t?.^i',*",-<:'rlj(_ Glass, i-b Z3^^ Book_J/kAj_ IS K-< CODE OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION Revising and Harmonizing Conflicting School Laws LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL To the New Mexico Educational Association: We, your committee, appointed by the president of the Associa- tion under a resolution passed at the 1913 meeting at Albuquerque, submit herewith a code of public instruction revising and harmonizing all present school laws. No new legislation has been introduced and only such laws have been embodied as affect school districts, city and rural, and state and countj'^ administration. It is hoped that the laws affecting the state educational institutions may be revised, harmon- ized, and condensed, and later incorporated with this code. Several hundred copies have been printed and it is recommended that there be a careful study of the proposed code and notice of omissions given to the committee. It is the purpose of the committee to submit to the legislature, also, together with this code, a bill of amendments for the consideration of and adoption by that body. We desire the co- operation of all members of the Association in calling our attention to new legislation which should be introduced. The preparation of the revision herewith submitted has been done by Rupert F. Asplund, Chief Clerk of the State Department of Edu- cation under the direction of your committee. Respectfully submitted, J. B. TAYLOR, Deming, Chairman; Committee: JOS. S. HOFER, Tucumcari, L. C. MERSFELDER, Clovis. w. of D. i cf lb i»i ^ V i REVISING AND HARMONIZING CONFLICTING SCHOOL LAWS I. A SYSTEM OP PUBLIC SCHOOLS. (Cons. 12, Sec. 1.) Section 1. A system of public schools, having been established, shall be maintained by the State of New Mexico, open to all the child- ren of school age in the State. II. STATE3 BOARD OP EDUCATION. (Const. Art. 12, Sec. 6; L. 1912, Ch. 37; L. 1907, Ch. 97, Sees. 1, 2, 15; L. 1912, Ch. 41; L. 1912, Ch. 52; L. 1913, Ch. 77.) Section 1. COMPOSITION AND TERMS OF OFFICE. — There shall be a State Board of Education which shall consist of seven mem- bers, consisting of the Governor, ex-officio, the State Superintendent of Public Instruction, ex-officio, and five members who shall be ap- pointed by the Governor by and with the consent of the Senate. The five appointed members shall include the head of some state educa- tional institution, a county superintendent of schools, and one other person actually connected with educational work. The term of office of said appointed members shall be four years, and until their suc- cessors qualify; Provided that the members now serving may com- plete the te;.rms for which they were appointed. Sec. 2. ORGANIZATION, MEETING, AND COMPENSATION. — The State Board of Education shall meet at the office of the State Superintendent of Public Instruction four times a year, at such times as it may elect, and at such other times upon the call of the Governor or a majority of its members, as the public business may require. The Governor shall be president of said board, but in his absence the board may elect a presiding officer pro tempore. The State Superintendent of Public Instruction shall be secretary of the State Board of Education and shall keep faithful and correct records of its pro- ceedings, which records shall be kept open at all times for inspection. A copy of said record, certified bj^ the secretary of the board shall in all cases be received as evidence in the courts of, or elsewhere in. New Mexico. The members of the board of education shall receive ten (10c) cents per mile for attending each meeting of the said board, counting one way from their place of residence to its place of meeting, and two and one-half ($2.50) dollars a day for each session thereof. This mileage and per diem shall be paid to the members of said board by tho, State Treasurer upon the order of the State Auditor from such funds as may be provided by law. Sec. 3. POWERS AND DUTIES. — The State Board of Education shall have the control, management, and direction of all public schools. It shall have power and it shall be its duty to grant, renew and revoke teachers' certificates; to adopt a series of text books, in- cluding a historj- and civics of New Mexico and to prescribe a uniform course of study for the various public schools of the State; to pre- scribe and adopt a course of study in Industrial Education, including- domestic science, manual training and agriculture, and make all neces- sary rules for its teaching in the public schools; to exercise a general control over teachers' institutes including the certification of all con- ductors and instructors and the issuance of a course of study for such institutes; to adopt a standard of efficiency for business colleges and commercial departments of other schools, to issue certificates of rec- ognition to such schools as meet the required standard; to issue per- mits granting correspondence schools, business colleges and commer- cial departments of other schools which meet the requirements, and their agents or representatives, the right to canvass prospective stu- dents in the State and sell scholarships and receive tuition in advance; and to perform such other duties pertaining to matters of education as may be provided by law. Ill, STATE SUPERINTENDENT OF PlTiLIC INSTRUCTION. (Const. Art. 5; L. 1907, Ch. 97, Sec. 10, 11, 13.) .Section 1. ELECTION, QUALIFICATIONS, SALARY. — A state superintendent of public instruction shall be elected for a term of four years at the same time as other elected state officers, who shall be a citizen of the United States, at least thirty years of age, a resident of New Mexico at least five years, and a trained experienced educator. His salary shall be $3,000 per annum, to be paid as prescribed by law for the payment of state officers. Before entering upon the duties of his office, said superintendent shall take and subscribe to the oath or affirmation as provided by law, which oath or affirmation shall be filed in the office of the Secretary of State. Said superintendent shll be eligible to succeed himself. Sec. 2. — POWERS AND DUTIES. — Sub. Sec. 1. General. — The Su- perintendent of Public Instruction shall have general supervision of public education, and it shall be his duty to visit the State institu- tion at least once in each year. He shall have supervision over rural schools, acting through the county superintendents who shall be re- sponsible to the Superintendent of Public Instruction for faithful per- formance of their duty. He shall have such general supervision over cit5', town, and village schools as shall be necessary in harmonizing and systenriatizing reports, and in securing uniform operation of the public school system. He is hereby vested with general supervision over the official records and accounts of any school district, independ- ent district, or those of any incorporated city, town or A'illage, anrl may require correction thereof, when necessary, personally, or he may delegate this power to the County Superintendent. He may suspend the County 'Superintendent and institute, or cause to be instituted, pro- ceedings in a court of competent jurisdiction for the purpose of bring- ing about the removal of said County Superintendent in the manner prescribed by law, when he shall be satisfied from sufficient evidence submitted to him that said Countj^ Superintendent does not possess the qualifications required or perform his duties as prescribed by the State Board of Education. Sub. Sec. 2. Legal Opinion. — The Superintendent of Public In- struction shall, at the request of any county school superintendent or other school officer, g-ive his opinion upon a written statement of the facts on any question or controversy arising out of the interpretation and construction of school laws and shall keep a record of all such decisions. Upon giving any such opinion the Superintendent may sub- mit the statement of facts to the Attorney General for his advice thereon. It shall be the duty of the Attorney General forthwith, to examine such satement and suggest the proper decision to be made upon such facts. Sub. Sec. 3. Visit Rural Schools, Traveling Expenses. — It shall be the duty of the State Superintendent of Public Intsruction to visit each county, as often as consistent with the discharge of his other duties, for the purpose of holding teachers' meetings, advising with county superintendents and school directors, and awakening an inter- est in the cause of education throughout the State. To this end such annual appropriation shall be made for traveling expenses, pay- able on presentation of certified vouchers and warrants drawn by the Auditor upon the State Treasurer. Such traveling expenses may be incurred by the assistant superintendent when acting under the direction of the Superintendent of Public Instruction. Said Superin- tendent shall file and carefully preserve in his office the official re- ports made to him by the county superitnendents of the several coun- ties, heads of the State educational institutions, and by trustees and directors of all schools of whatever nature within the State. Sub. Sec. 4. Blanks, School Law. — Said Superitnendent shall pre- scribe and cause to be prepared in English and Spanish all forms and blanks necessary in carrying out the details of the common school system, so as to secure its uniform operation throughout the State, and cause the same to be forwarded to the several county superintend- ents to be by them distributed to the several persons entitled to receive the same. He shall cause to be published, as needed, as inany copies of the school laws in force, with such forms, decisions, annotations, regulations, and instructions as he may judge expedient thereto an- nexed, and shall cause the same to be forwarded to the county super- intendent of public instruction. Sub. Sec. 5. Location of Office, Official Acts. — The office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction shall be at the seat of govern- ment where shall be kept all books and papers pertaining to the busi- ness of his office, and copies of all papers filed. His official acts shall be certified by him, and when so certified to shall be received in the courts of, or elsewhere in. New Mexico, as evidence equally and in like manner as the original papers, and he shall deliver to his successor within ten days after the expiration of his term, all books, papers, documents, and other property belonging to his office. Sub. Sec. 6. Assistant Superintendent, Salary. — The Superintend- ent of Public Instruction is hereby empowered to appoint an assistant superintendent of public instruction, who shall be thoroughly con- versant with the Spanish and English languages and to revoke such appointment at his discretion, and such assistant shall take the oath of office as provided by law, which, with his appointment, shall be filed — 5 - "With the Secretary of the State. Said assistant shall receive a salary of $2,000 per annum. IV. COUNTY SUPEIRINTENDENT OF SCHOOIiS. (L. 1907, Ch. 97, Sees. 18, 19, 20; L. 1903, Ch. 119, Sees. 11, 12, 15.) Section 1. ELECTION, TERM. — A county superintendent of schools for each county shall be elected