be filled for any unexpired term by an election from the county for which the member whose office is vacant was elected, in the same manner, at any session of the general assembly.

SEC. 4. The governor shall be president, and the commissioner of Officers. public schools shall be secretary, of the board of education.

SEC. 5. The board of education shall hold quarterly meetings in Meetings. the first week of March, June, September, and December of each year, at the office of the commissioner of public schools, and may hold special meetings at the call of the president or secretary. They

shall prescribe, and cause to be enforced, all rules and regulations Rules, &c. necessary for carrying into effect the laws in relation to public

schools.

SEC. 6. The board of education shall make an annual report to Report of. the general assembly, at the adjourned session at Providence.

penses, how

paid.

SEC. 7. The members of the board shall receive no compensation Travelling exfor their services, but the state treasurer may pay, upon the order of the state auditor, the necessary expenses of the members, when attending the meetings of the board, or when travelling upon official business for and within this state, after the bills have been approved by the general assembly.

SECTION 1. There shall be annually elected a commissioner of How elected.. public schools in the manner prescribed in the next preceding chapter, who shall devote his time exclusively to the duties of his office. In case of sickness, temporary absence, or other disability, the governor may appoint a person to act as commissioner during such absence, sickness, or disability.

SEC. 2. The commissioner of public schools shall visit, as often as Duties. practicable, every school district in the state, for the purpose of inspecting the schools, and diffusing as widely as possible, by public addresses and personal communications with school officers, teachers, and parents, a knowledge of the defects, and of any desirable improvements in the administration of the system, and the government and instruction of the schools.

SEC. 3. He shall, under the direction of the board of education, Text-books. recommend and secure, as far as is practicable, a uniformity of text

books in the schools of all the towns; and shall assist in the estab

lishment of, and selection of books for, school libraries.

SEC. 4. He shall annually, on the last Monday in December, make Report of.

a report to the board of education, upon the state and condition of the schools and of education, with plans and suggestions for their improvement.

Appropriation from state treasury.

How apportioned.

How expended.

Towns to receive, when.

Forfeiture of

tion.

SECTION 1. The sum of ninety thousand dollars shall be annually paid out of the income of the permanent school fund, and from other money in the state treasury, for the support of public schools in the several towns, upon the order of the commissioner of public schools.

SEC. 2. The sum of sixty-three thousand dollars of the amount aforesaid shall be apportioned annually, in May, by the commissioner, among the several towns, in proportion to the number of children therein under the age of fifteen years, according to the census of the United States, or of this state, then last preceding; and the sum of twenty-seven thousand dollars shall be apportioned among the several towns in proportion to the number of school districts in each town.

SEC. 3. The money appropriated from the state as aforesaid shall be denominated "teachers' money," and shall be applied to the wages of teachers, and to no other purpose.

SEC. 4. No town shall receive any part of such state appropriation, unless it shall raise by tax for the support of public schools, a sum equal to the amount it may receive from the state treasury for the support of public schools.

SEC. 5. If any town shall neglect or refuse to raise or appropriate town's propor- the sum required in the section next preceding on or before the first day of July in any year, its proportion of the public money shall be forfeited, and the general treasurer, on being officially informed thereof by the commissioner of public schools, shall add it to the permanent

Orders on general treasurer.

school fund.

SEC. 6. The commissioner of public schools shall draw orders on the general treasurer, in favor of all such towns, for their proportion of the appropriation for public schools, as shall, on or before the first day of July, annually, comply with the conditions of the fourth section of this chapter.

CHAPTER 47.

OF THE POWERS AND DUTIES OF TOWNS, AND OF THE
DUTIES OF THE TOWN TREASURER AND TOWN CLERK
RELATIVE TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

SECTION

1. Towns may maintain schools with
or without districts.

2. Towns may be divided into dis

tricts.

SECTION

3. Towns may provide school-houses for districts.

4. School committee, how and when chosen.

SECTION

5. Superintendent, how appointed, his duties, and compensation.

6. Town treasurer to receive and keep account of school money.

7. To submit statement of school money to committee.

SECTION

8. To transmit statement of money
raised and paid out, to commis-
sioner.

9. Town clerks to record boundaries
of districts, and distribute school
documents.

schools, &c.

SECTION 1. Any town may establish and maintain, with or with- Towns may out forming districts, a sufficient number of public schools, of differ- maintain ent grades, at convenient locations, under the management of the school committee, subject to the supervision of the commissioner of public schools as provided by this title.

SEC. 2. Any town may be divided by a vote thereof, into school Districts. districts.

SEC. 3. Any town may vote, in a meeting notified for that purpose, to provide school-houses, together with the necessary fixtures and appendages thereto, in all the districts, if there be districts, at the common expense of the town: Provided, if any district shall provide, at its own expense, a school-house approved by the school committee, such district shall not be liable to be taxed by the town to furnish or repair school-houses for the other districts.

SEC. 4. Any town may, at its first annual town meeting after this act shall go into effect, for the choice of state or town officers, elect a school committee to consist of not less than three residents of the town, who shall serve without compensation unless voted by the town, and shall hold their offices as follows, to wit: immediately after being assembled in consequence of such election, they shall be divided by lot as equally as may be into three classes. The term of office of the first class shall expire at the end of one year, that of the second class at the end of two years, and that of the third class at the end of three years. As the office of each class becomes vacant as aforesaid, or the office of any member of either class by resignation or otherwise, such vacancy or vacancies may be annually filled by the town at its annual town meeting, for the election of state or town officers, or at any time by the town council, until the annual town meeting for the election of state or town officers.

