reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
MT Code § 20-3-302 (2021)
2021 Montana Code Annotated|Title 20. Education|Chapter 3. Elected Officials|Part 3. School District Trustees|20-3-302. Legislative intent to elect less than majority of trustees

  20-3-302. Legislative intent to elect less than majority of trustees. (1) It is the intention of the legislature that the terms of a majority of the trustee positions of any district with elected trustees may not regularly expire and be subject to election on the same regular school election day. In elementary districts, there may not be more than three trustee positions in first-class districts, two trustee positions in second-class districts or third-class districts having five trustee positions, or one trustee position in third-class districts having three trustee positions regularly subject to election at the same time. In high school districts there may not be more than two additional trustee positions in first- or second-class districts or more than one in third-class districts regularly subject to election at the same time. In county high school districts, there may not be more than two trustee positions to be filled by members residing in the elementary district where the county high school building is located or more than one trustee position to be filled by members residing outside of the elementary district where the county high school building is located subject to election at the same time.   (2) In the following circumstances relating to newly created trustee positions, the initial terms may be shortened to comply with the intent of subsection (1):   (a) the consolidation under the provisions of 20-6-423 of two or more elementary districts to form an elementary district, of two or more high school districts to form a high school district, or of two or more K-12 districts to form a K-12 district;   (b) the establishment of additional trustee positions of a high school district under the provisions of 20-3-353 or 20-3-354 or new trustee positions under the provisions of 20-3-352(3);   (c) the change of a district's classification under the provisions of 20-6-201 or 20-6-301;   (d) the establishment of additional elementary trustee positions under the provisions of 20-3-341(3); or   (e) the establishment of additional high school trustee positions under the provisions of 20-6-313.   (3) If the change of a district's classification under 20-6-201 or 20-6-301 decreases the number of trustee positions, the positions must be eliminated in a manner that complies with the intent of subsection (1).   (4) Although the legislature intends that the terms of a majority of trustees of any district may not regularly expire and be subject to election at the same time, it is recognized that filling a vacancy under 20-3-308 may lead to a subsequent school election in which a majority of trustee positions are subject to election at the same time.   History: En. 75-5907 by Sec. 36, Ch. 5, L. 1971; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 103, L. 1975; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 122, L. 1975; R.C.M. 1947, 75-5907; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 528, L. 1991; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 137, L. 1993; amd. Sec. 6, Ch. 219, L. 1997; amd. Sec. 6, Ch. 510, L. 2005.
MT Code § 20-3-303 (2021)
2021 Montana Code Annotated|Title 20. Education|Chapter 3. Elected Officials|Part 3. School District Trustees|20-3-303. Term of vacated trustee position after election

  20-3-303. Term of vacated trustee position after election. Whenever a trustee position is subject to election because a vacancy of such position has occurred since the last regular school election day, the term of the trustee position shall not change and the member elected to fill such position shall serve the remainder of the unexpired term.   History: En. 75-5911 by Sec. 40, Ch. 5, L. 1971; R.C.M. 1947, 75-5911.
MT Code § 20-3-304 (2021)
2021 Montana Code Annotated|Title 20. Education|Chapter 3. Elected Officials|Part 3. School District Trustees|20-3-304. Repealed

  20-3-304. Repealed. Sec. 262, Ch. 49, L. 2015.   History: En. 75-5912 by Sec. 41, Ch. 5, L. 1971; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 109, L. 1974; R.C.M. 1947, 75-5912; amd. Sec. 353, Ch. 571, L. 1979; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 514, L. 1999.
MT Code § 20-3-305 (2021)
2021 Montana Code Annotated|Title 20. Education|Chapter 3. Elected Officials|Part 3. School District Trustees|20-3-305. Candidate qualification, filing deadline, and withdrawal

