Union Elementary School Districts and Union High School Districts

V.S.A. tit. 16, ch. 11, subch. 4

in effect

16 V.S.A. § 745 Definitions

745. Definitions As used in this subchapter, words have the meaning as defined in section 702 (definitions) of this title and any words not defined in that section have their plain meaning, except: (1) Member district. “Member district” means either a town school district that is a member district as defined in section 702 (definitions) of this title or a town in a member district if the member district is itself a union elementary or union high school district, as applicable. (2) Town clerk. (A) If, pursuant to section 425 (other town school district officers) of this title, the voters of a member district have elected a district clerk who is not also the clerk of the town, then “town clerk” means the elected clerk of that member district. (B) Notwithstanding subdivision (A) of this subdivision (2), if a union elementary or union high school district is a member district of the union school district, then “town clerk” has its plain meaning and means the clerk of each town in the member district. Added 2021, No. 176 (Adj. Sess.), § 3, eff. June 7, 2022.

16 V.S.A. § 747 Board members; term; conduct of meetings; quorum and voting; powers and duties

747. Board members; term; conduct of meetings; quorum and voting; powers and duties (a) Members. Except as set forth in subchapter 2 (exploration, formation, and organization) of this chapter for initial members, each member of the board of a union elementary school or union high school district shall: (1) be elected by the voters at a warned meeting pursuant to section 748 (union elementary and union high school district board members) of this chapter; (2) assume office upon election, except as provided in subdivision 755(f)(3) (warnings of union elementary and union high school district meetings) of this chapter; and (3) be sworn in before entering upon the duties of the office. (b) Term. A member elected at an annual meeting shall serve for a term of three years or until the member’s successor is elected and has taken the oath of office. A member elected at a special meeting shall serve for the balance of the term remaining. (c) Quorum. A majority of the members of the board shall constitute a quorum. Subject to the provisions of subsection (d) of this section but notwithstanding any other provision of law, the concurrence of a majority of members present at a union elementary or union high school district board meeting shall be necessary and sufficient for board action; provided, however, the concurrence of more than a majority shall be necessary if required for a particular action by the voter-approved articles of agreement. (d) Weighted voting. If weighted voting is used to achieve constitutionally required proportionality for members elected under the “proportional to town population” model set out in subdivisions 711(e)(1) (proposed union elementary or union high school district; proportional to town population) and 748(a)(1) (union elementary and union high school district board members; Australian ballot; proportional to town population) of this chapter, then a number of members of the board holding a majority of the total number of weighted votes shall constitute a quorum, and a majority of the weighted votes cast shall be necessary and sufficient for board action. (e) Board chair and board clerk. At the meeting next following each annual meeting, the union elementary or union high school district board shall elect one of its number to serve as the chair of the board and one other of its number to serve as the clerk of the board. (f) Powers, duties, and liabilities. The powers, duties, and liabilities of a union elementary or union high school district board, board chair, and board clerk shall be the same as those of a board, board chair, and board clerk of a town school district. (g) Minutes. The board clerk shall prepare minutes of the proceedings of the union elementary or union high school district board, unless the board votes to delegate those duties to another individual. The board clerk shall transmit the minutes and all other documents constituting the record of board proceedings to the clerk of the union elementary or union high school district, who shall be responsible for maintaining a permanent record of board proceedings. In the board clerk’s absence, another member of the school board shall assume the duties of the clerk. (h) Stipend. The board clerk may be paid upon order of the board. Added 2021, No. 176 (Adj. Sess.), § 3, eff. June 7, 2022.