at each general election for county officers, and shall enter upon the duties of his office on the first of January following his election. Said county superintendent shall hold office for four years, or until his successor shall have been duly elected and has qualified, unless sooner removed for cause. Sec. 2. OATH AND BOND. — Each county superintendent, before entering upon the discharge of the duties of his office, shall take and subscribe to the oath or affirmation as provided by law, which oath or affirmation shall be filed in the office of the county clerk. Within thirty days after receiving his certificate of election or appointment as herein provided, he shall give a bond in the sum of two thousand ($2,000.00) dollars to be approved by and filed with the board of county commissioners of his county. Sec. 3. POWERS AND DUTIES. — Subject to the supervision and direction of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, the county su- perintendent of schools shall have jurisdiction over all public schools within his county, except those in cities, and such schools, including city schools, shall, make such reports to the county superintendent and to the Superintendent of Public Instruction as may be required by the State Board of Education. Each county superintendent shall visit each school within his county * as often as the State Board of Education may prescribe. He shall supervise the methods of in- ■ struction employed in the various schools; consult with the school directors concerning the improvement of their schools and the keeping of their accounts; enforce compliance with the school laws; organize, disorganize, or change the boundaries of any school district, as herein- after provided in this act; hold teachers' meetings for the advancement of the school interests of his county, and perform such other duties as are now provided by law for county superintendents and such as the State Board of Education may prescribe. Sec. 4. APPORTIONMENT OF SCHOOL FUNDS. — He shall also on the third Monday in January, April, July and October of each year, ■or as soon thereafter as he shall receive the certificate of the State Superintendent of Public Instruction signifying the amount apportioned to each county for the use of the common schools of the current year, apportion such amount, together with the county school fund for the same purpose, to the several districts within his county, in proportion to the number of school children residing in each over five and under twenty-one years of age, as the same shall appear from the last annual reports of the clerks of the respective school districts, and he shall immediately certify such apportionment to the directors of the re- spective school districts, and to the county treasurer of his county, who shall credit the several school districts on his books with the re- spective sums apportioned to them: Provided, That the county school superintendent is hereby authorized to leave in the county school fund a sufficient amount to meet such warrants as may be legally drawn — 6 — against this fund as elsewhere provided by law. In making said ap- portionment he shall specify the number of the district, the number of children of school age in each district and the amount of money apportioned thereto, and a copy of this apportionment report shall be filed within ten days thereafter in the office of the probate clerk of the county, and he shall also supply a duplicate copy thereof to any newspaper printed within the county which will give publicity to the same free of charge as a matter of general information. Sec. 5. COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT. WHEN TO BE AT COUNTY SEAT. TO EXAMINE BOOKS OF DIRECTORS. — The county superintendent is hereby required to be in attendance at the county seat on the first Saturday in the months of August, September, October, and November for the transaction of official business. He is empowered to examine from time to time the records and account books of district directors outside of incorporated cities and towns, and see to it that the same are properly kept, and it is hereby made obligatory upon all such directors to meet at their accustomed place within the district at least once every thirty days during the school term for the transaction of public business. Sec. 6. COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT MAY REJECT WAR- RANTS ILLEGALLY ISSUED BY SCHOOL DIRECTORS. — The county superintendent shall investigate the legality of all accounts as to whether the same have been legally incurred and allowed before the fixing of his signature thereto, and he may reject any warrant issued by district school directors 'whenever he may deem such war- rant to have been illegally issued. V. OITY DISTRICTS. (C. L. 1897, Sees. 1561-1583; L. 1903, Ch. 119, Sec. 16; L. 1901, Ch. 27, . Section 1. SCHOOLS IN MUNCIPALITIES FREE; EXEMP- TIONS. — In each incorporated city, town or village there shall be es- tablished and maintained a system of free common schools, which shall be kept open no less than five nor more than ten months in any one year, and shall be free to all children residing in such city, town or village, between the ages of five and twenty-one years. But the board of education may, when school room accommodations are in- sufficient, exclude for the time being children between the ages of five and seven years. Sec. 2. WHEN ADJACENT TERRITORY MAY BE ATTACHED TO MUNICIPALITY, FOR SCHOOL PURPOSES. — Territory outside the city, town or village limits, but adjacent thereto, may be attached to such city, town or village for school purposes, upon application to the board of education of such city, town or village by a majority of the electors of such adjacent territory, and upon such application be- ing made to the board of education they shall, if they deem it proper and to the best interests of the school of said city, town or village and the territory seeking to be attached, issue an order attaching such territory to such city, town or village for school purposes and to enter the same upon their journal, and such territory shall, from the date of such order be, and compose a part of such city, town or village for school purposes only, and the taxable property of such adjacent terri- tory shall be subject to taxation, and shall bear its full proportion of — 7 — ^11 expenses incurred in the erection of school buildings and in main- taining- the schools of such city, town or village. Sec. 3; L. 1912, Ch. 43; L. 1913, Ch. 47.) Section 3. Hereafter there shall be elected, in each incorporated city, town, or village, a board of education which shall consist of five members who shall be elected at large from any portion of the Terri- tory subject to the jurisdiction of such board of education. Provided that no member may hold the office of mayor or member of council or trustee of such municipality. Sec. 4. ELECTION. — The qualified electors of such city, town, or village, and those residing within any portion of the territory subject to the jurisdiction of said board of education shall, on the first Tues- day of April in the year 1913, elect five members of the board of edu- cation, two of whom shall hold office for a term of two years and three of whom shall hold office for a term of four years, and there- after a regular election for members succeeding those whose terms ex- pire, shall be held on the first Tuesday of April of each odd numbered year. Provided, That in towns incorporated under special acts, said election shall be held on the second Tuesday of April of each odd numbered year. Provided further, that the terms of all members of boards of education or school directors in such cities, towns and vil- lages, now in office, shall terminate on the first Monday of May, nine- teen hundred and thirteen. Sec. 5. MANNER OF HOLDING ELECTION AND CANVASSING RETURNS — REGISTRATION. — The election herein provided for shall be held, the returns thereof made and canvassed, and the certificates of election issued in accordance with the laws applicable to elections of officers of the respective incorporated cities, town, and villages where- in said boards of education are hereby established, except that no registration shall be required. Sec. 6. SCOPE OF AUTHORITY OF BOARD. — That the board of education hereby established shall have sole control over schools and school property within the said incorporated city, town, or village, the territory thereto attached for school purposes, and the school district of which said city, town or village, before incorporation, was a part, all of which shall constitute the territory subject to the jurisdiction of such board of education for school purposes only, to the same extent as the territory located within the limits of such incorporated city, town or village, except as otherwise provided in this act. Sec. 7. OFFICIAL OATHS AND FILING OF. — Each member of the board of education and officer provided for in this act shall take and subscribe an oath or affirmation to support the Constitution of the United States and the laws of New Mexico, and faithfully perform the duties of his office. The oath and bond of the clerk shall be filed with the treasurer, and all other oaths and bonds shall be filed with the clerk. Sec. 8. SCHOOL BOARDS TO BE BODIES CORPORATE. — The public schools of each city, town or village shall be a body corporate, and shall possess the usual powers of a corporation for public pur- poses, by the name and style of the Board of Education of the City, Town or Village of , of the State of New Mexico, and in that name may sue or be sued, and be capa,ble of contracting and being contracted with, of holding and conveying- such real and personal estate as it may come into possession of by will or otherwise, or as is authorized to be purchased by the provisions of this act. Sec. 9. VACANCIES; HOW FILLED. — The board of education shall have power to fill any vacancy which may occur in their body, but any member so appointed shall serve only until the next school election when the vacancy shall be filled by the election of a member to fulfill the unexpired term, and the ballots and return of elections shall be designated as follows: To fill unexpired term. Sec. 10. TO ELECT 0FPIC5:RS, AND ESTABLISH HIGH SCHOOL, WHEN NECESSARY. — The board of education shall have power to elect their own officers, except the treasurer; to make their own rules and regulations, subject to the provisions of this act; to organize and maintain a system of graded schools; to establish a high school whenever in their opinion the educational interests of the city demand the same, and to exercise the sole control over the schools and school property of the city, town or village. Sec. 11. WHEN OFFICERS SHALL BE ELECTED. — The board of education at its regular meeting in May of each year, shall organize by the election of a president and vice-president from among its own members, each of whom shall serve for the term of one year, or until their successors are elected and qualified; they shall also elect a clerk, who shall hold his office during the pleasure of the board, and who shall receive such compensation for his services as the board may- allow. Sec. 12.