  20-3-305. Candidate qualification, filing deadline, and withdrawal. (1) Except as provided in 20-3-338, any person who is qualified to vote in a district under the provisions of 20-20-301 is eligible for the office of trustee.   (2) (a) Except as provided in subsection (2)(b), a declaration of intent to be a candidate must be submitted to the clerk of the district at least 40 days before the regular school election day at which the person is to be a candidate. If there are different terms to be filled, the term for the position for which the candidate is filing must also be indicated.   (b) A person seeking to become a write-in candidate for a trustee position shall file a declaration of intent no later than 5 p.m. on the day before the ballot certification deadline in 20-20-401.   (3) (a) A candidate intending to withdraw from the election shall send a statement of withdrawal to the clerk of the district. The statement must contain all information necessary to identify the candidate and the office for which the candidate filed. The statement of withdrawal must be acknowledged by the clerk of the district.   (b) A candidate may not withdraw after 5 p.m. the day before the ballot certification deadline in 20-20-401.   History: En. 75-5913 by Sec. 42, Ch. 5, L. 1971; R.C.M. 1947, 75-5913; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 372, L. 1987; amd. Sec. 4, Ch. 539, L. 1987; amd. Sec. 3, Ch. 514, L. 1999; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 271, L. 2011; amd. Sec. 201, Ch. 49, L. 2015.
MT Code § 20-3-306 (2021)
2021 Montana Code Annotated|Title 20. Education|Chapter 3. Elected Officials|Part 3. School District Trustees|20-3-306. Conduct of election

  20-3-306. Conduct of election. (1) The trustees of each district shall call a trustee election on the regular school election day of each school fiscal year under the provisions of 20-20-201, except as provided in 20-3-313. The trustees shall call and conduct the trustee election in the manner prescribed in this title for school elections and Title 13. Any elector qualified to vote under the provisions of 20-20-301 may vote at a trustee election.   (2) The trustee election ballots must be substantially in the following form:   OFFICIAL BALLOTSCHOOL TRUSTEE ELECTION   INSTRUCTIONS TO VOTERS: Make an X or similar mark in the vacant square before the name of the candidate for whom you wish to vote.   Vote for (indicate number to be elected) for a 3-year term:   ☐ (List the names of the candidates for a 3-year term with a vacant square in front of each name.)   Vote for (indicate number to be elected) for a 2-year term:   ☐ (List the names of the candidates for a 2-year term with a vacant square in front of each name.)   Vote for (indicate number to be elected) for a 1-year term:   ☐ (List the names of the candidates for a 1-year term with a vacant square in front of each name.)   History: En. 75-5915 by Sec. 44, Ch. 5, L. 1971; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 165, L. 1973; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 259, L. 1973; R.C.M. 1947, 75-5915; amd. Sec. 352, Ch. 571, L. 1979; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 132, L. 1999; amd. Sec. 202, Ch. 49, L. 2015.
MT Code § 20-3-307 (2021)
2021 Montana Code Annotated|Title 20. Education|Chapter 3. Elected Officials|Part 3. School District Trustees|20-3-307. Qualification and oath

  20-3-307. Qualification and oath. (1) A person who receives a certificate of election as a trustee under the provisions of 20-3-313 or 20-20-416 may not assume the trustee position until the person has qualified. The person shall qualify by taking an oath of office administered by the county superintendent, the superintendent's designee, or any official provided for in 1-6-101 or 2-16-116. The oath must be filed with the county superintendent not more than 15 days after the receipt of the certificate of election. After a person has qualified for a trustee position, the person holds the position until a successor has been elected or appointed and has been qualified.   (2) If the elected person does not qualify in accordance with this requirement, a person must be appointed in the manner provided by 20-3-309 and shall serve until the next regular school election.   History: En. 75-5916 by Sec. 45, Ch. 5, L. 1971; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 91, L. 1973; R.C.M. 1947, 75-5916; amd. Sec. 3, Ch. 132, L. 1999; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 271, L. 2011; amd. Sec. 203, Ch. 49, L. 2015.
MT Code § 20-3-308 (2021)
2021 Montana Code Annotated|Title 20. Education|Chapter 3. Elected Officials|Part 3. School District Trustees|20-3-308. Vacancy of trustee position

