2019 Oklahoma Statutes
Title 70. Schools
§70-5-110. Instructional requirements for new board members - Reimbursement for expenses - Agreement to attend when candidate files notification and declaration - Registration fees.

A. A school district elector who is elected or appointed to be a member of a school district board of education prior to January 1, 2014, shall obtain instruction on education issues in accordance with rules promulgated by the State Board of Education. Except as provided in subsection B of this section, at the time a school district elector files a notification and declaration of candidacy for the office of school district board of education membership or is appointed to be a member of a school district board of education on or after January 1, 2014, the elector shall agree and pledge in writing that, within fifteen (15) months of election or appointment as a member of the district board of education, the member will complete at least twelve (12) hours of instruction on education issues in the following areas: school finance; legal issues, which include but are not limited to employment, due process, new laws, the Oklahoma Open Records Act and the Oklahoma Open Meeting Act; and duties and responsibilities, which include but are not limited to special education and ethics, of district board of education members. Each elector shall agree and pledge in writing to complete at least one (1) hour of instruction in school finance, one (1) hour of instruction in the Oklahoma Open Records Act and the Oklahoma Open Meeting Act and one (1) hour of instruction in ethics. The remaining hours may be satisfied by attending a two-day workshop to be held within the state by the State Department of Education, by the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education, or by attending workshops, seminars or classes which address the above-mentioned subject matter, and which are sponsored by any organization approved by the State Board of Education, including but not limited to institutions of higher education. The State Board of Education shall promulgate rules by which an organization or particular courses offered by an organization may be approved for purposes of fulfilling the instructional requirements set out in this section.

B. When an incumbent of a district board of education files a notification and declaration of candidacy for reelection to the district board of education, the member shall be required to agree and pledge in writing that upon reelection the member will complete six (6) hours of instruction, within fifteen (15) months of election, including one (1) hour of instruction in school finance, one (1) hour of instruction in the Oklahoma Open Records Act and the Oklahoma Open Meeting Act and one (1) hour of instruction in ethics. The remaining hours may be satisfied by attending a workshop, class or seminar addressing the education issues set forth in subsection A of this section.

C. The State Department of Education shall, immediately after the annual elections of various district board of education members, determine the members of the district boards of education pledged to complete the instructional requirements established in subsections A and B of this section, and shall notify the members of the time and place where workshops, classes and seminars are to be conducted. Upon completion of the instructional requirements, the certificate of completion shall be included in the public records of the school board's minutes. Each school board member, except for an incumbent member, shall be required within fifteen (15) months following or preceding election to complete the workshop established by subsection A of this section or to attend twelve (12) hours of other state workshops, classes or seminars conducted as instruction on the subjects of school finance, legal issues, and the ethics, duties and responsibilities of district board of education members, including at least one (1) hour of instruction in school finance, one (1) hour of instruction in the Oklahoma Open Records Act and the Oklahoma Open Meeting Act and one (1) hour of instruction in ethics.

D. If a school board member, including an incumbent member, has not satisfied the instructional requirements as set forth in this section within fifteen (15) months of election, reelection or appointment, the district board of education shall declare the seat of the member vacant within sixty (60) days of the final date that the member has to complete the requirements as indicated by receipt of the certified notice from the State Board of Education as provided for pursuant to Section 5-110.2 of this title and shall fill the vacancy according to law. A school board member who is required to vacate a school board seat pursuant to this subsection and Section 5-110.2 of this title shall be ineligible to be reappointed to, to run for reelection to or to hold that respective board seat on the school district board of education or to run for election to or to hold any other board seat on the board of education for a two-year period.

E. All government departments, agencies and institutions of this state are directed to lend assistance as may be required by the State Department of Education for the proper conduct and administration of the workshops as authorized in subsection A of this section. The State Department of Education shall maintain a permanent record of the instructional hours and continuing education hours earned for each district board of education member.

F. The State Department of Education, the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education, and, upon approval of the State Board of Education, any organization or association representing district boards of education in this state are authorized to charge persons pledged to attend a workshop, class or seminar for purposes of meeting the instructional requirements of this section, a registration fee sufficient to defray the estimated costs of presenting the workshop, class or seminar and to collect the fees at the time of registration.

G. Any member of a district board of education or any individual elected, certified as the elected member by the county election board, but not sworn in and seated as a member of a district board of education at the time of a workshop, class or seminar presented by the State Board of Education, the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education, or an organization or association representing district boards of education within the state who attends and successfully completes a workshop, class or seminar as required by subsection A or B of this section shall be reimbursed by the school district in accordance with the travel reimbursement policy of the district.

Added by Laws 1971, c. 281, § 5-110, eff. July 2, 1971. Amended by Laws 1980, c. 231, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 1980; Laws 1984, c. 132, § 1; Laws 1986, c. 99, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 1986; Laws 1989, 1st Ex. Sess., c. 2, § 26, emerg. eff. April 25, 1990; Laws 1990, c. 293, § 7, eff. Sept. 1, 1990; Laws 1991, c. 180, § 1, emerg. eff. May 13, 1991; Laws 1992, c. 254, § 2, emerg. eff. May 22, 1992; Laws 1994, c. 360, § 6, eff. July 1, 1994; Laws 2005, c. 472, § 4, eff. July 1, 2005; Laws 2008, c. 439, § 3, eff. July 1, 2008; Laws 2012, c. 192, § 1, emerg. eff. May 7, 2012; Laws 2012, c. 354, § 4; Laws 2013, c. 17, § 1, eff. July 1, 2013; Laws 2016, c. 356, § 2; Laws 2018, c. 163, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 2018.

NOTE: Laws 1990, c. 257, § 2 repealed by Laws 1991, c. 180, § 2, emerg. eff. May 13, 1991 and Laws 1991, c. 335, § 36, emerg. eff. June 15, 1991.