16 V.S.A. § 748 Union elementary and union high school district board members; nomination and election; bond

748. Union elementary and union high school district board members; nomination and election; bond (a) If by Australian ballot. The provisions of this subsection shall apply to a union elementary or union high school district that conducts elections for board membership by Australian ballot. (1) Proportional to town population. (A) When membership on the board of a union elementary or union high school district is apportioned to each member district in a number that is closely proportional to the member district’s relative population, the voters of the member district may file a petition nominating a candidate for board membership. A petition is valid only if: (i) the candidate is a current voter of the member district; (ii) the petition identifies the term of office for which the candidate is nominated; (iii) the petition is signed by at least 30 voters residing in the member district or one percent of the legal voters in that district, whichever is less; (iv) the voters file the petition with the town clerk not later than 5:00 p.m. on the sixth Monday preceding the day of the election; and (v) the candidate files with the town clerk a written consent to the printing of the candidate’s name on the ballot. (B) After confirming that the names on the petition correspond to registered voters of the member district, the town clerk shall transmit the name of each duly nominated candidate to the clerk of the union elementary or union high school district. (C) The union district clerk shall prepare a union elementary or union high school district ballot for each member district and shall transmit the ballot to the town clerk to make available to the voters residing in the member district. (D) The voters of the member district shall elect as many board members as are apportioned for that term of office on the union elementary or union high school district board based on the population of the member district. (2) Modified at-large model: allocation to town; at-large representation. (A) When membership on the board of a union elementary or union high school district is allocated to each member district, but the allocation is not closely proportional to the member district’s population and the board member is elected at-large, the voters residing in any one or more of the member districts may file a petition nominating a candidate for board membership under the “modified at-large” model. A petition is valid only if: (i) the candidate is a current voter of the member district to which the seat is allocated; (ii) the petition identifies the term of office for which the candidate is nominated; (iii) the petition is signed by at least 60 voters residing in the union elementary or union high school district or one percent of the legal voters in the district, whichever is less; (iv) the voters file the petition with the clerk of the union elementary or union high school district not later than 5:00 p.m. on the sixth Monday preceding the day of the election; and (v) the candidate files with the union district clerk a written consent to the printing of the candidate’s name on the ballot. (B) Not later than 5:00 p.m. on the sixth Monday preceding the day of the election, the town clerk of each member district shall furnish to the union district clerk, at the expense of the union district, authenticated copies of the checklist of legal voters within the member district as the checklist appears after revisions are made pursuant to 17 V.S.A. §§ 2141–2150. (C) The union district clerk shall prepare the union elementary or union high school district ballot to include the name of each duly nominated candidate and shall transmit the ballot to the town clerk of each member district to make available to the voters residing in the member district. (D) The voters of the union elementary or union high school district shall elect as many board members as are to be elected at-large for that term of office under the “modified at-large” model. (3) At-large representation. (A) When membership on the board of a union elementary or union high school district is not apportioned or allocated pursuant to subdivision (1) (proportional to town population) or (2) (modified at-large) of this subsection (a) (Australian ballot) and the board member is elected at large, the voters residing in any one or more of the member districts may file a petition nominating a candidate for at-large board membership. A petition is valid only if: (i) the candidate is a current voter of the union elementary or union high school district; (ii) the petition identifies the term of office for which the candidate is nominated; (iii) the petition is signed by at least 60 voters residing in the union elementary or union high school district or one percent of the legal voters in the district, whichever is less; (iv) the voters file the petition with the clerk of the union elementary or union high school district not later than 5:00 p.m. on the sixth Monday preceding the day of the election; and (v) the candidate files with the union district clerk a written consent to the printing of the candidate’s name on the ballot. (B) Not later than 5:00 p.m. on the sixth Monday preceding the day of the election, the town clerk of each member district shall furnish to the union district clerk, at the expense of the union district, authenticated copies of the checklist of legal voters within the member district as the checklist appears after revisions are made pursuant to 17 V.S.A. §§ 2141–2150. (C) The union district clerk shall prepare the union elementary or union high school district ballot to include the name of each duly nominated candidate and shall transmit the ballot to the town clerk of each member district to make available to the voters residing in the member district. (D) The voters of the union elementary or union high school district shall elect as many board members as are to be elected at-large for that term of office. (b) If not by Australian ballot. The provisions of this subsection (b) shall apply to a union elementary or union high school district that does not conduct elections for board membership by Australian ballot. (1) The nomination and election of candidates for the office of union elementary or union high school district board member shall occur at a warned meeting of the union school district; provided, however, if the union district elects board members under the “proportional to town population” model, then the nomination and election of candidates shall occur at an annual or special meeting of the member district for the town in which the candidate resides, warned for the purpose pursuant to subsection 755(f) (warnings of union elementary and union high school district meetings; members elected under proportional to town population model and by floor vote) of this chapter. (2) Voters shall only nominate a person who is present at the meeting, and the person shall accept or reject the nomination. (3) The meeting shall proceed in a manner to ensure that the candidate is a voter of a specific member district if the union district elects board members under either the “proportional to town population” model or the “modified at-large” model. (c) Bond. Before a newly elected board member enters upon the duties of office, the union district shall ensure that the district’s blanket bond covers the new member. In lieu of a blanket bond, the district may choose to provide suitable crime insurance coverage. (d) Notification. Within 10 days after the election of a board member pursuant to this section, the union elementary or union high school district clerk shall transmit the name of the newly elected board member to the Secretary of State. Added 2021, No. 176 (Adj. Sess.), § 3, eff. June 7, 2022; amended 2023, No. 66, § 11, eff. July 1, 2023.