  20-3-308. Vacancy of trustee position. (1) An elected trustee position is vacant whenever the incumbent:   (a) dies;   (b) resigns;   (c) moves the trustee's residence from the applicable district or from the nominating district in the case of an additional trustee in a high school district;   (d) is no longer a registered elector of the district under the provisions of 20-20-301;   (e) is absent from the district for 60 consecutive days;   (f) fails to attend three consecutive meetings of the trustees without a good excuse;   (g) has been removed under the provisions of 20-3-310; or   (h) ceases to have the capacity to hold office under any other provision of law.   (2) A trustee position is also vacant when an elected candidate fails to qualify under the provisions of 20-3-307.   History: En. 75-5917 by Sec. 46, Ch. 5, L. 1971; R.C.M. 1947, 75-5917; amd. Sec. 278, Ch. 56, L. 2009.
MT Code § 20-3-309 (2021)
2021 Montana Code Annotated|Title 20. Education|Chapter 3. Elected Officials|Part 3. School District Trustees|20-3-309. Filling vacated trustee position -- appointee qualification and term of office

  20-3-309. Filling vacated trustee position -- appointee qualification and term of office. (1) Whenever a trustee position becomes vacant in any district, the remaining members of the trustees shall declare the position vacant and they shall appoint, in writing within 60 days, a competent person as a successor. The trustees shall notify the appointee and the county superintendent of the appointment. If the trustees do not make the appointment within the 60-day period, the county superintendent shall appoint, in writing, a competent person as a successor and notify the person of the appointment.   (2) A person who has been appointed to a trustee position shall qualify by completing and filing an oath of office with the county superintendent within 15 days after receiving notice of appointment. Failure to file the oath of office constitutes a continuation of the trustee position vacancy that must be filled under the provisions of this section.   (3) A person assuming a trustee position under the provisions of this section shall serve until the next regular school election and until a successor has qualified.   History: En. 75-5918 by Sec. 47, Ch. 5, L. 1971; amd. Sec. 3, Ch. 122, L. 1975; amd. Sec. 5, Ch. 266, L. 1977; R.C.M. 1947, 75-5918; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 269, L. 1979; amd. Sec. 279, Ch. 56, L. 2009.
MT Code § 20-3-310 (2021)
2021 Montana Code Annotated|Title 20. Education|Chapter 3. Elected Officials|Part 3. School District Trustees|20-3-310. Trustee removal

  20-3-310. Trustee removal. Any trustee may be removed from the trustee position by a court of competent jurisdiction under the law providing for the removal of elected civil officials. When charges are brought against a trustee and good cause is shown, the board of county commissioners may suspend the trustee from the trustee position until the charges can be heard in the court of competent jurisdiction.   History: En. 75-5919 by Sec. 48, Ch. 5, L. 1971; R.C.M. 1947, 75-5919; amd. Sec. 280, Ch. 56, L. 2009.
MT Code § 20-3-311 (2021)
2021 Montana Code Annotated|Title 20. Education|Chapter 3. Elected Officials|Part 3. School District Trustees|20-3-311. Trustee travel reimbursement and compensation of secretary for joint board

  20-3-311. Trustee travel reimbursement and compensation of secretary for joint board. The members of the trustees of any district may not receive compensation for their services as trustees, except that the secretary of the trustees of a high school district operating a county high school or the secretary of a joint board of trustees may be compensated for services as the secretary. The members of the trustees who reside over 3 miles from the trustees' meeting place must be reimbursed at the rate as provided in 2-18-503 for every mile necessarily traveled between their residence and the meeting place and return in attending the regular and special meetings of the trustees, and all trustees must be similarly reimbursed for meetings called by the county superintendent. The travel reimbursement may be accumulated during the school fiscal year and paid at the end of the fiscal year, at the discretion of each trustee.   History: En. 75-5931 by Sec. 60, Ch. 5, L. 1971; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 62, L. 1974; R.C.M. 1947, 75-5931; amd. Sec. 281, Ch. 56, L. 2009.
MT Code § 20-3-312 (2021)
2021 Montana Code Annotated|Title 20. Education|Chapter 3. Elected Officials|Part 3. School District Trustees|20-3-312. Trustees of district affected by boundary change

