CHAPTER 691

An Act to amend and reenact § 22-72, as amended, of the Code of Virginia,
relating to the powers and duties of school boards. (H 485]

Approved April 6, 1966

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That § 22-72, as amended, of the Code of Virginia be amended and
reenacted as follows:
_§ 22-72. The school board shall have the following powers and

duties :

(1) Enforcement of school laws.—To see that the school laws are
properly explained, enforced and observed.

(2) Rules for conduct and discipline-—To make local regulations for
the conduct of the schools and for the proper discipline of the students,
which shall include their conduct going to and returning from school, but
such local rules and regulations shall be in harmony with the general rules
of the State Board and the statutes of this State.

(3) Information as to conduct.—To secure, by visitation or otherwise,
as full information as possible about the conduct of the schools.

(4) Conducting according to law.—To take care that they are con-
ducted according to law and with the utmost efficiency.

(5) Payment of teachers and officers.—To provide for the payment
of teachers and other officers on the first of each month, or as soon there-
after as possible.

(6) School buildings and equipment.—To provide for the erecting,
furnishing, and equipping of necessary school buildings and appurtenances
and the maintenance thereof.

(6a) Insurance.—To provide for the necessary insurance on school

properties against loss by fire or against such other losses as deemed
necessary.
(7) Drinking water.—To provide for all public schools an adequate
and safe supply of drinking water and see that the same is periodically
tested and approved by or under the direction of the State Board of Health,
either on the premises or from specimens sent to such board.

(8) Textbooks for indigent children.—School boards shall * provide,
free of charge, such textbooks as may be necessary for indigent children
attending public schools; in systems providing free textbooks, the cost of
furnishing such textbooks may be paid from school operating funds or the
textbook fund or such other funds as are available; in systems operating
rental textbook systems, school boards shall waive rental fees, or in thetr

Cocretion, may reimburse the rental textbook fund from school operating
unds.

(9) Costs and expenses.—In general, to incur costs and expenses, but
only the costs and expenses of such items as are provided for in its esti-

mates submitted to the tax levying body without the consent of the tax

levying body.

(10) Consolidation of schools.—To provide for the consolidation of
schools whenever such procedure will contribute to the efficiency of the
school system.

(11) Other duties—To perform such other duties as shall be pre-
scribed by the State Board or as are imposed by law.