Chap. 101.—An ACT to amend and re-enact chapter XIX of the charter of the
town of Waynesboro, in relation to the public schools of the town.

[S B 130]
Approved March 6, 1926.

1. Beit enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That chap-
ter nineteen of the charter of the town of Waynesboro, approved
March sixth, nineteen hundred and twenty-four, be amended and re-
enacted so as to read as follows:

Chapter XIX. Schools.—The town of Waynesboro shall consti-
tute a separate school district. It shall have a school board consisting
of three members, one of whom shall be appointed annually by the
council of the town, to serve for a term of three years; the eligibility
and compensation of the members of the school board shall be the
same as prescribed by law.

The school board shall be a body corporate under the name of the
“Waynesboro School Board,”’ by which name it may sue and be sued,
contract and be contracted with, purchase, take, hold, lease, and con-
vey school property, both real and personal. The title to all public
school property within the corporate limits of the town shall be and
the same is hereby by operation of law transferred to and vested in the
Waynesboro school board.

By mutual consent of the school board and the council of the town,
the title to the said school property may by the said board be trans-
ferred to and vested in the said town.

The school board shall submit to the council annually or oftener
an estimate of what funds may be needed for the proper maintenance
and growth of the public schools of the town, and the council shall
levy a tax upon property subject to local taxation for the purpose of
maintaining the schools, to be collected along with other taxes by the
treasurer of the town and placed in a special account, subject to the
order of the school board. The State school fund shall be appor-
tioned to the Waynesboro school district separately from the county
of Augusta, and-all such funds designated for the benefit of the schools
therein shall be paid by the disbursing officers of the State to the treas-
urer of the said town and by such treasurer kept in his school account,
to be paid out on the order of the said school board.

The said school board shall establish and maintain in the said town
a general system of public free schools in accordance with the require-
ments of the constitution and general education policy of the Common-
wealth, 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, in accordance
with the regulations of the State board of education, the methods of
teaching, the 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, but
no teacher shall be employed unless such teacher has the qualifications
prescribed by law.

Fourth. To suspend or expel pupils when the prosperity and efh-
ciency of the schools make it necessary; to decide what children en-
tering the schools of the town are entitled by reason of the poverty
of their parents or guardians to receive text-books free of charge, and
provide for supplying them accordingly; to establish a high school or
high schools; to see that the census of children is taken. within the
proper time and in the proper manner, as prescribed by law.

Fifth. To hold regular and special meetings of the school board
and to call meetings of the people of the town for consultation in re-
gard to the school interests thereof.

Sixth. To provide suitable school houses with proper furniture
and appliances and to care for, manage and control the school property
of the town. For these purposes it may lease, purchase, or build such
school houses according to the exigencies of the town and the means at
its disposal. The plans for all school houses shall be submitted to and
approved in writing by the division superintendent of schools, before
the same is contracted for or erected. All school buildings shall be
maintained in a safe and sanitary condition, with due regard for health
and decency, and for the lack of which the division superintendent
shall condemn the same and immediately give notice to the chairman
of the said school board in writing, and thereafter no school shall be
held therein nor shall any of the State or town fund be applied to sup-
port any such school houses, until the division superintendent shall
1926. ] ACTS OF ASSEMBLY. 101

certify in writing to the town school board that he is satisfied with the
condition of such building, and with the equipment pertaining thereto.

Seventh. To visit the public schools of the town from time to
time and to take care that they are conducted according to law and
with the utmost efficiency; to manage and control the school funds of
the town, and to provide for the pay of the teachers, and for any ex-
penses attending the administration of the public school system in the
said town, so far as the same is under the control or at the charge of
the school officials. .

Eighth. To examine all claims against the school board and when
approved pay the same, provided that a record of such approval shall
be made in the proceedings of the board and a warrant on the town
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 warrant is drawn in
pursuance of an order entered by the board on the.......... day of

The said school board shall have power to acquire by condemna-
tion land within or without the town, whether dwellings, yards, gar-
dens, or orchards be invaded or not, for school purposes not to exceed
ten acres for any one school when necessary.

Tenth. And in addition to the foregoing enumerated powers ancl
duties the said school board shall exercise such other powers and per-
form such other duties not inconsistent herewith as are prescribed for
county school boards insofar as applicable, or imposed by the State
board of education.

The present members of the school board for the town of Waynes-
boro shall continue in office until their several terms expire; they shall
not be members of the school board of Augusta county, and the county
school board of Augusta county shall have no control over the school
property of the said town or the administration of the public school
system thereof.

2. An emergency existing, this act shall be in force from its pas-
sage.