  20-3-312. Trustees of district affected by boundary change. The trustees of any district to which the territory of another district is attached as a result of annexation, abandonment, territory transfer, or any other method of changing district boundaries, except by the consolidation of districts, continue to be the trustees of the district with the same powers, duties, and responsibilities and subject to the same limitations provided by law as if there had been no boundary change. In the case of district consolidation, the appointed trustees of the resulting district shall assume their trustee positions under the authority of 20-6-423.   History: En. 75-6531 by Sec. 190, Ch. 5, L. 1971; R.C.M. 1947, 75-6531; amd. Sec. 7, Ch. 219, L. 1997; amd. Sec. 7, Ch. 510, L. 2005; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 60, L. 2009.
MT Code § 20-3-313 (2021)
2021 Montana Code Annotated|Title 20. Education|Chapter 3. Elected Officials|Part 3. School District Trustees|20-3-313. Election by acclamation -- notice

  20-3-313. Election by acclamation -- notice. (1) If the number of candidates filing for vacant positions or filing a declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate under 20-3-305(2)(b) is equal to or less than the number of positions to be elected, the trustees may cancel the election.   (2) If the election is canceled, the trustees shall give notice that a trustee election will not be held. Notice must be given no later than 30 days before the election.   (3) If a trustee election is not held, the trustees shall declare elected by acclamation the candidate who filed for the position or who filed a declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate and shall issue a certificate of election to the candidate.   (4) An election for a trustee in a single-member district as provided in 20-3-338 or in a trustee nominating district as provided in 20-3-353 is considered a separate trustee election for the purposes of declaring election by acclamation as provided in this section.   History: En. Sec. 1, Ch. 132, L. 1999; amd. Sec. 4, Ch. 15, L. 2001; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 132, L. 2009; amd. Sec. 3, Ch. 271, L. 2011; amd. Sec. 204, Ch. 49, L. 2015; amd. Sec. 15, Ch. 242, L. 2017.
MT Code § 20-3-314 (2021)
2021 Montana Code Annotated|Title 20. Education|Chapter 3. Elected Officials|Part 3. School District Trustees|20-3-314. through 20-3-320 reserved

  20-3-314 through 20-3-320 reserved.
MT Code § 20-3-321 (2021)
2021 Montana Code Annotated|Title 20. Education|Chapter 3. Elected Officials|Part 3. School District Trustees|20-3-321. Organization and officers

  20-3-321. Organization and officers. (1) The trustees of each district shall annually organize as a governing board of the district after the regular school election day and after the issuance of the election certificates to the newly elected trustees, but not later than 25 days after the election. In order to organize, the trustees of the district must be given notice of the time and place where the organization meeting will be held, and at the meeting they shall choose one of their number as the presiding officer. In addition, except for the trustees of a high school district operating a county high school, the trustees shall employ and appoint a competent person, who is not a member of the trustees, as the clerk of the district. The trustees of a high school district operating a county high school shall appoint a secretary, who must be a member of the board.   (2) The presiding officer of the trustees of any district shall serve until the next organization meeting and shall preside at all the meetings of the trustees in accordance with the customary rules of order. The presiding officer shall perform the duties prescribed by this title and any other duties that normally pertain to a presiding officer.   (3) The presiding officer of a board of trustees of an elementary district may be any trustee of the board, including an additional trustee as provided for in 20-3-352(2). If an additional trustee is chosen to serve as the presiding officer of the board of trustees of an elementary district described in 20-3-351(1)(a), the additional trustee may not vote on issues pertaining only to the elementary district.   History: En. 75-5927 by Sec. 56, Ch. 5, L. 1971; amd. Sec. 5, Ch. 122, L. 1975; R.C.M. 1947, 75-5927; amd. Sec. 4, Ch. 514, L. 1999; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 14, L. 2011; amd. Sec. 4, Ch. 271, L. 2011; amd. Sec. 205, Ch. 49, L. 2015; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 154, L. 2019.
MT Code § 20-3-322 (2021)
2021 Montana Code Annotated|Title 20. Education|Chapter 3. Elected Officials|Part 3. School District Trustees|20-3-322. Meetings and quorum

