Arkansas Code
Subchapter 14 - Consolidation, Annexation, and Formation
§ 6-13-1415. Involuntary consolidation or annexation — Effective date — Interim board of directors

(a) This section applies to the involuntary consolidation or involuntary annexation of a school district made by a motion of the State Board of Education.
(b) The effective date of an involuntary consolidation or involuntary annexation of a school district shall be the July 1 after the state board action unless determined otherwise by the state board.
(c) The state board shall establish the terms and conditions of the involuntary consolidation or involuntary annexation that shall govern the affected districts, resulting districts, and receiving districts.
(d)
(1) If the state board determines that a new permanent board of directors is necessary, the state board shall prescribe:
(A) The number of members for the new permanent board of directors of the resulting district or receiving district;
(B) The manner of formation of the new permanent board of directors of the resulting district or receiving district under § 6-13-1417; and
(C)
(i) Whether the new permanent board of directors will be elected at the first or second school election after the effective date of consolidation or annexation.
(ii) The election for the new permanent school district board of directors may take place during the second school election after the effective date of consolidation or annexation only if the state board determines that additional time is required to implement single-member zoned elections.

(2) If the state board determines that an interim board of directors is necessary, the state board shall prescribe:
(A) The number of members for the interim board of directors of the resulting district or receiving district;
(B) The terms of the members of the interim board of directors of the resulting district or receiving district; and
(C)
(i) The manner of formation of the interim board of directors of the resulting district or receiving district.
(ii) The state board may:
(a) Allow the affected districts and receiving districts thirty (30) days to establish an interim board of directors to govern the resulting district or receiving district that consists of either five (5) or seven (7) members selected from the boards of directors from the affected districts and receiving districts based on the proportion of the student population of each of the affected districts and receiving districts before consolidation or annexation;
(b) Appoint an interim board of directors to govern the resulting district or receiving district that consists of either five (5) or seven (7) members selected from the boards of directors from the affected districts and receiving districts based on the proportion of the student population of each of the affected districts and receiving districts before consolidation or annexation; or
(c) Designate the existing board of directors of one (1) affected district in a consolidation or the existing board of directors of the receiving district in an annexation as the interim board to govern the resulting district or receiving district.

(3) The state board may determine that an interim board of directors is not necessary and may order the existing board of directors of one (1) affected district in a consolidation or the existing board of directors of the receiving district in an annexation to remain as the permanent school district board of directors.

(e)
(1) An interim board of directors shall serve until the first school election after the effective date of consolidation or annexation unless:
(A) Any members of the permanent board of directors of the resulting district or receiving district are elected from single-member zones, then the interim board of directors may serve until the second school election after the effective date of consolidation or annexation under subdivision (d)(1)(C) of this section; or
(B) All the members of the permanent board of directors of the resulting district or receiving district are elected at-large, then the state board may stagger the terms of the interim board of directors, which shall be determined by lot so that no more than two (2) members' terms expire during any one (1) year.

(2) If the state board allows the local school districts time to establish an interim board of directors, the board of directors of each affected district before the consolidation or each affected district and receiving district before the annexation may determine independently how to select members of the existing board of directors to serve on the interim board of directors, subject to approval by the state board, by:
(A) The voluntary resignation of one (1) or more members of the existing board of directors;
(B) Selecting one (1) or more members of the existing board of directors by a majority vote of the school district board of directors; or
(C) Selecting one (1) or more members of the existing board of directors by a random lot drawing.

(3) An interim board of directors shall be established by May 31 of the year preceding the effective date of administrative consolidation or administrative annexation under § 6-13-1603 if the state board determines that an interim board of directors is necessary.

(f)
(1) A consolidation or annexation order adopted by the state board shall be filed with the:
(A) County clerk of each county that contains school district territory of each affected district, receiving district, or resulting district;
(B) Secretary of State; and
(C) Arkansas Geographic Information Systems Office.

(2) A consolidation or annexation order shall include a map of the boundaries of the resulting district or receiving district.
(3) A consolidation or annexation order filed with the Secretary of State and the office shall include a digital map showing the boundaries of the resulting district or receiving district in a format prescribed by the office.

(g) The state board may promulgate rules necessary to administer this subchapter.