Chap. 84.—An ACT to amend section 786 of the Code of Virginia. [H B 55]
Approved February 25, 1920.

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That section
seven hundred and eighty-six of the Code of Virginia be amended
and re-enacted so as to read as follows:

Sec. 786. Powers and duties of boards of trustees; qualifications
of trustees, and so forth; a corporation.—Every school trustee shall,
at the time of his appointment, be a resident of the school district
for which appointed, and if he shall cease to be a resident thereof, his
office shall be deemed vacant. Before entering upon the discharge
of the duties of his office he shall take and subscribe the oaths pre-
scribed for officers of the State before the corporation or the circuit
court; or, in vacation, before.the judge or clerk of said court, and
the clerk of the said court shall make in his record book a minute
of the qualification of said trustee.

No State officer, except a notary public, no city officer, no member
of council, or any officer thereof, shall during his term of office be
chosen or allowed to act, as a school trustee; but this provision shall
not have the effect of prohibiting a referee in chancery or commis-
sioner in bankruptcy, or member of the board of health, from holding
such office. |

The city school board of every city shall establish and maintain
therein a general system of public free schools in accordance with the
requirements of the Constitution and the general educational policy of
the Commonwealth, for the accomplishment of which purpose it shall
have the following powers and duties: -

First. To explain, enforce, and observe the school laws, and to
make rules for the government of the schools, and for regulating the
conduct of pupils going to and returning therefrom.

Second. To determine the studies to be pursued, the methods of
teaching, and government to be employed in the schools, and the
length of the school term.

Third. To employ teachers from a list or lists of eligibles to be
furnished by the division superintendent and to dismiss them when
delinquent, inefficient, or in any wise unworthy of the position; pro-
vided, that no school board shall employ or pay any teacher from the
public funds unless the teacher shall hold a certificate in full force,
according to the provisions of section six hundred and eighty-eight
of the laws relating to the public free schools in counties; and pro-
vided, further, that it shall not be lawful for the school board of any
city or of any town constituting a separate school district to employ
or pay any teacher from the public funds if said teacher is the father,
oe brother, sister, wife, son, or daughter of any member of said
ard. j

Fourth. To suspend or expel pupils when the prosperity and eff-
ciency of the school make it necessary.

Fifth. To decide what children, wishing to enter the schools of
the city, are entitled by reason of the poverty of their parents or
guardians to receive text-books free of charge, and to provide for
supplying them accordingly.

Sixth. To establish high and normal schools and such other
schools as may, in its judgment, be necessary to the completeness and
efficiency of the school system.

Seventh. To see that the census of children required by sections
six hundred and fifty-three and six hundred and fifty-four is taken
within the proper time and in the proper manner.

Eighth. To hold regular meetings and to prescribe when and
how special meetings may be called.

Ninth. To call meetings of the people of the city for consultation
in regard to the school interests thereof, at which meetings the chair-
man or some other member of the board shall preside if present.

Tenth. To provide suitable school houses, with proper furniture
and appliances, and to care for, manage, and control the school prop-
erty of the city. For these purposes it may lease, purchase, or build
such houses according to the exigencies of the city and the means
at its disposal. No school house shall be contracted for or erected
until the plans therefor shall have been submitted to and approved
in writing by the division superintendent» of schools, and no public
school shall be allowed in any building which is not in such condi-
tion and provided with stich conveniences as are required by a
due regard to decency and health; and when a school house appears
to the division superintendent of schools to be unfit for occupancy,
it shall be his duty to condemn the same, and immediately to give
notice thereof, in writing, to the chairman of the school board, and
thenceforth no public school shall be held therein, nor shall any part
of the State or city fund be applied to support any school in such
house until the division superintendent shall certify, in writing, to the
city school board that he is satisfied with the condition of such build-
ing and with the appliances pertaining thereto.

Eleventh. To visit the public free schools within the city, from
time to time, and to take care that they are conducted according to
law, and with the utmost efficiency.

Tweltfh. To manage and control the school funds of the city,
to provide for the pay of teachers and of the clerk of the board,
for the cost of providing school houses and the appurtenances thereto
and the repairs thereof, for school furniture and appliances, for neces-
sary text-books for indigent children attending the public free schools,
and for any other expenses attending the administration of the public
free school system, so far as the same is under the control or at the
charge of the school officers.

Thirteenth. To examine all claims against the school board, and
when approved, to pay the same; provided, that a record of such
approval shall be made in the proceedings of the board, and a warrant
on the city treasurer shall be drawn, signed by the chairman of the
board and countersigned by the clerk thereof, payable to the person
or persons entitled to receive such money, and stating on its face
the purpose or service for which it is to be paid, and that such war-
rant is drawn in pursuance of an order entered by the board on the

Fifteenth. To perform such other duties as shall be prescribed by
the State board of education or are imposed by other parts of this
chapter.

City school boards shall in general have the same power in relation
to the condemnation or purchase of land and to the vesting of the
title thereof, and also in relation to the title to and management of
property of any kind applicable to school purposes, whether hereto-
fore or hereafter set apart therefor, and however set apart, whether
by gift, grant, devise, or any other conveyance and from whatever
source, as county and district school boards have in the counties.
They shall also have a clerk, who may or may not be a member of
the board and who shall be charged with the same duties as the clerk
of district school board, and whose salary shall be fixed by the board.