- TREASURER OF MUNICIPALITIES EX - OFFICIO TREASURER OF BOARD OP EDUCATION. — The treasurer of the city, town or village shall be ex-officio treasurer of the board of edu- cation, and shall give such bond to the board of education as the board may require, said bond to be approved by the board of education and filed with its clerk. It shall be the duty of the treasurer to deposit daily all money belonging to the board of educa,tion, in some responsi- ble bank, to be designated by the board of education, in the name of such treasurer as such officer, which bank shall pay interest on monthly average balances as may be agreed upon by such bank and the board of education, and before making such deposit the board of education shall take from such bank a good and sufficient bond in a sum to be designated by the board of education, conditioned that such deposit shall be paid on the check or draft of said treasurer. The treasurer shall attend all the meetings of the board when required to do so; shall prepare and submit in writing a monthly report of the ^nances of said board, and shall pay school moneys only upon a war- rant signed by thee president, or, in his absence, by the vice-president, and countersigned by the clerk. The treasurer shall receive from the- board of education fifty dollarsper annum for his services as treas- urer, and no more. Sec. 13. NO MEMBER OF BOARD OF EDUCATION TO RE- CEIVE PAY. — No member of the board of education shall receive any pay or emolument for his services. Sec. 14. DUTIES OF PRESIDENT OF BOARD OF EDUCATION. —It shall be the duty of the president to preside at all meetings of the board of education, to appoint all committees, whose appointment — 9 — is not otherwise provided for, and to sign all warrants ordered by the ooard of education to be drawn upon the treasurer for school moneys. Sec. 15. DUTIES OF VICE-PRESIDENT OF BOARD OF EDU- CATION. — ^It shall be the duty of the vice-president to perform all the duties of the president, in case of his absence or disability. Sec. 16. DUTIES OF CLERK OF BOARD OF EDUCATION. — It shall be the duty of the clerk to be present at all meetings of the board, to keep an accurate journal of its proceedings, to take charge of its books and documents, to countersign all warrants for school moneys drawn upon the treasurer by order of the board of education, -and to perform such other duties as the board of education or its com- mittees may require. Sec. 17. CLERK SHALL GIVE BOND. — Before entering upon the discharge of his duties, the clerk of the board of education shall give bond in the sum of one thousand dollars, with good and sufficient sure- ties, to be approved by the board, conditioned upon the faithful per- formance of the duties of his office. Sec. 18. REGULAR AND SPECIAL MEETINGS OF BOARD OF EDUCATION. — The regular meetings of the board of education shall ■be upon the first Monday of each month, but special meetings may be held from time to time, as circumstances may demand. Sec. 19. REPORTS OF BOARDS OF EDUCATION, PRINTING AND DISTRIBUTION OF. — The board of education, at the close of each school year, or as soon thereafter as practicable shall make an tinnual report of the progress, prosperity and condition, financial as well as educational, of all the schools under their charge; and said report, or such portion of it as the board of education shall consider of advantage to the public shall be printed either in a public news- paper or in pamphlet form, and a copy furnished the county and the State Superintendent. Sec. 20. DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENTS. TERMS OF OFFICE. DUTIES. — District superintendents in districts consisting of incor- porated cities or towns shall be employed for a term of not to exceed two years, and their duties other than now specified by law may be ■defined by the board of directors of such incorporated city, town or village. Sec. 21. SPECIAL TEACHERS' INSTITUTES MAY BE HELD. — In addition to the privileges, powers and duties of boards of education hereto prescribed by law, the power is hereby granted to boards of education for districts consisting of incorporated cities to employ a city or district superintendent, who in conjunction with the board of education, shall be authorized to hold special teachers' institutes for the instruction of teachers. Sec. 22. SCHOOL PROPERTY TO BE CONVEYED TO LOCAL BOARD OF EDUCATION. — Any city, town or village is hereby au- thorized and required, upon request of the .board of education of such <;ity, town or village to convey to said board of education all property within the limits of any such city, town or village heretofore pur- <;hased by any such city or town for school purposes and now held and used for such purposes, the title to which is vested in any such •city, town or village. — 10 — Sec. 23. HOW DEED SHALL, BE EXECUTED. — All conveyances for the property mentioned in the preceding section shall be signed by the mayor and attested by the clerk of said city, town or village,, and shall have the seal of the city, town or village affixed thereto, and be acknowledged by the mayor of such city, town or village in the same manner as other conveyances of real estate. Sec. 24. SCHOOL PROPERTY EXEMPT PROM TAXATION. — All property held by the board of education for the use of public schools shall be exempt from taxation, and shall not be taken in any manner for any debt due from the city, town or village. Sec. 25. EXPENDITURES; LIMITATIONS. — No expenditure in- volving an amount greater than two hundred dollars shall be made, except in accordance with the provisions of a written contract, and no contract involving an expenditure of more than five hundred dollars, for the purpose of erecting any public buildings or making any im- provements, shall be made except upon sealed proposals, and to the lowest responsible bidder. Sec. 26. PROPERTY SUBJECT TO TAXATION. — The taxable property of the whole city, town or village, including the territory at- tached for school purposes, shall be subject to taxation. All taxes- collected for the benefit of the schools shall be paid in money, and shall be placed in the hands of the treasurer, subject to the order of the board of education. VI. RURAL DISTRICTS. (C. L. 1897, Sec. 1527 (as amended by L. 1907, Ch. 99); C. L. 1S97, Sees. 1529, 1530, 1532, 1533, 1535, 1545, 1547, 1552, 1553; L. 1903, Sees; 11,. 12; L. 1907, Sees. 22, 23.) Section 1. PRESENT SCHOOL DISTRICTS DECLARED LEGAL. — Each of the school districts of the different counties as now consti- tuted, is hereby declared to be a school district, until changed under the provisions of this act, and there shall be established in each dis- trict one or more schools in which shall be taught orthography, read- ing, writing, arithmetic, grammar, geography, the English language, the history and civics of the United States, history and civics of New Mexico, and physiology. Sec. 2. EACH SCHOOL DISTRICT A BODY CORPORATE.— That each school district shal be a body corporate by the name and style of School District Number , of the County of , and by such name may contract and be contrated with, sue and be sued, in any of the courts of this State having competent jurisdiction, and every such district shall hold, in the corporate name of the district, the title of lands and other property which may be required by said district for school purposes. Sec. 3. CREATION AND ALTERATION OF SCHOOL DIS- TRICTS. — Whenever it is desired that a new school district shall be formed, a petition and statement of facts signed by a majority of legal electors residing within the proposed district shall be presented to the county superintendent of schools. Said petition and statement shall contain such description of the boundaries of said proposed district as will be sufficient to definitely locate it; it shall also contain the names and ages of all persons of school age who are actually residents of the proposed district. — n — Whenever a new district has been created, at the next regular ap- portionment, the county superintendent shall apportion to it its share -of the school fund as provided by law. Within fifteen days after the creation of a new district, or the alteration of any district or districts, the county superintendent shall notify the county clerk of such action, giving the number of such new district and describing the boundaries of new or changed districts. No school district shall hereafter be created or divided unless there be at least twenty-five (25) children of school age in the new district and at least twenty-flve (25) children of school age remaining in the district or each of the districts from which such district is taken; Pro- vided however. That a board of school directors may maintain more than one school in its district for the better accommodation of the patrons of said district. Upon the receipt of such petition and statement by the county su- perintendent, he shall create such new district, shall assign to it a number or other proper designation, appoint three persons as a board of directors, who shall serve until the time of the next regular election for directors, at which time a board shall be elected. Provided, That the territory of a school district shall not be so reduced as to make its bonded indebtedness exceed six (6%) per cent of its assessed valuation. After paying all indebtedness of the old district that is chargeable to the district school fund, if any balance remains the county super- intendent shall divide the said balance between the old district and the new in proportion to the number of children of school age in each. All other resources such as school houses, proceeds of sale of bonds, also all similar indebtedness shall be divided between the old district and the new in proportion to the taxable property, according to the assessed value in each. In making such adjustment, the superintend- ent, in co-operation with the board of county commissioners, of the county in which such districts are situated, is hereby authorized to use such plans, or means, as will best subserve the mutual interests of the two districts and their decisions shall be final, subject to the right of appeal to the courts. The county superintendent shall consolidate school districts on the presentation of separate petitions signed by the majority of electors residing in the respective districts affected; he shall also attach a ter- ritory to a district by change of boundary lines on the presentation of separate petitions signed by the majority of the electors residing in the respective territories affected; which petitions shall be prepared and submitted as hereinbefore described. Whenever the number of persons of school age within a school dis- trict has been reduced below 15 from causes over which the county superintendent does not have control and these conditions seem likely to remain permanent, said superintendent is empowered to disorganize such district and attach the territory to the school district or districts adjacent thereto. Provided, If said district at the time of disorganiza- ion is liable for bond issue or interest thereon, the board of county commissioners is hereby authorized and required to make levy and order collections thereof on the property