2023 Oklahoma Statutes › Title 70. Schools › §70-5-110.1. Board members - Continuing education requirement.

A. In addition to the requirements of Section 5-110 of this title, every member of a school district board of education elected to a full term of office of five (5) years or more shall be required to attend a minimum of fifteen (15) hours of continuing education, each member elected to a full four-year term of office shall be required to attend a minimum of twelve (12) hours of continuing education, and each member elected to a full three-year term of office shall be required to attend a minimum of nine (9) hours of continuing education, prior to the date set for filing for reelection to that respective board seat. The continuing education courses, workshops, seminars, conferences, and conventions which shall satisfy the continuing education requirement shall be approved jointly by the State Department of Education and the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education.
B. Local and state continuing education programs conducted pursuant to the provisions of this section shall be held in all regions of the state at institutions of higher learning, area technology centers or other approved sites. Notice of such courses and seminars shall be provided to all school board members and to the public schools.
C. This section shall not apply to those school board members who file for reelection prior to July 1, 1991.
D. If a school board member has not satisfied the continuing education requirements of this section, the school district board of education shall declare the seat of the member vacant within sixty (60) days of the final date that the member has to complete the requirements as indicated by receipt of the certified notice from the State Board of Education as provided for pursuant to Section 5-110.2 of this title and shall fill the vacancy according to law. As determined by the State Board of Education pursuant to Section 5-110.2 of this title, failure by a board member to satisfy the continuing education requirements of this section shall result in the ineligibility of the member to be reappointed to, run for reelection to or to hold that respective board seat on the school district board of education or to run for election to or to hold any other board seat on the board of education for a two-year period.
E. The State Department of Education, the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education, and any organization approved by the State Board of Education, including but not limited to institutions of higher education, may charge persons attending continuing education courses a registration fee sufficient to defray the estimated costs of presenting the course. The registration fees for each course shall be announced prior to the date of such course.
F. Any member of a school district board of education who attends and completes a course which satisfies in part or in full the requirements of this section shall be reimbursed by the school district for expenses incurred. In addition, a school district board of education may reimburse members of the board of education for expenses incurred in registering and attending board member training programs or activities approved by the board which are in addition to the minimum school board training requirements established by law.
Added by Laws 1989, c. 10, § 1, operative July 1, 1989. Amended by Laws 1989, 1st Ex. Sess., c. 2, § 27, emerg. eff. April 25, 1990; Laws 1990, c. 257, § 3, emerg. eff. May 23, 1990; Laws 1994, c. 360, § 7, eff. July 1, 1994; Laws 1996, c. 178, § 1, eff. July 1, 1996; Laws 2001, c. 140, § 1, eff. July 1, 2001; Laws 2001, c. 414, § 9, eff. July 1, 2001; Laws 2005, c. 472, § 5, eff. July 1, 2005; Laws 2008, c. 439, § 4, eff. July 1, 2008; Laws 2012, c. 192, § 2, emerg. eff. May 7, 2012; Laws 2016, c. 356, § 3; Laws 2018, c. 163, § 2, eff. Nov. 1, 2018.
NOTE: Laws 2001, c. 33, § 71 repealed by Laws 2001, c. 414, § 14, eff. July 1, 2001.