SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 2999

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)

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SECTION 1.  Section 1 of chapter 425 of the acts of 1983, as most recently amended by chapter 374 of the acts of 2004, is hereby further amended by striking out subsection 5.1 and inserting in place thereof the following subsection:-

5.1 Composition; Eligibility; Election and Term of Office.

(a) Composition. There shall be a school committee consisting of 7 members that shall exercise general management and control of the public schools of the city. Three members of the school committee, who shall be known as at-large members, shall be nominated and elected by and from the voters of the city at large and 3 members, who shall be known as appointed members, shall be appointed by vote of the city council. The mayor shall serve as the seventh member of the school committee and as its chair with full power to vote.

(b) Eligibility. All members of the school committee, whether at-large members or appointed members, shall be voters and residents of the city of Lawrence at the time of their election or appointment; provided, however, that a member who moves from the city shall be considered to have vacated their position and the vacancy shall be filled in the manner provided in subsection 5.7; provided further, that the appointed members should also have a background or expertise in either finance, law or education.

(c) Election and Term. All members of the school committee shall serve for 2-year terms beginning at 7:00 P.M. on the first secular day in January following their election or appointment and shall continue until their successors have been chosen and qualified.

SECTION 2.  Said section 1 of said chapter 425, as so amended, is hereby further amended by striking out subsection 5.7 and inserting in place thereof the following subsection:

5.7Filling of Vacancies.

(a)At-Large School Committee Member. If a vacancy occurs in the office of an at-large member, the vacancy shall be filled in the same manner as is provided in paragraph (a) of subsection 3.9 for the filling vacancies in the office of a city councilor at large.

(b)Appointed School Committee Member. If a vacancy occurs in the office of an appointed school committee member, the vacancy shall be filled with a call for candidates by the city council at the next regular meeting of the city council; provided, however, that an appointee to said vacancy shall be confirmed by an affirmative vote of the majority of the city council. The city council shall appoint a new member at its first opportunity but in no event shall the completion of this appointment process exceed 30 days from the date that notice of a vacancy is received by the city council.  

(c)In general, no vacancy which occurs after the first 18 months of the term for which the member was elected or appointed shall be filled unless failure to fill such vacancy would result in less than 4 persons serving as members of the school committee; provided, however, that in that event, all such vacancies shall be filled in the manner provided in paragraphs (a) and (b).

(d)If a vacancy of an at-large member exists on the school committee which is not filled at the time of the city election, the person elected at-large with the highest number of votes who does not serve on the school committee at the time of the city election shall forthwith be sworn in and shall, in addition to the term for which they were elected, serve the balance of the unexpired term.

SECTION 3.   This act shall take effect upon its passage.