of said disorganized district for the purpose of meeting the payment of said bonds and interest in — 12 -^ -a manner as provided for such purpose in the case of a regular school district. Appeal may be made from the decision of the county superintend- ent concerning the orgainzation, disorgainzation, or change of boun- dary lines of a school district, to the board of county commissioners of the county in which the school district is located, and the decision of said board which shall be final. Sec. 4. LOCATION OF SCHOOL DISTRICT — BOUNDARY LINES. — The boundary lines and corners of all school districts shall be accurately located by the county surveyor of each county at the re- quest of the superintendent, who shall prepare a map showing the districts. The expense of such proceedings shall be charged to the county wherein the school district is situated and be allowed by the board of county commissioners at the discretion of said board not to exceed fifty ($50.00) dollars a school district. Sec. 5. BONDS NOT TO BE ISSUED UNTIL BOUNDARIES OF SCHOOL DISTRICTS HAVE BEEN ESTABLISHED. — No bonds of any district shall be issued or any special tax levied until the boun- daries of said district shall have been established and the property marked by monuments or by natural objects as provided by law. The boundaries of all school districts in this State, so far as possible, shall coincide with the precinct boundaries, and said boundaries shall be established by the proper authorities, and the corners thereof marked by monuments or natural objects with the words. District Number , in a permanent manner marked upon them, and an out- lined map of the district made, showing the length and breadth thereof, and the proposed location of the school house; a copy of said map to be filed with the county superintendent. Sec. 6. ASSESSOR TO MAKE ASSESSMENT OF DISTRICT AF- TER BOUNDARIES ARE ESTABLISHED. — In any school district where a special tax is in contemplation of being levied, or of bonds being issued, and after the boundaries of the district have been prop- erly determined and marked for that purpose, it shall be the duty of the county assessor to visit said district and make an assessment of all taxable property, both personal and real, within said school dis- trict, as fully and completely as he is now required to make the assess- ment of the county and he shall be governed by the same rules, es- pecially including in such assessment all kinds of livestock which graze wholly within the limit of such district. The county assessor shall provide each board of district directors with a copy of such lists of taxable property in the several districts. Sec. 7. DISTRICT TO ACQUIRE REAL ESTATE. — It shall be lawful for any district to take and hold in its corporate name, under the provisions of this act, so much real estate as may be necessary for the location and construction of a school house and convenient schools: Provided, That the real estate so taken, otherwise than by consent of the owner, shall not exceed one acre. The site so taken must be situated on some public highway or thoroughfare. Sec. 8. CONDEMNATION OF LAND. — If the owner of any such real estate refuse or neglect to grant the necessary site on his premises, then and in that case the directors may acquire title to so much of ^aid land as is necessary for school purposes, in the manner now pro- — 13 — vided by law for the condemnation of land for railroads or other public purposes, and such lands so taken shall be deemed to be taken for public use. Sec. 9. ELECTION OF SCHOOL DIRECTORS. — On the second Monday of March of each succeeding year the directors serving at that time shall post notices of an election to be held by them on the first Monday in April by the qualified voters for one school director or for school directors, in case there is a vacancy or vacancies to be filled. Only one director shall be voted for whose term shall be three years, except that, when there is a vacancy or vacancies to be filled, directors^ shall be voted for to fill such vacancy or vacancies for the unexpired term or terms. Legal voters and women having the same qualifications. residing in said district, shall be qualified to vote at said election; the votes shall be by written or printed ballots, and the election shall be held between the hours of 8 a. m. and 5 p. m., on the first Monday of April, at the public school house or some other convenient place to be specified in said notice; the result of said election shall be certified by said directors to the county superintendent, and the term of office of said directors shall begin on the first Monday of May following their election. The directors so elected shall take and file with the county superintendent, before the first Monday of May, an oath that they will faithfully per- form the duties of their office; said oath shall be administered by the judges holding the election first provided for, and at subsequent elec- tions by the directors serving and in said oath shall be set forth the number of said school districts. Any school director who shall fail to call the election and post the notices therefor, or to correctly certify the result of such election as r-equired in this section, shall be deemed guilty of malfeasance in office, and shall be disqualified from again holding said office by appointment or otherwise for a period of one year thereafter, and shall be summarily removed by the superintend- ent of schools, and shall be fined not less than twenty-five dollars nor more than one hundred dollars, or imprisoned in the county jail not less than twenty-five nor more than one hundred days, the said fines to go to and become a part of the school fund of the district in which such person was a dii'ector. And it is hereby made the duty of the county school superintendent so removing a director to make affidavit of the facts to the district judge, or before any justice of the peace, and to act as prosecuting witness against said director. The said school directors shall truly canvass the vote cast at the election and send the ballots to the county school superintendent, together with their certificate of election, where said ballots shall remain in his cus- tody for the period of thirty days, during which time notice of contests may be given by any person interested. If no such notice shall be given within such period, the county school superintendent shall de- stroy such ballots. But if such notice of contest be given, it shall be his duty to turn the same over, in exactly the same condition as they were received by him, to the county clerk of his county, where they may be examined under the same terms and conditions as ballots in other cases of contested elections for county officers, and the same provisions shall apply to a contest for the position of school director as is provided by law for contesting other county officers. — 14 — Sec. 10. ORGANIZATION AND DUTIES OF SCHOOL DIREC- TORS. — Five days after their qualification the school directors shall meet and elect a chairman and a clerk, and two directors shall con- stitute a quorum, which shall be competent to discharge all the duties of a full board. Should a vacancy occur from any cause, notice shall be given to the county superintendent by the directors or a director, and thereupon said county superintendent shall appoint a director to fill such vacancy until the next election. They shall have the care and keeping of the school house and other property belonging to the school district, and are hereby authorized to open the school houses for the use of religious, political, literary, scientific, mechanical, agri- cultural, and industrial societies belonging to their district, for the purpose of holding business or public meetings of said societies. No board shall issue warrants or certificates of indebtedness of the school district, in excess of the amount of the levy for one year, but all school orders shall draw 6 per cent interest per annum after having been presented to the county treasurer and not paid for want of funds, which fact shall be indorsed upon the order by the treasurer. The directors of the several school districts shall also employ and pay ■school teachers under the restrictions imposed by this act, and shall have the general control and management of the schools in their re- spective districts, subject to such supervision as shall herein be con- ferred upon the county superintendent. Sec. 11. SCHOOL DIRECTORS TO FURNISH ITEMIZED AC- COUNTS WITH VOUCHERS. — Directors serving in districts outside of incorporated towns or cities are hereby required to accompany all vouchers or' warrants presented for the signature of the county super- intendent with itemized statement of account, and the county super- intendents shall withhold his approval of all bills until such statements are provided. Sec. 12. COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT MAY REJECT WAR- RANTS ILLEGALLY ISSUED BY SCHOOL DIRECTORS. — The county superintendent shall investigate the legality of all accounts as to whether the same have been legally incurred and allowed before the fixing of his signature thereto, and he may reject any warrant issued by district school directors whenever he may deem such war- rant to have been illegally issued. VII. TEACHERS. - ■ such fact. Upon being satisfied thereof the State Superintendent shall make requisition upon said reserve fund through the State Auditor in favor of the treasurer of said county, to be by him credited to the proper school district for sucji amount as will be sufficient, to- gether with such income for the maintaining of a school for the full term of five months in said district. Provided, however, that for the purpose of this act the amount which any school district shall expend for maintaining a school for the full term of five months shall not exceed the sum of three hundred dollars for each school room, and that for the purposes of this act the amount which any school dis- trict shall expend for maintaining a school for the full term of five months shall not exceed the sum of three hundred dollars for each school room, and that for the purposes of this act, no school district shall be entitled to more than one school room for each fifty chil- dren of school age or fraction thereof in such district. At the end of the fiscal year any balance remaining in the reserve fund shall be re- turned to the current school fund. The school directors of each school district and the boards of education of cities, towns and villages, M'hether incorporated un- der general or special laws shall have power and are hereby required to provide by purchase or lease suitable school houses, to keep said school houses in repair, to provide same with necessary furniture and fuel, to provide for the payment of teachers' wages and interest on school bonds and for the redemption thereof, and defray all other contingent expenses connected with he proper conduct of the public or common schools. Sec. 14. It shall be the duty of such directors and boards of education on or before the first day of June in each year to make and certify to the board of county commissioners of their respective counties an estimate of the amount