16 V.S.A. § 749 Vacancy on union elementary or union high school district board

749. Vacancy on union elementary or union high school district board (a) Filling a vacancy. Notwithstanding any other provisions of law to the contrary, this section shall apply to a vacancy on a union elementary or union high school district board, unless otherwise provided in the articles of agreement of the union elementary or union high school district as initially approved by the voters on or before July 1, 2019. (1) Proportional to town population. If the vacancy is for a seat where membership is apportioned to a member district in a number that is closely proportional to its relative population and only voters residing in the member district elect the board member, then the union elementary or union high school district clerk shall notify the board of the member district not later than five days after learning of the vacancy. Within 30 days after receiving notice, the board of the member district shall appoint a person who is otherwise eligible to serve as a member of the union elementary or union high school district board to fill the vacancy until the voters elect a successor at an annual or special meeting pursuant to the provisions of section 748 (union elementary and union high school district board members) of this chapter. (2) Modified at-large model: allocation to town; at-large representation. If the vacancy is for a seat where membership is allocated to a member district in a number that is not closely proportional to each district’s relative population and the board member is elected at-large, then the union elementary or union high school district clerk shall notify the board of the member district not later than five days after learning of the vacancy. Within 30 days after providing notice and after consultation with the member district’s board, the union elementary or union high school district board shall appoint a person who is otherwise eligible to serve as a member of the union elementary or union high school district board to fill the vacancy until the voters elect a successor at an annual or special meeting pursuant to the provisions of section 748 (union elementary and union high school district board members) of this chapter. (3) At-large representation. If the vacancy is for a seat that is neither apportioned nor allocated to a member district pursuant to subdivision (1) (proportional to town population) or (2) (modified at-large) of this subsection and the board member is elected at-large, then within 30 days after creation of the vacancy, the union elementary or union high school district board shall appoint a person who is otherwise eligible to serve as a member of the board to fill the vacancy until the voters elect a successor at an annual or special meeting pursuant to the provisions of section 748 (union elementary and union high school district board members) of this chapter. (4) No board of member district. For purposes of subdivisions (1) (proportional to town population) and (2) (modified at-large) of this subsection (a), if the member district is also a union school district and any related town school district has discontinued operations pursuant to subdivision 717(b)(2) (discontinuation of forming districts in union elementary and union high school districts) of this chapter and has no board, then the clerk of the union elementary or union high school district shall notify the selectboard of the pertinent town not later than five days after learning of the vacancy. Within 30 days after providing notice and after consultation with the selectboard, the union elementary or union high school district board shall appoint a person who is otherwise eligible to serve as a member of the union elementary or union high school district board to fill the vacancy until the voters elect a successor at an annual or special meeting pursuant to the provisions of section 748 (union elementary and union high school district board members) of this chapter. (5) Vacancy in all seats. If all seats on a school board are vacant, then the Secretary of State shall call a special election to fill the vacancies. (b) Notification. Within 10 days after the appointment of a board member pursuant to this section, the clerk of the union elementary or union high school district shall transmit the name of the appointed board member to the Secretary of State. (c) Obligations and expenses. (1) Vacancy in majority. If there are vacancies in a majority of the members of a union elementary or union high school district board at the same time, then the remaining member or members are authorized to draw orders for payment of continuing obligations and necessary expenses until a majority of the vacancies are filled pursuant to the provisions of this section. (2) Vacancy in all seats. If there are no members of the union elementary or union high school district board in office, then the Secretary of State shall appoint and authorize the district clerk or other qualified person to draw orders for payment of continuing obligations and necessary expenses until a majority of the vacancies are filled. Added 2021, No. 176 (Adj. Sess.), § 3, eff. June 7, 2022.

