elector registration is required under s. 6.27 in a city, village or town lying wholly or partially within a school district, the same requirement shall apply to electors for school board members within such city, village or town, and provisions shall be made for identifying the electors of the city, village or town who are eligible to vote at the primary and spring elections for school board members.

(6)(a) In a school district which does not contain territory lying within a 2nd class city, the school board may, or in a common or union high school district the school board or annual meeting may, by resolution adopted not later than the last Tuesday in November preceding an election for members of the school board, require that nomination papers be filed by all candidates seeking election to the school board. If the school board or annual meeting has previously required the filing of nomination papers in such a school district, the body imposing the requirement may, by similar resolution adopted not later than the last Tuesday in November preceding an election for members of the school board, rescind the requirement.

(b) No later than the first Tuesday in December prior to the spring election, the school district clerk shall publish a type A notice of the school district election under s. 10.01(2)(a). Except as authorized in this paragraph, no later than 5 p.m. on the first Tuesday in January prior to the spring election, or on the next day if Tuesday is a holiday, any qualified elector of the school district may file a sworn declaration of candidacy with the school district clerk in the form provided in s. 8.21 at the place specified in the notice. If the school district contains territory lying within a 2nd class city, or if the school board or annual meeting requires nomination papers under par. (a), any qualified elector of the school district who desires to be a candidate shall in addition file nomination papers in the form prescribed under s. 8.10(2) and (3) with the school district clerk at the place specified in the notice. If an incumbent fails to file a declaration of candidacy, and nomination papers, where required, within the time prescribed by this paragraph, all candidates for the office held by the incumbent, other than the incumbent, may file a declaration of candidacy and nomination papers, where required, no later than 72 hours after the latest time prescribed in this paragraph. No extension of the time for filing a declaration of candidacy or nomination papers applies if the incumbent files written notification with the school district clerk, no later than 5 p.m. on the 2nd Friday preceding the latest time prescribed in this paragraph for filing declarations of candidacy, that the incumbent is not a candidate for reelection to his or her office, and the incumbent does not file a declaration of candidacy for that office within the time prescribed in this paragraph. In the case of a 3-member school board, the qualified elector shall state in his or her declaration of candidacy and on the face of his or her nomination papers, if any, the office for which the elector is a candidate. In the case of an apportioned or numbered school board, the qualified elector shall state in his or her declaration of candidacy and on the face of his or her nomination papers, if any, the apportioned area or numbered seat for which the elector is a candidate. If a candidate has not filed a registration statement under s. 11.05 by the time he or she files a declaration of candidacy, the candidate shall file the statement with the declaration. A candidate shall file an amended declaration under oath with the school district clerk in the event of a change in any information provided in the declaration as provided in s. 8.21.

(7)(a) No later than 5 p.m. on the 2nd Tuesday in January, the school district clerk shall verify the declarations of candidacy and certify the names of candidates who have filed valid nomination papers, where required, and who qualify for office. In making verifications or certifications, the school district clerk shall designate the form of each candidate's name to appear on the ballot in the manner prescribed in s. 7.08(2)(a). Once filed, a declaration of candidacy or nomination papers may not be withdrawn.

(b) The school board shall require a primary election if there are more than 2 candidates for any seat on a 3-member board or more than twice as many candidates as there are members to be elected to an unnumbered school board of more than 3 members. In school districts in which a plan of apportionment of school board members under s. 120.02(2) or a plan for election of school board members to numbered seats has been adopted, the school board shall require a primary election for particular apportioned areas for which there are more than twice as many candidates as there are members to be elected and for any numbered seat for which there are more than 2 candidates. When there is a primary election it shall be held in conjunction with the spring primary.

(8) The school district clerk shall:

(a) Notify the municipal clerk of each municipality lying wholly or partially within the school district of the primary election if one is to be held and of the spring election and furnish such clerks with a copy of the notice of the school board election;

(b) Determine for the primary, if any, and again for the spring election the order in which the names of candidates shall appear on the ballot by supervising the drawing of lots not later than the 2nd Tuesday in January, or the next day if the first Tuesday is a holiday, and the 2nd day following the completion of the canvass of the primary election, if any;

(c) Cause to be given a class 1 notice, in accordance with ch. 985, on the Monday before the primary election, if one is to be held, and on the Monday before the spring election. If publication is made in a newspaper which does not publish on Monday, publication shall be made on the closest preceding day on which the newspaper publishes. If the school district clerk determines that due to the method of delivering newspapers in the school district more effective notice will be provided by publication at an earlier date, the school district clerk may publish the notice not earlier than 3 days before the primary or election. The notice shall contain the following information:

1. The date of the election;

2. The names of all candidates in the order in which they are listed on the ballot;

3. The location and open hours of polling places and a designation of which persons should vote at each polling place; and

4. A facsimile ballot and the relevant portions of the voting instructions under s. 10.02(3).

(d) Where paper ballots are utilized at a spring primary or election, provide the municipal clerk an adequate supply of ballots for the primary or election at least 22 days before the primary or election;

(e) Receive all ballots after they have been counted, reported and secured;

(f) After the spring primary, if any, after the spring election, and after any special primary, election or referendum, assure that the returns are canvassed as provided in sub. (14) and s. 7.53(3).