of funds necessary for such pur- poses for the ensuing year. Sec. 15. The board of county commissioners of each county shall annually at the time of levying other taxes levy a special school tax upon all the taxable property in each of such districts, including thei territory attached to any school district for school porposes, which, together with the other revenues provided law, will be sufficient to produce the amount required for such purposes as stated in such esti- mate. In case said board shall disapprove such estimate or in case the school directors of any district or any board of education fail to make an estimate the board of county commissioners shall levy such special school tax for such district as in its opinion will be suf- ficient to provide, the necessary funds for the purposes specified in Section 13a above: Provided, That the special school tax which may be levied, in accordance with the provisions of this act, shall not ex- ceed fifteen mills in districts other than incorporated cities, towns and villages, and twenty mills in such cities, towns and villages. The proceeds of such special school tax for such cities, towns and villages shall be paid to the treasurers of the several boards of education. The county treasurer shall take duplicate receipts there- for, one which he shall file in his office and the other he shall trans- mit to the clerk of the proper board of education. The proceeds of such special school tax for school districts other __- 34 — than incorporated cities, towns and villages shall be credited by. the county treasurer to the respective schoo Idistricts. Sec. 16. To further provide the necessary funds for the conduct of the pubHc schools of the county the board of county commissioners shall annually on or before the first day of August in each year levy a general county school tax of three mills on the dollar upon all the taxable property of the counties, to be assessed and collected as other taxes are assessed and collected. The proceeds of this levy shall be placed to the credit of the general county school fund. Sec. 17. Any surplus in the sinking fund of any school district may be applied by the directors of said district to the building of additional school houses or to the enlargement of their present school buildings. Sec. 18. PROPERTY EXEMPT FROM SCHOOL TAXES. (C. L. tl897, Sec. 1560.) — The following classes of propery shall be exempt from taxation for school purposes: Property of the United States, of this State, of counties, cities, towns and other municipal cor- porations, when devoted entirely to public use and not held for pe- cuniary profit, all public libraries, grounds, buildings, books, papers and apparatus of literary, scientific, benevolent, agricultural and re- ligious institutions and societies devoted exclusively to the appropriate object of those institutions and not leased or otherwise used with a view to pecuniary profit; and cemeteries not held for pecuniary profit. Provided, That mines and mining claims shall pay a tax upon the net product and upon the surface improvements only. Sec. 19. (L. 1912, Ch. 77; L. 1913, Ch. 18.) — All money colleced and not distributed by the treasurers and ex-officio collectors of the several counties in the State on account of delinquent taxes accruing prior to the year 1911 shall be distributed as follows; That portion of said taxes levied for State purposes of any char- acter shall be paid into the State Treasury and by the State Treasurer, covered in the State Road Fund; all of the remainder of said taxes shall be covered into the county road fund and county school fund; provided, that the apportionment of said taxes as between the said county road fund and the said county school fund shall be made in the discretion of the county commissioners of each county; and, provided further, that no part of said delinquent taxes shall be cov- ered into said school fund or road fund until all valid floating in- debtedness, outstanding and owing by the respective counties, evi- denced by claims approved by the county commissioners prior to January first, 1911, shall have been fully paid. And provided further, that this act shall not extend to taxes heretofore levied for court purposes and belonging to the court fund of any county in the State, where, in the opinion of the judge of the district court of the district in which such county is situate, certified to the treasurer of such countj^ the court fund of any such county is insufficient with taxes levied and collected since the year 1911, to hold court and properly conduct the court business of such county. Sec. 20. (L. 1909, Ch. 119.) — The terms and conditions of the acts of Congress providing for the distribution among the states and territories of the United States of a portion of the revenues derived from forest reserves be and the same are hereby accepted. — 35 — Sec. 21. Immediately after the passage and approval of this act the Treasurer of the State of New Mexico shall transmit to the treasurers of the various counties in which forest reserves are sit- uated the proportion of money in his hands from the source herein mentioned which shall be due such county, such proportion to be based upon the number of acres of forest reserves in such county. Sec. 22. Such moneys shall be applied in the different counties to which the same is transmitted, one-half thereof to the credit of the general county school fund and one-half to the credit of the county road funds. Provided, That in the counties of Socorro and Grant one-half of such moneys apportioned to said counties shall be credited to the State Road Fund, instead of the county road fund, and shall be expended under the supervision of the State Road Commission upon roads within such counties to which such funds may be apportioned. Provided further. That the county commissioners of any county desiring to co-operate with said State Commission in the building of any public road may cause a special levy of five mills upon each dollar of taxable property, the proceeds of which may be made avail- able, subject to the expenditure under direction of said State Road Commission. Sec. 23. No officer shall receive any compensation for the receipt, handling or disbursement of said funds, and any officer who shall ap- ply said funds to any other purpose than the purpose mentioned herein and in the. acts of Congress referred to shall forfeit treble the amount so misapplied and shall be immediately removed from office. Sec. 24. POLL TAX. (C. L. 1897, Sec. 1549, as amended by L. 1905, Ch. 61.) — A poll tax of one dollar shall be levied upon all able-bodied male persons of the age of twenty-one years or over for school purposes. It shall be the duty of the clerks of the various school districts of the State of New Mexico to make out separate lists of all persons liable to pay a poll tax, resident in their respective districts, and the said clerk shall receive three dollars, to be paid out of any funds in the hands of the directors of said school district for such services, and no other person shall receive a recompense for such service. It shall be the duty of the said school district clerk to collect said poll tax and said clerk shall receive ten per centum of all moneys collected from poll taxes. The school district clerks are hereby empowered to bring suit in the name of the school district for the collection of said poll tax, if not paid within thirty days after the first demand has been made for the payment of same from any person so delinquent. All poll taxes shall be paid to the county treasurer for the use of the respective school districts in which the same are collected, and the treasurer shall pay to the school dis- trict clerk his percentage of the gross amount collected. Provided, Ihat no poll tax shall be received by any district clerk from any resi- dent of any other school district. No property shall be exempt from execuion in suits for collection of poll taxes, and the justices of the peace and contables shall not demand fees in advance of such suits. Sec. 25. DUTY OF DISTRICT CLERK IN RESPECT TO POLL TAX. — It shall be the duty of the school district clerks to make at least four copies of the names of persons liable to pay poll tax, and — 36 — on the first Monday in February he shall post one of said lists in some conspicuous place in their respective districts for the informa- tion of the people, and on or before the first Monday in April the school district clerks shall report to the county clerk a complete list of said persons liable to pay a poll tax in their respective districts, and shall report said list to the county superintendent in writing, and shall report to said superintendent the amount of poll tax col- lected, from whom collected, the names of persons still delinquent and the reasons for said delinquency, and further, one list of such persons liable to pay a poll tax shall be filed in the office of said clerks. Sec. 2 6. FACILITATE THE COLLECTION OF POLL AND ROAD TAXES. (L. 1907, Ch. 96.) — That any person, firm or cor- poration having in his, theirs or its employ any male person or per- sons required by law to pay a poll tax, or to do public work, shall on demand of the clerk of the school board of any school district, wherein such employes may reside and are required by law to pay a poll tax, furnish to him a list of the names of all employes residing in such school district liable by law to pay a poll tax; and on de- mand of the road overseer of any precinct shall likewise furnish to him a list of all employes residing in such precinct who are required by law to work on the public roads therein; and if the clerk of any school district or road overseer shall find on such list so furnished to him, as hy this act provided, the name or names of any person cr persons who have not paid his poll tax or work on the public roads or paid a road tax in lieu of such work as required by law, such clerk and road overseer respectively shall give to such employer the names of all employes found by him on the list furnished as herein provided, together with the statement of the amount of poll tax or road tax, as the case may be, each employe is due and owing, and thereupon every such employer shall pay to such clerk or road overseer, as the case may be, the amount due and payable from each employe, taking from the officer collecting the said poll tax or road tax a separate receipt for the tax of each employe so paid, which receipt shall be and become a complete and counter claim and set off to the amount of their full face value in discharge of any obliga- tion or any manner of indebtedness existing at the time, or which may at any time thereafter exist and be owing to any such employe by the employer paying the same. Sec. 27. Any employer who shall refuse to furnish the lists of employes or pay the poll or road tax, as provided in the preceding section, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and on conviction thereof before any justice of the peace having jurisdiction shall be punished by a fine of not less than twenty-five dollars ($25.00) nor more than one hundred dollars ($100.00) and the costs of the prosecution. Sec. 28. PERSONS SERVING FIVE YEARS AS FIREMEN IN STATE ENTITLED