Arkansas Code of 1987 (2023) › Title 6 - EDUCATION (§§ 6-1-101 — 6-87-104) › Subtitle 2 - ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION GENERALLY (§§ 6-10-101 — 6-28-206) › Chapter 13 - SCHOOL DISTRICTS (§§ 6-13-101 — 6-13-1707) › Subchapter 6 - SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARDS OF DIRECTORS GENERALLY (§§ 6-13-601 — 6-13-636) › Section 6-13-617 - Oath

(a)
(1)
(A)
Each director shall, within ten (10) days after receiving notice from the county clerk or his or her designee of his or her election or within ten (10) days after receiving notice from the county clerk or his or her designee of his or her appointment, subscribe to the following oath before an individual authorized to administer oaths under §
21-2-105
:
I, __________________________ , do hereby solemnly swear or affirm, that I will support the United States Constitution and the Arkansas Constitution, and that I will not be interested, directly or indirectly, in any contract made by the district of which I am a director, except as permitted by state law, that I shall abide by the ethical guidelines and prohibitions under §
6-24-101
et seq., and that I will faithfully discharge the duties as school director in __________________________ School District upon which I am about to enter.
_____________
Director's Signature
_____________
Administrator's Signature
_____________
Date.
____ Accepted
____ Rejected
_____________________________________ Reason for rejection
______________
County Clerk's Signature".
(B)
The notification from the county clerk or his or her designee shall indicate the date by which the oath shall be subscribed to.
(2)
(A)
After the oath is administered, the director shall submit a certification of the administration of the oath to the county clerk or his or her designee.
(B)
The certification of the administration of the oath shall contain:
(i)
A copy of the oath;
(ii)
The director's signature;
(iii)
The administrator's signature; and
(iv)
The date.
(C)
The certification of the administration of the oath shall be submitted to the county clerk or his or her designee no later than the close of business on the date indicated in the notification from the county clerk under subdivision (a)(1) of this section.
(b)
(1)
The county clerk or his or her designee, upon receipt of the certification of the administration of the oath prescribed for a director, shall immediately:
(A)
Verify that the:
(i)
Certification of the administration of the oath was submitted on or before the close of business on the date indicated in the notification from the county clerk or his or her designee under subdivision (a)(1) of this section; and
(ii)
Individual before whom the oath was subscribed to is an individual authorized to administer oaths under §
21-2-105
; and
(B)
Either:
(i)
Accept the certification of the administration of the oath if it complies with the requirements of this section; or
(ii)
Reject the certification of the administration of the oath if it does not comply with one (1) or more of the requirements of this section.
(2)
(A)
Immediately following the acceptance of the certification of the administration of the oath, the county clerk or his or her designee shall:
(i)
Commission the director;
(ii)
Provide the director a copy of §
6-24-101
et seq.; and
(iii)
Require the director to sign an acknowledgement that he or she received a copy of §
6-24-101
et seq.
(B)
The term of the director shall begin upon the receiving of the commission under subdivision (b)(2)(A)(i) of this section.
(3)
By the close of business of the day following the receipt of the certification of the administration of the oath, the county clerk or his or her designee shall either:
(A)
(i)
Notify the superintendent of the school district by phone that the individual has subscribed to the director's oath and that the county clerk has accepted the certification of the administration of the oath; and
(ii)
Send a copy of the certificate of the administration of the oath to the school district's central office within five (5) days; or
(B)
If the certification of the administration of the oath has not been timely received or otherwise rejected by the county clerk or his or her designee, notify the superintendent of the school district by phone of the rejection of the certification of the administration of the oath by the close of business on the day following the date indicated in the notification from the county clerk or his or her designee under subdivision (a)(1) of this section.
(c)
The failure of an elected director to have the oath administered and submit proof that the oath was administered as required under subsection (a) of this section will result in:
(1)
The individual's not being qualified to serve for the purpose of Arkansas Constitution, Article 19, § 5; and
(2)
A holdover.
Amended by Act 2023, No. 883,§ 2, eff. 5/1/2024.
Amended by Act 2015, No. 379,§ 2, eff. 7/22/2015.
Amended by Act 2013, No. 1155,§ 10, eff. 8/16/2013.
Acts 1935, No. 30, § 12; Pope's Dig., § 11532; A.S.A. 1947, § 80-505; Acts 2001, No. 1599, § 20.