16 V.S.A. § 750 Union elementary or union high school district budget; preparation and authorization

750. Union elementary or union high school district budget; preparation and authorization (a) The board of a union elementary or union high school district shall prepare and distribute a proposed budget annually for the next school year pursuant to the provisions of subdivision 563(11) (powers of school boards; budget) of this title. (b) If the voters do not approve the board’s proposed budget, then the board shall prepare a revised proposed budget pursuant to 17 V.S.A. § 2680(c)(2) (local elections using the Australian ballot system; rejected budget). (c) If the voters do not approve a budget on or before June 30 of any year, the board of the unified union school district may borrow funds pursuant to the authority granted under section 566 (school districts; authority to borrow) of this title. As used in section 566, the “most recently approved school budget” of a union school district in its first fiscal year of full operations means the cumulative budget amount of the most recently approved school budgets of all districts that merged to form the union district plus 1 percent. Added 2021, No. 176 (Adj. Sess.), § 3, eff. June 7, 2022.

16 V.S.A. § 751 Annual report; data

751. Annual report; data (a) The board of a union elementary or union high school district shall prepare an annual report concerning the affairs of the district and have it printed and distributed to the voters of the district pursuant to the provisions of subdivision 563(10) (powers of school boards; report) of this title. The board shall file the report with the union district clerk and the clerk of each member district. (b) Annually, on or before August 15, the union elementary or union high school district board shall provide to the Secretary answers to statistical inquiries that may be addressed to the district by the Secretary. Added 2021, No. 176 (Adj. Sess.), § 3, eff. June 7, 2022.

16 V.S.A. § 753 Officers; election; term; vacancy; bond

753. Officers; election; term; vacancy; bond (a) Officers. At an annual meeting of the union elementary or union high school district, the voters shall elect a moderator from among the registered voters. The voters shall also vote to elect a clerk and a treasurer of the district; provided, however, at any annual or special meeting, the voters may vote to authorize the school board to appoint the clerk or the treasurer, or both. The clerk of the district shall be elected or appointed from among the voters. The treasurer may also be the supervisory union treasurer and need not be a resident of the union elementary or union high school district. (b) Election if by Australian ballot. If a union elementary or union high school district elects its officers by Australian ballot, then the provisions of subdivision 748(a)(3) of this chapter for election by Australian ballot of at-large candidates for the union elementary or union high school district board shall apply. (c) Terms. (1) Moderator. A moderator elected at an annual meeting pursuant to this section shall assume office on July 1 following the election, unless the voters vote at an annual meeting for the moderator to assume office upon election. A moderator shall serve a term of one year or until a successor is elected and has taken the oath of office unless the voters extend the term length up to three years. (2) Clerk. A clerk elected at an annual meeting pursuant to this section shall assume office on July 1 following the election. A clerk shall serve a term of one year or until a successor is elected and has taken the oath of office unless the voters extend the term length up to three years. (3) Treasurer. A treasurer elected at an annual meeting pursuant to this section shall assume office on July 1 following the election. A clerk shall serve a term of one year or until a successor is elected and has taken the oath of office unless the voters extend the term length up to three years. (d) Vacancy. The board of the union elementary or union high school district shall fill a vacancy in any office elected or appointed pursuant to this section as soon as practicable after the vacancy occurs. The appointee shall serve upon appointment for the remainder of the unexpired term of office or until the voters elect a successor. (e) Oath of office. An officer elected or appointed pursuant to this section shall be sworn in before entering upon the duties of the office. (f) Bond. The district shall ensure that its blanket bond covers a newly elected or appointed treasurer before the treasurer enters upon the duties of the office. In lieu of a blanket bond, the district may choose to provide suitable crime insurance coverage. (g) Notification. Within 10 days after the election or appointment of any officer pursuant to this section, the clerk of the union elementary or union high school district shall transmit the name of the officer to the Secretary of State. Added 2021, No. 176 (Adj. Sess.), § 3, eff. June 7, 2022.