TO CERTIFICATE OP EXEMPTION FROM CERTAIN TAXES AND MILITARY DUTIES. (C. L. 1897, Sec. 1763, 1764.) — Any person who has served five years as a fireman in this State, as aforesaid, and who shall present to the clerk of the county in which he resides the certificate or certificates of the presi- dent, foreman or captain of the company or companies to which he ^ 37 — may have belonged, countersigned by the secretary of the same, shall have the said certificate or certificates recorded by said county clerk in a book which he shall keep for that purpose, and it shall be the duty of said probate or county clerk to return said certificate or certi- ficates, tog'ether with his own, under seal, to said person entitled thereto, setting forth the name of the company or companies of which said person was a member and the length of time he had served as such, for which the said clerk shall be entitled to a fee of one dollar, to be paid by the person obtaining the certificate. Such certificate shall be received in all courts and places as prima facie evidence that said person is entitled to the exemption herein pro- vided. If the president, foreman or captain of any such fire com- pany shall knowingly grant or issue any illegal certificate under the provisions of this act he shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and subject to a penalty in amount not less than fifty nor more than five hundred dollars for each offense, to be collected before any court having competent jurisdiction. Stec. 29. MILITIAMEN IN GOOD STANDING ARE EXEMPT FROM PAYMENT OF POLL TAX. (L. 1905, Ch. 101, Sec. 79.) XX. scjhooij building. Section 1. USE OF SURPLUS FUNDS. (L. 1899, Ch. 46, Sees. 2, 3; L. 1903, Ch. 37, Sees. 1-5.) — Sub. Sec. 1. Directors May Use Sur- plus in General School Fund to Construct School Buildings. — When- ever a petition signed by one-half of the qualified voters of such the county treasury to the credit of any school district in the State, outside of incorporated towns and cities, to the amount of not less than two hundred dollars ($200.00) after all the expenses of main- taining the schools in said district for teachers' salary, rent and other expenses connected therewith, the said surplus or any part thereof may be withdrawn by the directors of said school district and applied by them to the procuring of a suitable site and the erection theeron of proper school buildings, or for the repairing of any school building or buildings for the use of such school district in the manner following. Sub. Sec. 2. * Surplus Fund. Available "When. Duties of County Superintendents, County Treasurer, and School Directors. — Whenever a petition signed by one-half of the qualified voters of such school dis- trict described in Section 1 of this act, as shown by the number of votes cast in said district or precinct at the last general election, shall be presented to the county school superintendent, praying that such sur- plus money described in Section 1 of this act may be turned over to the scuool directors of such school districts for the purpose of procur- ing a site and erecting school building or buildings thereon, then it shall oe the duty of said county school superintendent within ten days after the receipt of said petition, to forward the same to the county treasurer, who shall file the said petition and safely keep the same among the records and archives o fhis office, and it shall be the duty of said county treasurer to at once notify the school directors of such scnuol district of the amount of money then on hand, subject to be withdrawn for the purposes named; and thereafter the said treasurer shall honor and pay all warrants drawn by such school directors against such surplus fund for the purchase of site and erection of — 38 — school houses theron, when the same are accompanied by itemized and verified accounts and vouchers until the said surplus is exhausted; and it shall be the duty of the school directors to open proper books of account with the said fund, and enter therein all receipts and dis- bursements on account of such fund; and it shall be their further duty to take from persons to whom money may be due on account, itemized and verified bills in duplicate, one of which shall be retained by said board of directors, and the other shall be transmitted with the war- rant drawn in payment thereof to the county treasurer of the county in which said district is located. And the said school directors shall in no event and under no pretext contract for or incur obligations on such account beyond the amount of money available in the county treasury for such purposes, nor shall they under any circumstances incur any debt in the erection of such school house, or houses, or im- provement or repair thereof except as provided in this Act. Sub. Sec. 3. Proviso, "When Surplus Not Sufficient to Complete Buildings. — In case there shall not be sufficient surplus moneys on hand to purchase a site and complete the building or buildings con- templated by the school directors under this act they are hereby au- thorized to procure the site for school purposes and to commence the erection of such building or buildings as they may deem necessary and proper for the purposes herein named, and shall carry on the construction thereof, so far as the moneys on hand for that purpose will permit, as hereinbefore provided, and in case the term of office of any such school directors or any member thereof shall expire, be- fore the said buildings are completed, it shall be the duty of their successor or successors to proceed with the work in the manner herein provided until such work is completed. Sub. Sec. 4. Failing to Vote Bonds, County Superintendent Shall Order a Portion of the School Fund as School House Building Fund.— In cases where the question of issuing bonds has been or shall be submitted to the voters of any schools district, and shall fail to carry, then the county superintendent of schools shall in writing order the county treasurer to set aside such portion of the school fund of such district, not less than one-fifth thereof, yearly, for the pur- pose of eventually building a school house for such district, and such fund shall be kept for such purpose only, and such superintendent shall when in his opinion such fund is sufficiently large for the pur- pose, order the school directors of such district to build such school house, he to approve the contract therefor. Sub. Sec. 5. Insurance of School Buildings. — The board of direc- tors of any school district is empowered to expend, from the funds in the treasury of said school district, any moneys necessary to properly insure any school building or buildings in such school district. Sub. Sec. 6. Failure of Officer to Carry Out the Provisions of This Act. Penalty. — Any failure of any of the officers mentioned to carry out the provisions in the letter and the spirit of this act with reference to school buildings shall subject such officers to removal and to for- feiture of their official bond for the benefit of such school district so injured thereby, and any school director so offending shall be dis- qualified to become his own successor in office either by electio"n or by appointment for a period of one year from date of such removal. — 39 — Any person failing to perform the duties required of them by this act shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and on conviction thereof shall be punished by a fine of not less than one hundred dollars, or more than five hundred dollars; and it is hereby made the duty of the State Superintendent of Public Instruction to see that this act is strictly enforced, and to make all proper complaints for violation thereof; and it is further made the duty of all district attorneys to vigorously prosecuate the same. Sec. 2. STATE AID IN SCHOOL BUILDING. (L. 1913, Ch. 74.) — Sub. Sec. 1. School Building Fund Created. — Any balance remaining in the reserve fund created for the purpose of enabling school districts to hold school for a term of five months, at the end of the school year shall be set aside by the Treasurer of the State to the credit of the "School Building Fund," which is hereby created. Sub. Sec. 2. Application to State for Funds for Five Months School; Endorsement; Approval. — Any school district already formed or which may hereafter be formed in which the regular annual income is insufficient for the maintaining of a school for a period of five months, may make application to the Superintendent of Public In- struction and Attorney General of the State on a form to be prepared by said Attorney General, for sufficient funds out of the fund herein created, to enable such district to build and construct a suitable school house or houses, or to complete or properly furnish such school house or school houses for the convenience and suitable education of the children therein of compulsory school age; such application shall de- scribe the boundaries of such district, give t he amount of taxable property therein, its indebtedness already Issued and outstanding, the number of school children therein who can be accommodated by such school buildings and all other facts which may aid the State Superin- tendent and the Attorney General in determining the advisability of constructing, completing or furnishing such school building or school buildings; said application shall be signed by the school directors of the district and must, before presentation to the Spperintendent of Public Instruction receive the endorsement of the superintendent of schools, which said endorsement must appear on said application; Provided, however, should the county superintendent of schools arbi- trarily refuse to approve any such application, the directors may pre- sent the same to the State Board of Education and said Board may, after a hearing, if it finds the facts warrant, approve said application without the endorsement of the county superintendent of schools. Sub. Sec. 3. Approval of Application by State Officers; Payment of Funds; School District Furnish Building Site and Labor. — If the State Superintendent of Public Instruction and Jthe Attorney General of the State approve said application they shall endorse thereon their approval and cerify the amount allowed to the Auditor of the State who shall draw his warrant in favor of the treasurer of the county in which said district is situate to be by him credited to said school dis- trict payable out of the fund herein created and the Treasurer of the State shall pay said warrant, upon presentation, out of such fund. Provided, That not to exceed ($300.00) three hundred dollars shall be allowed for building or completing any school building nor more than fifty dollars for furnishing any school room and in every case the — 40 - school district receiving aid shall furnish in labor or money at least one-third of the cost of the construction, completion, or furnishing of the school building or buildings. Provided, further, the site for said school building shall be provided by the school directors which district must first procure title in fee simple to said site. Sub. Sec. 4. Notice of Funds; Building Plans, Submission, Changes, Approval; Building Contract.