Instructions From Electors - Governing Boards - CA Education

Section § 35190

This law allows the governing board of most school districts in California (except those with a city board of education) to call a meeting with residents about district affairs if requested in a petition signed by the majority. These meetings can instruct the board on specific issues like moving a schoolhouse with a two-thirds majority vote, using the schoolhouse for non-school activities as long as no furniture is removed, buying or selling school sites, and handling legal matters involving the district. The meeting can also vote on spending up to $100 for these purposes annually, excluding funds from sold school property or fire insurance, which must be properly allocated.

The governing board of a school district, except a district having a city board of education, may, and upon a petition signed by a majority of the electors resident in the district shall, call meetings of the qualified electors of the district for consultation in regard to any affairs in the district. A meeting so called shall be competent to instruct the governing board, and the board shall, in all cases, be bound by such instructions upon the following subjects:

(a) The location or change of location of the schoolhouse, if the proposal to instruct the board in regard to changing the location of the schoolhouse is passed by a vote of two-thirds of all the electors voting at the meeting upon the proposition.

(b) The use of the schoolhouse for other than school purposes, but in no case shall the schoolhouse be used for purposes which necessitate the removal of any school desks or other school furniture.

(d) The prosecution, settlement, or compromise of any litigation in which the district is engaged, or is likely to become engaged.

The meeting may vote money not exceeding one hundred dollars ($100) in any one year, for any of these purposes in addition to any amount which may be raised by the sale of district school property, and the insurance of property destroyed by fire, except that the proceeds of the insurance of the library and apparatus shall be paid into the library fund. All funds raised by the sale of school property may be disposed of by direction of a district meeting.

governing board school district meetings qualified electors schoolhouse location schoolhouse usage buying school sites selling school sites district litigation meeting instructions petitions voting procedures non-school purposes spending limitations insurance proceeds district property funds

(Enacted by Stats. 1976, Ch. 1010.)

Section § 35191

This law says that before a specific school meeting can happen, you need to put up three public notices explaining the meeting's purpose. One notice has to be clearly visible on the school building. These notices should be up for at least 10 days before the meeting. Only the business listed in the notice can be discussed at the meeting.

The meeting provided for in Section 35190 shall be called by posting three notices in public places, one of which shall be in a conspicuous place on the schoolhouse, for not less than 10 days prior to the time for which the meeting is called. The notices shall specify the purposes for which the meeting is called, and no other business shall be transacted at the meeting.

school meeting notice public notices conspicuous place 10-day requirement schoolhouse notice meeting purposes limit on meeting business Section 35190 reference posting requirements public places display

(Enacted by Stats. 1976, Ch. 1010.)

Section § 35192

When a school district holds a meeting, they need to pick someone from the people there to lead it as the chairman. The district clerk or secretary keeps track of what happens by taking notes. If they need more time for discussions, they can pause and continue the meeting later. Decisions that guide the board of trustees should be made by voting, either with ballots or by saying 'yes' or 'no,' as decided during the meeting.

Any district meeting called pursuant to Sections 35190 and 35191 shall be organized by choosing a chairman from the electors present. The district clerk or secretary shall be clerk of the meeting, and shall enter the minutes on the records of the district. Any district meeting may be adjourned from time to time as found necessary. All votes instructing the board of trustees shall be taken by ballot, or by “ayes” and “noes” vote as the meeting may determine.

district meeting chairman electors district clerk meeting minutes adjourn board of trustees ballot voting ayes and noes school district

(Enacted by Stats. 1976, Ch. 1010.)