(g) Retain and supervise the destruction of election materials from the primary, if any, and the spring election pursuant to s. 7.23 insofar as applicable; and

(h) Whenever a recount of a primary or other election is required, assure that the recount is conducted by the municipal and school district boards of canvassers pursuant to s. 9.01.

(9)(a) The primary and spring elections for school board members shall be conducted by the election officials for state and municipal elections. In a school board election held in conjunction with a state, county, municipal or judicial election, the polling places for the state, county, municipal or judicial election shall be the polling places for the school board election and the municipal election hours shall apply. If no state, county, municipal or judicial election is held on the day of the school board election, the school board may set the election hours and the polling places to be used. The election costs shall be charged as provided in ss. 5.68 and 7.03. Election hours set by the school board shall be the same as those provided by the municipal governing body in which the polling place is located, except that if the opening hour is later than 7 a.m., the school board may extend the opening hour to not earlier than 7 a.m.

(b) The school board may not select a polling place to be closed under par. (a) if:

1. Ten percent or more of the electors voting in the last school board election voted at the polling place; or

2. The polling place is located in a municipality which is located entirely within the school district.

(c) The school board shall post a notice on the door of any polling place not selected indicating all polling places selected and open for voting.

(10) Within 8 days after the election or appointment of any person to the school board, the school district clerk shall notify the person of his or her election or appointment. Notice of election shall be provided in the manner prescribed in s. 7.53(3)(a). On or prior to the day provided for taking office, a school board member shall take and file the official oath.

(11) The absentee ballot provisions of ss. 6.84 to 6.89 apply to elections under this section. Voting machines or an electronic voting system shall be used in any city, village or town lying wholly or partially within a school district conducting an election under this section if the machines or system are required under s. 5.40.

(12) An election in accordance with s. 17.26 to fill an unexpired term on a school board shall be held in the same manner as a regular school board election is held. In the case of a school board of more than 3 members, elections to fill unexpired terms shall be held simultaneously with the elections for regular terms, the regular terms to be filled by the appropriate number of candidates receiving the highest number of votes and the unexpired terms to be filled by the appropriate number of candidates receiving the next highest number of votes.

(13) A person attempting to vote at an election of school board members may be challenged as provided in s. 6.92, 6.925 or 120.08(3).

(14) The school district clerk shall receive the returns of each school district election, as compiled by the inspectors at each polling place of each municipality in which the school district is contained, from the municipal clerk of that municipality. The school district shall then canvass and determine the results of the election.

(15) Unless otherwise provided by this chapter, s. 117.22, or other applicable law, the elections for school board members shall be guided by the municipal election laws.

W.S.A. 120.41

WEST'S WISCONSIN STATUTES ANNOTATED

SCHOOLS

CHAPTER 120. SCHOOL DISTRICT GOVERNMENT

SUBCHAPTER II. UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICTS

§ 120.41. Composition of school board

(1) A school board of a unified school district may have 5, 7 or 9 members.

(2) The number of school board members may be changed in accordance with s. 120.02(1). A plan of apportionment of school board members may be adopted in accordance with s. 120.02(2).

W.S.A. 120.42

§ 120.42. Election of school board members

(1)(a) Except as provided in par. (b), school board members in a unified school district shall be electors of the school district and shall be elected at large, at large to numbered seats or at large to an apportioned election district area by a plurality vote of the electors of the school district. School board members in a unified school district shall be elected under s. 120.06 at the spring election. All candidates for school board seats shall file a declaration of candidacy as provided in s. 120.06(6)(b).

(b) School board members in a unified school district that encompasses a city with a population greater than 150,000 but less than 500,000 shall be elected at large to numbered seats.

(2) The regular terms of school board members shall be for 3 years. School board members elected for regular or unexpired terms shall take office, if they have taken and filed the official oath, on the 4th Monday in April. Elections to fill unexpired terms shall be held simultaneously with the elections for regular terms. In school districts electing members of the school board at large, the regular terms shall be filled by the appropriate number of candidates receiving the highest number of votes and the unexpired terms shall be filled by the appropriate number of candidates receiving the next highest number of votes.

(3) All vacancies shall be filled by appointment, in accordance with s. 17.26(1).

(4) If a school district votes, pursuant to s. 120.02(4) to adopt a plan requiring school board members to be elected to numbered seats, the school board shall, at its first meeting after the adoption of such plan, assign a number to each seat on the school board. Thereafter candidates for school board membership shall file as candidates for a particular numbered seat on the school board.