— As soon as the treasurer of the county has placed the amount of the credit of the proper district, he shall notify the county superitnendent of schools and the school directors of said district of the amount of money then on hand, sub- ject to be withdrawn for the purpose named herein. The directors shall then prepare plans and specifications for buildings of the dis- trict and submit such plans and specifications to the Superintendent of Public Instruction and to the Attorney General of the State for their consideration and approval and said Superintendent of Public Instruc- tion and Attorney General shall make such changes in said specifica- tions as will, in their judgment, serve the best interests of the district. Upon the approval of the plans and specifications by said Superintend- ent of Public Instruction and Attorney General, it shall be the duty of the Board of School Directors acting in conjunction with the county superintendent of schools to call for sealed bids for the construction, completion or furnishing of said school building or buildings, allow- ing at least thirty days for filing bids with adequate notice of the date and place of opening. At the time and place specified, the county superintendent and the board of school directors .shall open said bids and award the contract for building, completing, or furnishing asid school house or school houses as, in their judgment, the best interests of the district may require. And it shall be the duty of said county superintendent and school directors to require a sufficient bond of the contractor for the full and faithful compliance with the terms of the contract. Sub. Sec. 5. Warrants, Approval and Payment; Accounts; Ex- penditures Limited. — The treasurer of the county shall honor and pay all warrants drawn by the board of school directors against the fund placed to the credit of its district; as herein provided, only when such warrants are approved by the county superintendent of schools as in the case of warrants drawn Dy school directors for payment of the -current expenses of the district. It shall be the duty of the county superintendent before approving any such warrant to require itemized and verified bills in duplicate, one of which shall be retained by the county superintendent and the other sha.ll be transmitted with the warrant drawn in payment thereof to the county treasurer of the county in which said district is located. And the said school directors shall in no event and under no pretext contract for or incur obliga- tions on such account beyond the amount of money available in the county treasury for such purposes.. Sub. Sec. fl. Misuse of Funds Is Emlaezzlement; Penalty. — Any official, into whose hands any of the money or funds herein provided for, shall come, who shall use any portion of such money or funds, for any purpose, other than the purpose herein specified and provided for, shall be deemed guilty of embezzleinent, and upon conviction shall be punished by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars or by — 41 - imprisonment for not more than five years, or both and in addition thereto shall be summarily removed from office by the court imposing sentence and shall thereafter be ineligible to hold any office of trust or profit in the State. Sub. Sec. 7. School District Shall Repay Funds to State. — Any district, receiving money or funds as provided for in this Act, shall, in each year when there is a surplus remaining in the district fund after the expenses for maintaining a five months' term have been paid, pay such surplus to the Treasurer of the State until the amount of money advanced to said district for the purpose of constructing, com- pleting, or furnishing any school house or houses, shall have been refunded, and the money so refunded shall be by the Treasurer of the State credited to the fund herein created and may be paid out as other moneys of such fund. Sub. Sec. 3. Regarding the Issuance of Bonds by School Districts. — School directors shall have power and authority to borrow money for the purpose of erecting and completing school houses by issuing negotiable bonds of the district, to run any period of not less than twenty years nor exceeding thirty years, drawing interest at a rate not to exceed six per centum per annum, with interest payable semi- annually, at such a place as the board of directors issuing the same may direct, w.hich said indebtedness shall be binding and obligatory on the school districts for the use of which said loan shall be made; but no district shall permit a greater outstanding indebtedness than an amount equal to six per centum of the assessed value of the property of such district. Sub. Sec. 4. Issuing of Bonds to Be Determined by Qualified Electors. Term and Disposition of Bonds. — That the directors of any school district may submit to the voters of their district at the annual or any special meeting called for that purpose, the question of issuing bonds as contempalted by this act, giving the same notice of such meeting as is now required to be given for the election of directors by this act, and the amount proposed to be raised by the sale of such bonds, which question shall be voted upon by the qualified electors of the district, and if a majority of all the votes cast upon that question be in favor of the issue of such bonds, then said board shall issue bonds to the amount voted in denominations of not less than twenty-five dollars nor exceeding five hundred dollars, due nor less than twenty nor more than thirty years after date and redeem- able at the pleasure of the district at any time after ten years, which said bonds shall be given in the name of the district issuing them and shall be signed by the president of the board of directors to the county treasurer, taking his receipt therefor, and said county treas- urer shall advertise for the sale of said bonds to the highest bidder in at least four issues of some weekly paper published in his county, or an adjoining county, and shall conutersign said bond when nego- tiated; the county treasurer shall place the proceeds of such sale of bonds to the credit of the proper district, to be paid out as pro- vided for in the manner of special district tax. The county treasurer shall stand charged upon his official bond with all bonds that may be delivered to him, but any bon dor bonds not sold may be returned to the district and the treasurer credited with the same. Provided, — 42 - That if such bonds are issued for the building of a school house, that the contractor constructing the same may receive in payment such bonds at their face value, or at the price offered by the highest bidder. Provided further, That none of the bonds mentioned in this act shall be sold for less than ninety cents on the dollar. Sub. Sec. 5. Upon Petition, County School Superintendent to Sub- mit the Question of Issuing Bonds to a Vote. — The county superin- tendent of schools for each county in this state shall have power in cases w^here any school district in his county does not own a school house, upon a petition signed by twenty residents of such school district, being each the head of a family and having children of school age in the family, to order the school directors of such school district to submit the question of issuing bonds of such district for the purpose of building a school house, as provided, to the voters of such school district and for failure or refusal so to do such super- intendent shall remove any or all of such directors from office and appoint others of his own choosing in their place. Sec. 3. BONDS ISSUED FOR PURCHASING SITE AND FOR BUILDING AND FURNISHING SCHOOL HOUSE. (Const., Art. 9, Sec. 1; C. L. 1897, Sees. 1541, 1542, 1584-1590; L. 1899, Ch. 46, Sec. 1.) —Sub. Sec. 1. That every school district, w.hether organized under the name of "school district" or under the name of "board of educa- tion," shall have power and authority to borrow money for the pur- pose of erecting and furnishing school buildings and purchasing school grounds, but, such powe ror authority shall exist olny when the prop- osition to create ihe debt shall have been subnaitted to the qualified electors of the district and approved bj^ a majority of those voting thereon. No such school district shall ever become indebted in an amount, including existing indebtedness, exceeding six per centum on the assessed valuation of the taxable property within the district, as shown by the preceding general assessment. Sub. Sec. 2. All laws relating to issuing and payment of bonds, interest thereon and elections to authorize the same shall be and remain in force as though this act had not been passed, except the provisions of said laws which are in conflict with the provisions of this act. Sub. Sec. 6. Election May Be Ordered for Issuing Bonds. Terms of Bonds. — Any city or incorporated town in this State which shall, by the action of its common council, trustees or school directors, have purchased any ground and building or buildings, or may here- after commence the erection of any building or buildings for school purposes ,or which shall have, by its school directors, common council or trustees, contracted any debts for the erection of such building or buildings or the purchase of such ground and building or buildings, or such school directors, trustees or common council shall not have the necessary means with which to complete such building or build- ings or pay such debt, may on filing by the school directors, trustees or common council of said city or town of a report under oath with the board of education of such city or town, showing the estimated or actual cost of any such ground and building or buildings, or the amount required to complete such building or buildings, or purchase s^uch ground and building or buildings or the amount of such debt — 43 - it shall be lawful for the board of education to order an election for the issuing of bonds of said school district in said city or town to an amount to liquidate such proposed indebtedness. And the said boards of education are hereby authorized and empowered to issue such bonds in conformity with the requirements and in like manner that school bonds are issued. And the said boards of education are authorized and empowered to issue bonds to raise funds for the purchase of school site or sites or to erect a suitable building or buildings thereon, or to fund any bonded indebtedness for school purposes of such city or town. Provided, That no bonds shall be issued until the question shall be submitted to the people and a ma- jority of the qualified electors who shall vote on the question, at an election called for that purpose, shall have declared by their votes in favor of issuing such bonds. The rate of interest on such bonds shall not exceed six per cent per annum, payable annually or semi-annually at such place as may be mentioned upon the face of said bonds, which bonds shall be payable in no less than twenty nor more than thirty years from their date, and the board of education is hereby authorized and empowered to sell such bond sat not less than par. Sub. Sec. 7. Elections to Vote Bonds. How Cancelled. Returns. —It shall be the duty of the mayor of each city or town governed by this act, upon the request of the board of education, forthwith to call an election, to be conducted in all respects as are the elections for city or town officers in the same cities or towns, except that the returns shall be made to the board of education for the purpose of taking the sense of such district upon the question of issuing such bonds, naming in the proclamation of such election the amount of bonds asked for, and the purpose for which they are to be issued. Sub. Sec. 8. Bonds. By Whom Executed and What They Shall Specify.