Towns may provide school

houses for districts.

School commit

tee, how and

when chosen.

ent, his appointment, powers, and compensation.

SEC. 5. Any town may elect, or failing to do so, its school com- Superintendmittee shall appoint, a superintendent of the schools of the town, to perform, under the advice and direction of the committee, such duties, and to exercise such powers, as the committee may assign to him, and to receive such compensation out of the town treasury as the town may vote.

SEC. 6. The town treasurer shall receive the money due the town from the state treasury for public schools, and shall keep a separate account of all money appropriated by the state or town, or otherwise for public schools in the town, and shall pay the same to the order of the school committee.

SEC. 7. The town treasurer shall, within one week after the school committee is elected, submit to them a statement of all moneys in his hands belonging to schools, specifying the sources whence derived. SEC. 8. The town treasurer shall, on or before the first day of July, annually, transmit to the commissioner of public schools a certificate of the amount which the town has voted to raise by tax for the support of public schools for the year; and also a statement of the amount paid out to the order of the school committee, and from

Town treasurer

to receive school money.

To submit statement of school money..

To submit statement of and paid out,, to commissioner.

money raised

Town clerks to record bound

aries, &c., and distribute school documents.

what sources it was derived, for the year ending with the thirtieth of April next preceding, and until such return is made to the commissioner, he may, in his discretion, withhold the order for the money in the state treasury belonging to such town.

SEC. 9. The town clerk shall record the boundaries of school districts and all alterations thereof, in a book to be kept for that purpose, and shall distribute such school documents and blanks as may be sent to him, to the persons for whom they are intended.

School district

a body corpo

rate.

Powers of

SECTION 1. Every school district shall be a body corporate, and shall be known by its number, or other suitable or ordinary desig

nation.

SEC. 2. Every school may prosecute and defend in all actions in school district. which said district or its officers are parties, may purchase, receive, hold, and convey real or personal property for school purposes, and may establish and maintain a school library.

District may

school-houses,

&c.

SEC. 3. Every such district may build, purchase, hire, and repair build and repair school-houses, and supply the same with blackboards, maps, furniture, and other necessary and useful appendages, and may insure the house and appendages against damage by fire: Provided, that the erection and repairs of the school-house shall be made according to the plans approved by the school committee, or, on appeal, by the commissioner of public schools.

May raise money by tax.

Officers of the district.

Their powers ..and duties.

SEC. 4. Every such district may raise money by tax on the ratable property of the district, to support public schools; and to carry out the powers given them by any of the provisions of this title: Provided, that the amount of the tax shall be approved by the school committee of the town.

SEC. 5. Every such district shall elect a clerk, and either one, or three, trustees, as they may decide, and shall elect a treasurer and collector, and may fill vacancies in either of said offices arising from death, declining or refusing to serve, resignation, removal from office, or from the district, or otherwise; and if an election of any of said officers be not made at the time prescribed for the annual meeting, it may be made at any legally notified meeting within thirty days thereafter.

SEC. 6. The clerk, collector, and treasurer, within their respective school districts, shall have the like power, and shall perform like duties, as the clerk, collector, and treasurer of a town; but the clerk,

collector, and treasurer need not give bond, unless required by the district.

SEC. 7. All district taxes shall be collected by the district or town Collection of collector, in the same manner as town taxes are collected.

SEC. 8. Any district may vote to place the collection of any district tax in the hands of the collector of town taxes, who shall thereupon, be fully authorized to proceed and collect the same, upon giving bond therefor satisfactory to the school committee.

SEC. 9. If any school district shall neglect to organize, or if organized, shall for any space of seven months, neglect to establish a school, and employ a teacher, the school committee of the town may, themselves, or by an agent, establish a school in the district schoolhouse, or elsewhere in the district, in their discretion, and employ a teacher.

SEC. 10. Any district may, with the consent of the school committee, devolve all the powers and duties relating to public schools in the district, on the committee.

district taxes.

Town collector may collect.

School commit

tee may organize school, if

district neglects.

District may devolve powers

on committee.

SECTION 1. Notice of the time, place, and object of holding the first meeting of a district for organization, or for a meeting to choose officers or transact other business, in case there be no trustees authorized to call a meeting, shall be given by the school committee of the town, at such time, and in such manner, as they may deem proper. SEC. 2. Every school district when organized shall hold an annual meeting, in the month of March, April, or May, of each year, for choice of officers, and for the transaction of any other business relating to schools.

SEC. 3. The trustees may call a special meeting for election, or other business, at any time, and shall call one to be held within seven days on the written request of any five qualified voters, stating the object for which they wish it called; and if the trustees neglect or refuse to call a special meeting when requested, the school committee may call it and fix the time therefor.

SEC. 4. District meetings shall be held at the school-house, unless otherwise ordered by the district. If there be no school-house or place appointed by the district for district meetings, the trustees, or if there be no trustees, the school committee, shall determine the place, which shall always be within the district.

SEC. 5. Notice of the time and place of every annual meeting, and of the time, place, and object of every special meeting, shall be given, either by publishing the same in a newspaper published in the dis