16 V.S.A. § 754 Officers; powers, duties, and liabilities

754. Officers; powers, duties, and liabilities (a) Moderator. The powers, duties, and liabilities of the moderator of a union elementary or union high school district shall be the same as those of a moderator of a town school district. The moderator shall preside at each annual and special meeting of the union elementary or union high school district. In the moderator’s absence, the voters shall elect a moderator pro tempore to preside. (b) Clerk. The powers, duties, and liabilities of the clerk of a union elementary or union high school district shall be the same as those of a clerk of a town school district. The district clerk shall keep a record of the votes and the proceedings of the union school district meetings and shall provide certified copies of them when requested. (c) Treasurer. The powers, duties, and liabilities of the treasurer of a union elementary or union high school district shall be the same as those of a treasurer of a town school district. (d) Documents. The person having custody shall provide to each elected or appointed officer of a union district all books, papers, and electronic documents of the office. Added 2021, No. 176 (Adj. Sess.), § 3, eff. June 7, 2022.

16 V.S.A. § 755 Warnings of union elementary and union high school district meetings

755. Warnings of union elementary and union high school district meetings (a) The board of a union elementary or union high school district shall have the same authority and obligation to warn or call meetings of the district as a town school board has to warn or call town school district meetings. (b) Except as provided in subsection (f) of this section, not less than 30 nor more than 40 days before the meeting, the union district clerk shall warn a union elementary or union high school district meeting by posting a warning and notice to voters, signed by the chair of the union district board or the chair’s designee, specifying the date, time, location, and business of the meeting, in the district clerk’s office and at least one public place in each town within the union elementary or union high school district, and causing the same to be published once in a newspaper circulating in the union district at least five days before the meeting. In the district clerk’s absence, the chair of the board or the chair’s designee shall warn the meeting pursuant to the provisions of this section. (c) The warning shall, by separate articles, specifically indicate the business to be transacted, including the offices and the questions upon which the electorate shall vote. The warning shall also contain any article or articles requested by a petition signed by at least five percent of the voters of the district and filed with the district clerk pursuant to 17 V.S.A. § 2642 (town meetings and local elections; warning and notice contents). (d) The posted notice that accompanies the warning shall include information on voter registration, early and absentee voting, the time and location at which the ballots will be counted, and other applicable information. (e) The warning shall be recorded in the office of the district clerk and shall be provided to the town clerk of each town in the unified elementary or union high school district before being posted. (f) This subsection shall apply if a union elementary or union high school district elects school board members under the “proportional to town population” model and if it elects those members by a floor vote rather than by Australian ballot. (1) The election shall be warned as follows: (A) The district clerk shall transmit the signed warning to each town clerk. (B) The district clerk shall assist each town clerk to incorporate the warning into the warning for the annual or special meeting of each member district. (C) Each town clerk, rather than the union district clerk, shall post and publish the warning pursuant to the provisions of subsection (b) of this section. (2) Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, if any member district elects its own board members by Australian ballot, then the warning, nomination, ballot preparation, and election of union school district board members shall proceed pursuant to the same laws that govern the member district. (3) If an annual meeting of a member district at which the union district board members are elected under this subsection is more than 30 days prior to the annual meeting of the union school district, then notwithstanding subsection 747(a) (board members of union elementary and union high school districts) of this chapter, the newly elected board members shall assume office at the conclusion of the union school district’s annual meeting. (g) Notwithstanding any provision of this section to the contrary, a union elementary or union high school district: (1) shall warn a meeting called for the purpose of considering a bond issue in accordance with the provisions of 24 V.S.A. § 1755; and (2) shall warn a meeting to consider a revised proposed budget pursuant to the provisions of subsection 750(b) (union elementary or union high school district revised proposed budget) of this chapter. Added 2021, No. 176 (Adj. Sess.), § 3, eff. June 7, 2022.

