SECTION 1. Chapter 7 of the acts of 1851 is hereby amended by striking out section 3, as amended by section 1 of chapter 47 of the acts of 1877, and inserting in place thereof the following section:-

Section 3. The board of trustees of the Punchard Free School shall consist of 5 trustees, who shall be residents of the town of Andover elected by the registered voters of the town for a term of 3 years.  At each annual town election, the voters shall elect a trustee to take the place of a trustee whose term is about to expire.

SECTION 2. Notwithstanding chapter 7 of the acts of 1851, the trustees who are in office on the effective date of this act shall serve until the expiration of their terms.  At the first election of the successors to the trustees who are in office on the effective date of this act, the town shall elect 5 trustees, 2 of whom shall serve for terms of 3 years, 2 of whom shall serve for terms of 2 years and 1 of whom shall serve for a term of 1 year.

SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon the approval by the Essex division of the probate and family court department of the trial court of changes to the will of the late Benjamin Hanover Punchard that are consistent with the provisions of this act.