  20-3-322. Meetings and quorum. (1) The trustees of a district shall hold at least the following number of regular meetings:   (a) an organization meeting, as prescribed by 20-3-321;   (b) a final budget meeting, as prescribed by 20-9-131; and   (c) (i) in first-class elementary districts, not less than one regular meeting each month; or   (ii) in any other district, regular meetings at least quarterly.   (2) (a) The trustees of the district shall adopt a policy setting the day and time for the minimum number of regular school meetings prescribed in subsection (1)(c)(i) or (1)(c)(ii) and, in addition, any other regular meeting days the trustees wish to establish. Except for an unforeseen emergency or as provided in subsection (2)(b), meetings must be conducted in school buildings or, upon the unanimous vote of the trustees, in a publicly accessible building located within the district.   (b) This section does not prohibit the trustees from meeting outside the boundaries of the school district for collaboration or cooperation on educational issues with other school boards, educational agencies, or cooperatives. Adequate notice of the meeting as well as an agenda must be provided to the public in advance. Decisionmaking may occur only at a properly noticed meeting held within the school district's boundaries.   (3) Special meetings of the trustees may be called by the presiding officer or any two members of the trustees by giving each member a 48-hour written notice of the meeting, except that the 48-hour notice is waived in an unforeseen emergency or to consider a violation of the student code of conduct, as defined in accordance with district policy, within a week of graduation.   (4) Business may not be transacted by the trustees of a district unless it is transacted at a regular meeting or a properly called special meeting. A quorum for any meeting is a majority of the trustees' membership. All trustee meetings must be public meetings, as prescribed by 2-3-201, except that the trustees may recess to an executive session under the provisions of 2-3-203.   (5) For the purposes of this section, "unforeseen emergency" means a storm, fire, explosion, community disaster, insurrection, act of God, or other unforeseen destruction or impairment of school district property that affects the health and safety of the trustees, students, or district employees or the educational functions of the district.   History: En. 75-5930 by Sec. 59, Ch. 5, L. 1971; R.C.M. 1947, 75-5930; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 154, L. 1991; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 50, L. 1993; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 211, L. 1997; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 467, L. 1999; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 86, L. 2003; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 438, L. 2005; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 444, L. 2009.
MT Code § 20-3-323 (2021)
2021 Montana Code Annotated|Title 20. Education|Chapter 3. Elected Officials|Part 3. School District Trustees|20-3-323. District policy and record of acts

  20-3-323. District policy and record of acts. (1) The trustees of each district shall prescribe and enforce policies for the government of the district. In order to provide a comprehensive system of governing the district, the trustees shall:   (a) adopt the policies required by this title; and   (b) adopt policies to implement or administer the requirements of the general law, this title, the policies of the board of public education, and the rules of the superintendent of public instruction.   (2) The trustees shall keep a full and permanent record of all adopted policies and all other acts of the trustees. Minutes of each regular and special board meeting shall include wording of motions, voting records of each trustee present, and all other pertinent information, including a detailed statement of all expenditures of money with the name of any person or business to whom payment is made and showing the service rendered or goods furnished. A written copy of the minutes shall be made available within 5 working days following the approval of the minutes by the board at a cost of no more than 15 cents a page to be paid by those who request such a copy. One free copy of the minutes shall be provided to the local press within 5 working days following the approval of the minutes by the board. The board shall approve the minutes of each special and regular meeting no later than 1 month following the meeting if it meets on a regular monthly basis. If a board does not regularly meet on a monthly basis, it shall approve the minutes of each special and regular meeting at the next regular or special meeting. The approval of the minutes of a prior meeting shall not occur more than 40 days after the meeting, except that no board shall be required to meet to approve the minutes of a meeting at which no substantive business was conducted.   History: En. 75-5932 by Sec. 61, Ch. 5, L. 1971; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 192, L. 1975; amd. Sec. 6, Ch. 266, L. 1977; R.C.M. 1947, 75-5932; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 360, L. 1979.