16 V.S.A. § 756 Union district meetings conducted from the floor

756. Union district meetings conducted from the floor (a) Not later than the close of business on the day before the meeting, the town clerk of each member district of a union elementary or union high school district shall furnish to the union district clerk, at the expense of the union district, authenticated copies of the checklist of legal voters within the member district as the checklist appears after revisions are made pursuant to 17 V.S.A. §§ 2141–2150 (registration of voters). The checklist shall control for purposes of determining voter eligibility in the union elementary or union high school district. (b) During the annual or special meeting, one or more members of each town’s board of civil authority shall assist the union district clerk to determine voter eligibility and to supervise voting during the meeting. (c) Votes cast at an annual or special meeting shall be commingled and shall not be counted according to the town in which a voter resides. (d) The provisions of this section shall apply to all votes of the electorate in a union elementary or union high school district that do not proceed by Australian ballot; provided, however: (1) They shall not apply if Vermont statute explicitly permits or requires a different method for a specific type of question presented to the voters. (2) They shall not apply to a vote warned pursuant to subsection 755(f) (warnings of union elementary and union high school district meetings; members elected under proportional to town population model and by floor vote) of this chapter. (e) If a person who resides in a member district and is otherwise eligible to vote at a union elementary or union high school district meeting has not maintained residence in the member district for the requisite number of days but resided in another member district of the union elementary or union high school district for the requisite number of days, then the town clerk of the member district in which the person currently resides shall enter such person’s name on the checklist of legal voters if the person presents to that town clerk a certificate signed by the town clerk of the member district in which the person formally resided confirming that the person lived within the union elementary or union high school district for the requisite number of days. Added 2021, No. 176 (Adj. Sess.), § 3, eff. June 7, 2022.

16 V.S.A. § 757 Conduct of vote if by Australian ballot

757. Conduct of vote if by Australian ballot In any vote that proceeds by Australian ballot in a union elementary or union high school district: (1) A district voter shall vote by Australian ballot in the town in which the voter currently resides at the polling location identified in the warning. (2) Voting shall occur in each town on the same day. (3) The board of civil authority of each town shall be responsible for determining the eligibility of persons to vote and for supervising voting at that polling location. (4) The opportunity for early and absentee voting pursuant to 17 V.S.A. §§ 2531–2550 (conduct of elections; early or absentee voters) shall be provided. Added 2021, No. 176 (Adj. Sess.), § 3, eff. June 7, 2022.

16 V.S.A. § 758 Preparation and form of Australian ballot

758. Preparation and form of Australian ballot (a) The clerk of a union elementary or union high school district shall prepare the ballot for any vote that proceeds by Australian ballot in the union school district. (b) Only questions warned by the union elementary or union high school district and presented to the voters of that district shall appear on a ballot prepared pursuant to subsection (a) of this section. (c) Warned questions of the union elementary or union high school district shall not appear on the same ballot as questions warned by a member district of the union elementary or union high school district or by the legislative body of a town within the union elementary or union high school district. Added 2021, No. 176 (Adj. Sess.), § 3, eff. June 7, 2022.