— The bonds, the issuance of which is provided for in the foregoing section, shall be signed by the president, attested by the clerk and countersigned by the treasurer of the board of education, and said bonds shall specify the rate of interest and the time when principal and interest shall be paid, and each bond so issued shall be for a sum not less than fifty dollars. Sub. Sec. 9. Tax Levy for Interest and Sinking Fund. — The board of education at the time of its annual levy of taxes for the support ol schools, as hereinbefore ^provided, shall also levy a sufficient amount to pay the interest as the same accrues on all bonds issued under the provisions of this act, and also to create a sinking fund for the redemption of said bonds, whch it shall levy and collect, in addition to the rate per cent authorized by the provisions aforesaid for school purposes, and said amount of funds, when paid into the tieasury, shall be and remain a specific fund for said purpose only, and shall not be appropriated in any other way except as hereinafter provided. Provided, There shall be no levy for sinking fund until ten years after the issue of such bonds, if they be for twenty years; and twenty years after the issue if they be for thirty years and the levy in one year shall not exceed five mills on the dollar for such sinking fund, and the total levy in anj' one y^ar shall not exceed ten mills on the dollar for all purposes. Provided further. That the levy for interest on such bonds as may be issued by such city or town — 44 — shall not exceed in any one year an amount required to pay the annual interest. (See Chap. 51, L. 1912.) Sub. Sec. 10. Coupons to Be Promptly Paid, and How Cancelled. — Whenever the interest coupons of the bonds hereinbefore author- ized shall become due they shall be promptly paid on presentation by the treasurer out of any money in his hands collected for that purpose, and he shall endorse upon the face of such coupons in red ink the word "paid" and the date of payment, and sign the ini- tials of his name. Sub. Sec. 11. School Funds and Property Pledged in Payment of Interest. — The school fund and property of such city or town and territory attached for school purposes is hereby pledged to the pay- ment of the interest and principal of the bonds mentioned in this Act as the same may become due. Sub. Sec. 12. Duty of Clerk to Register Bonds. — It shall duty of the clerk of the board of education to register, in a book provided for that purpose, the bonds issued under this act and all warrants issued by the board, which said register shall show the number, date and amount of said bonds, and to whom may payable. XXI. MISCELiIiANEOUS, (Const., Art. 7; Const., Art. 8, Sec. 13; CJonst., Art. 12, Sees. 9, 10; Const., Art. 21, Sec. 4; C. L. 1897, Sec. 1556, amended by Ch. 78, L. 1901; C. L. 1897, Sec. 1557; L. 1907, Ch. 97, Sees. 27, 29; L. 1913, Ch. 70.) Ssection 1. The public schools shall be open to all the children of the state and free from sectarian control and said schools shall always be conducted in English. Sec. 2. ACTUAL RESIDENTS PERMITTED TO ATTEND SCHOOL REGARDLESS OF RACE OR NATIONALITY. — All unmar- ried persons between the ages of five and twenty-one years of age who are actual residents of a district shall be permitted to attend school in the same, regardless of the time when they acquire such residence, whether before or after the enumeration. That any teacher, school directors or members of any board of education con- nected with the common schools in this State who shall refuse to re- ceive any pupil at school on account of race or nationality, the said pupil being entitled to attend school in said district as hereinbefore provided, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction be- fore any justice of the peace or district court shall be fined in a sum of not less than fifty dollars nor more than one hundred and imprisoned in the county jail for three months, and shall be forever barred from teaching school or to hold any office of honor or profit in this State. The superintendent of the county is by this act re- quired to summarily remove from office or employment any person violating the provisions of the preceding section and upon failure to do so he shall be removed from office by the Superintendent of Pub- lic Instruction, who is hereby authorized and empowered to fill said vacancy. Sec. 3. Children of Spanish descent shall never be denied the right and privilege of admission in the public schools or other public — 45 - educational institutions of the state and they shall never be classed in separate schools, but shall enjoy equality with other children. Sec. 4. No religious test shall ever be required of any teacher or student in any public school or state educational institution, and no teacher or student of such school or institution shall ever be required to attend or participate in any religious service. Sec. 5. DEFINITION OF SCHOOL DAY AND MONTH. — The school month shall consist of four weeks of Ave each and a school day shall consist of six hours. Sec. 6. TUITION. — A board of school directors or board of edu- cation may admit non-resident pupils to the school or schools under its charge provided school accommodations are sufficient to justify the same, and may determine the rate of tuition for such pupils and collect the same, which tuition shall not be greater than twenty (20%) per cent more than the average cost per capita for education based on the average number of pupils belonging to the school throughout the previous school term. When non-resident pupils, their parents or guardians, pay a school tax in any district such pupils shall be admitted to the school of such district, and the amount of such school tax shall be credited on their tuition in a sum not to exceed the amount of such tuition and they shall be required to pay tuition only for the difference therein. Sec. 7. PROPERTY PRESENTED TO EDUCATIONAL INSTI- TUTIONS OR COMMON SCHOOLS. — In case any person or persons shall will, bequeath or in any other way donate money or other property for the benefit of any kind of public educational institution, school district or other educational interest it shall become the duty of the district court of the district in which the beneficiary of such benefaction is located to see to it that said benefaction is sacredly conserved and administered in accordance with the terms and wishes of the donor or donors; Provided, That if said donor or donors have not provided for or named the executors of their wishes the judge of said district court shall appoint three proper persons, under sufficient bond, to administer the same. Sec. 8. All school elections shall be held at different times from r ther elections. Sec. 9. Every male or female citizen of the United States who is over the age of twenty-one years and has resided in New Mexico twelve months, in the county ninety days and in the district in which he offers to vote thirty days next preceding any school election, ex- cept idiots, insane persons, persons convicted of a felonious or in- famous crime, unless restored to political rights, and Indians not taxed shall be ' qualified voters and entitled to vote at all school elections, provided, that if a majority of the qualified voters of any school district shall, not less than thirty days before any school election, present a petition to the board of county commissioners against women suffrage in such district, the provisions of this sec- tion relating to women suffrage shall be suspended therein and such provision shall become again operative only upon the filing with said board of a petition signed by a majority of the qualified voters favor- ing the restoration thereof. The board of county commissioners — . 46 — shall certify the suspension or restoration of such suffrage to the proper school district. Sec. 10. Women possessing the qualifications required of male electors shall be eligible to hold the office of county school superin- tendent, school director and member ot a board of education. Sec. 11. Boards of education or school directors, when letting a contract for public school buildings shall require of the contractor a good and sufficient bond for the faithful execution of said contract. And the clerks of said boards outside of incorporated cities, towns and villages are required to .make to the county superintendent, from time to time, as the superintendent may require, an itemized state- ment, under oath, of the cost of labor and material used and work done, where practicable, and apparatus required and used for con- structing and furnishing said building, and school directors are further required to consult with and solicit the co-operation of county superintendents whenever it becomes necessary to purchase furni- ture, fixtures, etc., for the district schools, and the members of boards of education and school directors and clerk thereof are hereby pro- hibited from acting as the agent for any person or firm engaged in the selling of school furniture, apparatus, etc., or to receive any commission attending the purchase of such furniture, apparatus, etc., for use in their respective districts; and all persons identified in an official capacity with the public schools or with the higher educa- tional institutions supported in whole or in part by the public funds of this State are hereby prohibited from being a party directly or indirectly to. any contract or interestetd in any conract in connection with the operation or maintenance of such public schools or higher educational institutions; and any contract in which they are so in- terested shall be void, and the members of any educational board voting for the same shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and liable to punishment accordingly. Sec. 12. No execution shall be issued against any school district or board of education, or against any officer of a school district or board of education upon any judgment against him in his official capacity, and for which the school district or board of education is liable, but the same shall be paid out of the proceeds of a tax levy. Sec. 13. Any member of the board of education, county school superintendent or other school officer who may violate the provisions of this act or other acts concerning their powers and duties in con- nection with school matters or who shall not faithfully perform all such duties imposed under and by virtue of the law shall, on convic- tion thereof, be fined in a sum not less than twenty-five dollars ($25.00) nor exceeding five hundred dollars ($500.00). Al Gaylord Bros. Makers Syracuse N. Y. PAT. JAN. 2U 1908 * ^ ,>" 're '^ • -. LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 020 312 145 31