S.L. 1973-486

1973 SESSION

CHAPTER 486

SENATE BILL 888

AN ACT TO PROVIDE FOR ELECTION ON THE ISSUE OF MERGER AND CONSOLIDATION OF CERTAIN SPECIFICALLY DESCRIBED AREAS PRESENTLY LOCATED IN THE ROCKINGHAM COUNTY SCHOOL ADMINISTRATIVE UNIT WITH THE MADISON-MAYODAN CITY SCHOOL ADMINISTRATIVE UNIT.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

Section 1. On or before July 1, 1973, at a date to be established by the Board of Commissioners of Rockingham County, there shall be held an election in the following specifically described areas presently located within the Rockingham County School Administrative Unit:

"BEGINNING at a point, in the Virginia State Line, said point marking a common corner of Stokes and Rockingham County in said State Line; thence, in a southerly direction, with the common boundary of Stokes and Rockingham County, to the North boundary line of the present Madison-Mayodan Administrative School Unit; thence, in an easterly direction, with the present Madison-Mayodan Administrative School Unit's North boundary line, to its intersection with Dan River; thence, in a northerly direction, with the meanders of said river to a point where the West boundary line of the Eden School District intersects said river; thence, in a northwesterly direction with the Eden School District boundary line, to its intersection with the Virginia State line; thence, in a westerly direction, with the Virginia State Line to the point of BEGINNING."

Sec. 2. The election shall be held on the issue of whether or not the above specifically described areas shall be merged and consolidated with the Madison-Mayodan City School Administrative Unit. In such election, to be conducted by the Rockingham County Board of Elections, no new registration shall be required and the registration books for this election shall be closed three weeks prior to the election. Except as herein provided, the election authorized in this act shall be conducted by the Rockingham County Board of Elections in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 163 of the General Statutes governing elections. No absentee voting shall be permitted in this election, and the election shall be conducted on a strictly nonpartisan basis. Expense of the election authorized in this act shall be paid by the Board of Commissioners of Rockingham County from the County General Fund.

Sec. 3. On each ballot used in the election provided for by this act, there shall be stated two provisions, in substantially the following form and words: "For merger and consolidation with the Madison-Mayodan City School Administrative Unit", and "Against merger and consolidation with the Madison-Mayodan City School Administrative Unit". In the event that a majority of the voters who shall vote in the election provided for in this act shall vote in favor of merger and consolidation, the areas described in Section 1 of this act shall become a part of the Madison-Mayodan City School Administrative Unit. That the date of such merger shall be July 1, 1973.

Sec. 4. Upon approval of the merger by the voters affected the Boards of Education of Rockingham County and the Madison-Mayodan City Administrative School Unit shall agree with each other as to the division and disposition of the school property now being owned and used by the Rockingham County Board of Education within the above defined area, except as to all the real property situated within said area which shall be conveyed to Madison-Mayodan City Administrative School Unit within 10 days following said election; that in the event said boards are unable to voluntarily agree on the division and disposition of all of said property by August 1, 1973, then the matter of ownership as to such property in dispute shall be referred to the State Board of Education and its decision as to ownership shall be final and binding on said boards.

Sec. 5. Upon approval of this merger by the voters affected, the Board of Education of the Madison-Mayodan City Administrative Unit shall be increased from five to seven members, one of whom shall be from the corporate limits of the Town of Stoneville and the other member to be an at-large member from the administrative unit. The original member from the Town of Stoneville shall be appointed by the present members of the Board of Education and shall serve for a term to expire December 1, 1974, and his successor shall be elected in accordance with the present laws governing the election of board members. The additional at-large member shall be appointed by the present members of the Board of Education and shall serve for a term to expire December 1, 1976, and his successor shall be elected in accordance with the present laws governing the election of board members.

Sec. 6. The provisions to this act are severable, and if any of its provisions shall be held unconstitutional by any court of competent jurisdiction, the decision of such court shall not affect or impair any of the remaining provisions.

Sec. 7 This act shall become effective upon ratification.

In the General Assembly read three times and ratified, this the 14th day of May, 1973.