W.S.A. 15.375

WEST'S WISCONSIN STATUTES ANNOTATED

ORGANIZATION OF STATE GOVERNMENT

CHAPTER 15. STRUCTURE OF THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH

SUBCHAPTER II. DEPARTMENTS

§ 15.375. Same; attached boards

(1) American Indian language and culture education board. There is created an American Indian language and culture education board which is attached to the department of education under s. 15.03. The board shall consist of 13 members appointed by the governor for staggered 4-year terms from recommendations made by the various Indian tribes, bands and organizations in this state. The members shall include parents or guardians of American Indian children, American Indian teachers, school administrators, a school board member, persons involved in programs for American Indian children and persons experienced in the training of teachers for American Indian language and culture education programs. Members shall be appointed so as to be representative of all the American Indian tribes, bands and organizations in this state. In addition to its duties under subch. IV of ch. 115, the board shall advise the secretary of education, the board of regents of the university of Wisconsin system, the higher educational aids board and the technical college system board on all matters relating to the education of American Indians. The board does not have rule-making authority.

(2) School district boundary appeal board. There is created a school district boundary appeal board in the department of public instruction. The board shall consist of 12 school board members appointed by the state superintendent of public instruction for staggered 2-year terms and the state superintendent of public instruction or his or her designee. Four board members shall be school board members of school districts with small enrollments, 4 board members shall be school board members of school districts with medium enrollments and 4 board members shall be school board members of school districts with large enrollments. No 2 school board members of the board may reside within the boundaries of the same cooperative educational service agency.

(3) Renumbered 15.915(6) and amended in part by 1997 Act 27, S 75m, eff. Oct. 14, 1997.

W.S.A. 17.03

WEST'S WISCONSIN STATUTES ANNOTATED

ORGANIZATION OF STATE GOVERNMENT

CHAPTER 17. RESIGNATIONS, VACANCIES, AND REMOVALS FROM OFFICE

§ 17.03. Vacancies, how caused

Except as otherwise provided, a public office is vacant when:

(1) The incumbent dies.

(2) The incumbent resigns.

(3) The incumbent is removed.

(4) The incumbent ceases to be a resident of:

(a) This state; or

(b) If the office is legislative, the district from which elected; or

(bm) If the office is a district attorney, the prosecutorial unit from which elected; or

(c) If the office is local and elective, the county, city, village, town, district or area from which elected, except as provided in ss. 60.30(6), 119.08(1)(c) and 120.05(1)(d); or

(d) If the office is local and appointive, and residency is a local requirement, the county, city, village, town, district or area within which the duties of the office are required to be discharged.

(4m) In the case of a school district office, the incumbent is absent from the district for a period exceeding 60 days.

(5) Whether or not sentenced to imprisonment, the incumbent is convicted and sentenced by a state or federal court for treason, felony or other crime of whatsoever nature punishable by imprisonment in any jail or prison for one year or more, or for any offense involving a violation of the incumbent's official oath. A vacancy so created is not affected by a stay of execution of judgment. Reversal of the judgment, but not a pardon, immediately restores the incumbent to office if the term has not expired and entitles the incumbent to the emoluments of the office for the time the incumbent would have served in the office but for the judgment.

(6) A competent tribunal voids the election or appointment; or adjudges the incumbent to be incapable of understanding the objective of the elective process; or places the incumbent under guardianship, or under limited guardianship unless the court finds that the incumbent is competent to exercise the right to vote.

(7) A person elected or appointed or reelected or reappointed to any office neglects or refuses to take and file the official oath or to execute or renew the official bond if required, or to file the oath or bond as prescribed by law.

(8) The incumbent neglects or refuses to execute and file an additional bond, when lawfully required, as prescribed by law.

(9) A person elected or appointed to fill a vacancy or for a full term declines the office in writing or dies before qualifying or declines in writing or dies before the time when, by law, the person should enter upon the duties of the office to which elected or appointed.

(10) If the office is elective, the incumbent's term expires, except for the office of sheriff, coroner, register of deeds or district attorney.

(11) If the office is a school board seat, the first annual school meeting of a school district fails to elect school board members for the district.

(12) The offices are established upon the creation by the legislature of a new county and a new town.

(13) Any other event occurs which is declared by any special provision of law to create a vacancy.

W.S.A. 17.26

§ 17.26. Vacancies in school boards; how filled

Except as provided in s. 9.10, vacancies in a school board shall be filled as follows:

(1) In a common, union high or unified school district, by appointment by the remaining members. Each appointee shall hold office until a successor is elected and takes office under s. 120.06(4) or 120.42(2). When a vacancy occurs in the office of a board member who is in the last year of his or her term, or when a vacancy occurs after the spring election but on or before the last Tuesday in November in the office of a board member who is not in the last year of his or her term, the successor shall be elected at the next spring election. When a vacancy occurs after the last Tuesday in November and on or before the date of the next spring election in the office of a board member who is not in the last year of his or her term, the successor shall be elected at the 2nd following spring election.

(2) In a 1st class city school district, by special election as provided under s. 119.08(4).

(3) Any person selected under sub. (1), upon being notified of his or her selection, shall be deemed to have accepted the selection unless within 5 days after notification he or she files with the clerk or director a written refusal to serve.

(4) In boards where the first annual meeting of the district has failed to elect school board members, by appointment by the secretary of education.