Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1895-07-18
SEVEN TRUSTEES.
Attorney General Haskell Says Lewistown
School District Should Have
Seven Trustees.

The following communication was
received by Superintendent Moulton
Sunday. The attorney general de-
cides that as soon as it is proven
that Lewistown school district has
a population OF 1000 or more four
vacancies exist in the board OF school
trustees and it is the duty of 1.-THE
superintendent to fill these vacancies.
No doubt exists but that our popula-
ton far exceeds 1000 but in order
to positively demonstrate the fact
superintendent Moulton will at once
enumerate the residents from the
school census and the assessment
roll and appoint four good men to
act as trustees until the next election:
HELENA, Montana. July IL, 1895.
II. A. Moulton, Esq, Superintendent of
School, Lewistown, Montana.
Dear Sir:-Herewith we note receipt of
your favor Of July 9th, requesting an
opinion from this Office upon the following
statement and query:
"Lewistown School District No. /, has "A
population of more than one thousand.
which fact, under the new law, entities it
to seven school trustees. As the town is
not Incorporated there are but three at
present.
Query: Is il my duty as county
superintendent to appoint four additi onal
trustees, or does the present board hold
until the next annual school election? The
board and myself, await you reply"
In Sec. l7TI. of the Political code it is
enacted among other things, that in dis
| trcts, cities, or towns, having popula-
tion Of five hundred, and less than one
thousand, the number of trustees shall be
rive; in districts, cities or towns hay-
ing population of one thousand
or more the number Of trustees shall be
seven, and the trustees in office at the
time of the adoption OF this title continue
so to hold for the term OF three years from
the third Saturday in the month OF April
of the year in which they were elected
Therefore, il your district has a popula-
tion of one thousand or more, you are
entitled TO seven trustees. The three
trustees now in office will hold their Office
for IA term OF three years from the third
Saturday in the month of April in the
wear ia which they were elected.
The finding Of such fact that Lewistown
School District No. ], has population
of more than one thousand must be
matter of record and determined by the
mode and manner required by law, and
must be entered in the journal OF the
school district showing the mode and
manner by which this fact was determined
I 70. haz Aatar oh
and entered OF record, vacancy at once
exists in the board OF trustees OF Lewis
town School District No. l which must be
brought to the attention of the superin-
tendent of schools, whose duty it is to
make "A proper record thereof and file the
same in his office. Thereupon he shall
appoint four competent persons as trus-
tees who shall qualify and serve until the
next annual school election The county
superintendent shall at the same time
notify the clerk OF the school district OF
every such appointment. Sec. 1850.
Political Code.
"A trustee so appointed who shall fail
to qualify within ten days after being
appointed snail forfeit all right to the
office, and the county superintendent
shall appoint to fill the vacancy" Sec.
1852.
Immediately upon the qualification of
the four trustees SO appointed and above
designated, all of the trustees should be
notified in writing by the clerk who must
meet and organize by choosing one of their
number chairman, and a competent per
son not member OF the board, clerk, who
4 shall hold his Office during the pleasure oi
the board. The chairman so elected will
hold his office until the third Saturday in
y April 90. Sec. 1898.
Very respectfully yours,
H. j. HASKELL.