16 V.S.A. § 759 Counting and reporting results of vote by Australian ballot

759. Counting and reporting results of vote by Australian ballot (a) Process if commingled. If the voters have approved the commingling of votes cast by Australian ballot for any or all categories of public questions, including elections and budget votes, or if Vermont law requires commingling, then the following process applies to those votes except to the extent that Vermont law explicitly requires a different process for a specific type of public question. (1) At least two members of the board of civil authority of each town within a union elementary or union high school district, or two election officials appointed by the board of civil authority of that town, shall transport ballots cast in the member district in a sealed container to a central location designated by the clerk of the union elementary or union high school district. (2) The boards of civil authority shall not count the ballots for purposes of determining the outcome of the votes cast in the member district prior to transporting them but may open the containers and count the total number of ballots cast at that polling location. (3) The union elementary or union high school district clerk or designee shall supervise representatives of the boards of civil authority to count ballots at the central location. The union elementary or union high school district clerk shall also have the authority to appoint current union elementary or union high school district board members who are not on the ballot to aid in the counting of ballots (4) The ballots shall be counted as soon as possible, but not later than 24 hours after the time at which the polls closed. (5) If ballots are to be counted on the day following the election, then the clerk of each member district shall store the ballots in a secure location until they are transported on the following day to the central location designated by the union district clerk for counting. (6) Ballots from all member districts shall be combined into a single group before counting and shall not be counted according to the member district or town in which a voter resides. (7) After the ballots have been counted, the union district clerk shall seal them in a secure container and store them for at least 90 days at a secure location. (8) The union district clerk shall report the commingled results of votes cast within the union elementary or union high school district to the public. (b) Process if not commingled. If the voters have not approved the commingling of votes cast by Australian ballot for budgets, elections, or any other category of public question, and if Vermont law does not require commingling, then the following process applies to those votes except to the extent that Vermont law explicitly requires a different process for a specific type of public question. (1) The board of civil authority of each town within the union elementary or union high school district shall count Australian ballots cast in the member district and report the results to the clerk of the union district. (2) The clerk of the union district shall calculate total votes cast within the union district for any vote that requires approval by the electorate of the entire union elementary or union high school district, rather than approval by the voters in one member district or by the voters in each member district separately. (3) The union district shall report to the public the results of total votes cast; provided, however, that both the union district clerk and the clerk of each member school district shall report the results of ballots cast to elect a union school district board member where membership on the board is apportioned based on town population pursuant to subdivision 748(a)(1) of this chapter. Added 2021, No. 176 (Adj. Sess.), § 3, eff. June 7, 2022.

16 V.S.A. § 760 Bond issues; debt limit

760. Bond issues; debt limit (a) A union elementary or union high school district may make improvements, as defined by 24 V.S.A. § 1751, and may incur indebtedness for the improvements as provided in 24 V.S.A. chapter 53, subchapter 1. (b) The debt limit of the union elementary or union high school district shall be 10 times the total of the education grand lists of the member districts of the union school district. The existing indebtedness of a union elementary or union high school district incurred to finance any project approved under sections 3447 to 3456 of this title shall not be considered a part of the indebtedness of the union elementary or union high school district for purposes of determining its debt limit for a new proposed bond issue. An obligation incurred by a union elementary or union high school district pursuant to this chapter shall be the joint and several obligation of the union school district and each of its member districts. Any joint or several obligation incurred by a member district pursuant to this subsection shall not be considered in determining the debt limit for the separate purposes of the member district. (c) Bond issues under this section shall be determined by Australian ballot and shall proceed pursuant to sections 755 (warnings of union elementary school district and union high school district meetings) and 757–759 (vote by Australian ballot) of this subchapter. Ballots shall be commingled before counting. Added 2021, No. 176 (Adj. Sess.), § 3, eff. June 7, 2022.

Source: Vermont General Assembly (legislature.vermont.gov)URL: https://legislature.vermont.gov/statutes/chapter/16/011Fetched: 10/21/2026