CHAPTER 551

An Act to repeal Chapter 14 of Title 28 of the Code of Virginia, containing
§§ 28-175 through 28-181, relating to Virginia State School, and to
amend the Code of Virginia by adding therein in lieu of the chapter
and sections hereby repealed, a new chapter numbered 14.1, contatn-
wing sections numbered 28-181.1 through 28-181.10, to establish a
Virginia School at Hampton for the deaf and blind, and to provide a
board of visitors for the management thereof, defining manner of
appointment, procedures, powers and duties of such board.

[S 349]
Approved April 5, 1966

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That Chapter 14 of Title 23 of the Code of Virginia, containing
§§ 23-175 through 23-181 is repealed.

2. That the Code of Virginia be amended by adding in Title 23 thereof a

chapter numbered 14.1 containing §§ 23-181.1 through 23-181.10, as
ollows:

§ 23-181.1. There is hereby established a corporation composed of
the board of visitors of Virginia School at Hampton under the style of
“The Visitors of Virginia School at Hampton” in this chapter hereinafter
referred to as the board.

§ 23-181.2. The School shall be known as Virginia School at Hamp-
ton.

§ 23-181.8. All the real estate and personal property now existing
and heretofore standing in the name of the State Board of Education,
located in Hampton, respectively, heretofore exclusively used by the Vir-
ginia State School at Newport News, shall be transferred to and be known
and taken as standing in the name, and to be under the control of The
Visitors of Virginia Schoo] at Hampton. Such real estate and personal
property shall be the property of the Commonwealth.

§ 23-181.4. The board shall consist of five members, who shall be
first appointed by the Governor, by and with the consent of the General
Assembly if then in session, to serve from the effective date of this act.
Three of the members first appointed shall serve for terms of two years each
and two of such members shall serve for terms of four years each. There-
after, within six months preceding July first of each even numbered year,
the Governor shall, by and with the consent of the General Assembly,
alternately appoint three and two members, respectively, for terms of four
years each. No person shall be eligible to serve more than two successive
terms; provided, that a person heretofore or hereafter appointed to fill a
vacancy may be appointed for two additional successive terms. Incumbency
during a current term when this amendment takes effect shall constitute
the first of the two successive terms with respect to eligibility for
appointment.

§ 23-181.5. The board shall be charged with the erection, preserva-
tion and repair of the buildings of the institution and the care of this
property. It shall direct and do, or cause to be done by officers, professors,
agents, and employees appointed by it, all things necessary or expedient
for promoting the objects of the institution not inconsistent with law.

The board may provide rules and regulations for the government of
the institution setting forth in the rules and regulations the duties of all
the officers, professors, agents and employees, such rules and regulations
to be posted at various places in the institution and on the premises.

The board together with the State Board of Education shall prepare
each year prior to the first day of July, and submit to the State Board of
Education the curricula of the School for the Blind and the School for the
Deaf. The curricula shall be prepared in such detail as may be prescribed
by the State Board of Education, and shall not be amended or changed
without the approval of the State Board of Education.

One member of the staff of the State Department of Education shall
be designated by the Superintendent of Public Instruction to serve as con-
sultant to the board, through the Superintendent, on matters pertaining
to instruction. It shall be his responsibility to keep the board informed on
requirements for accrediting by the State Board of Education, and he
shall make available for the board such technical services of the State
Department of Education as may be deemed desirable to assist in meeting
specific instructional needs.

§ 23-181.6. The board shall have one annual meeting, and such inter-
mediate meetings as it shall prescribe, the time and place of meeting to be
fixed by the board. A special meeting may be called at any time by the
president or any three members of the board, notice of the time and place
of such meeting being given to the other members.

§ 23-181.7. The superintendent, professors and all other officers of
the institution shall be elected by the board at its annual meetings. The
superintendent shall be elected every two years and the professors and
other officers annually, all to be elected with reference to fitness, sobriety,
literary and business qualifications. The board may remove at any time
such superintendent, professors, and, subject to the provisions of chapter
9 (§ 2-78 et seq.) of Title 2, other officers, causing to be entered upon its
records the order of removal together with the cause of the removal. The
superintendent, with the approval of the president of the board, shall have
authority to elect and employ professors, teachers, and officers to fill va-
cancies occurring between annual meetings of the board.

§ 23-181.8. Each fiscal year of the institution shall end on the thir-
tieth day of June, and its accounts shall be made up to such time. The
board of visitors shall see that the accounts are kept in such a manner that
the Comptroller can secure any data which he may require at any time.

§ 23-181.9. There shall be in the institution one school for the educa-
tion of deaf mutes, and another school for the education of the blind.
These schools must be separate and distinct. The pupils of each school
shall be selected, as the board may prescribe, from such persons as are
unable to pay for maintenance and support, to the extent of the means of
the institution, and also from other persons, residents of this State, on such
terms for their maintenance and support as may be agreed upon. But here-
after there shall be no charge for the education of pupils.

§ 23-181.10. The board shall make an annual report to the State
Board of Education on forms prescribed by the State Board of Education.
This report shall show receipts and disbursements, educational offerings
and other pertinent information pertaining to the general operation of the
schools for each fiscal year ending June thirty. A synopsis of this report
shall pe. included in the annual report of the Superintendent of Public

nstruction.