Okla. Stat. tit. 70, § 70-5-110

Reimbursement for expenses - Agreement to attend when candidate

files notification and declaration - Registration fees.

A. A school district elector who is elected or appointed to be

a member of a school district board of education prior to January 1,

2014, shall obtain instruction on education issues in accordance

with rules promulgated by the State Board of Education. Except as

provided in subsection B of this section, at the time a school

district elector files a notification and declaration of candidacy

for the office of school district board of education membership or

is appointed to be a member of a school district board of education

on or after January 1, 2014, the elector shall agree and pledge in

writing that, within fifteen (15) months of election or appointment

as a member of the district board of education, the member will

complete at least twelve (12) hours of instruction on education

issues in the following areas: school finance; legal issues, which

include but are not limited to employment, due process, new laws,

the Oklahoma Open Records Act and the Oklahoma Open Meeting Act; and

duties and responsibilities, which include but are not limited to

special education and ethics, of district board of education

members. Each elector shall agree and pledge in writing to complete

at least one (1) hour of instruction in school finance, one (1) hour

of instruction in the Oklahoma Open Records Act and the Oklahoma

Open Meeting Act and one (1) hour of instruction in ethics. The

remaining hours may be satisfied by attending a two-day workshop to

be held within the state by the State Department of Education, by

the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education, or by

attending workshops, seminars or classes which address the above-

mentioned subject matter, and which are sponsored by any

organization approved by the State Board of Education, including but

not limited to institutions of higher education. The State Board of

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools Page 250

Education shall promulgate rules by which an organization or

particular courses offered by an organization may be approved for

purposes of fulfilling the instructional requirements set out in

this section.

B. When an incumbent of a district board of education files a

notification and declaration of candidacy for reelection to the

district board of education, the member shall be required to agree

and pledge in writing that upon reelection the member will complete

six (6) hours of instruction, within fifteen (15) months of

election, including one (1) hour of instruction in school finance,

one (1) hour of instruction in the Oklahoma Open Records Act and the

Oklahoma Open Meeting Act and one (1) hour of instruction in ethics.

The remaining hours may be satisfied by attending a workshop, class

or seminar addressing the education issues set forth in subsection A

of this section.

C. The State Department of Education shall, immediately after

the annual elections of various district board of education members,

determine the members of the district boards of education pledged to

complete the instructional requirements established in subsections A

and B of this section, and shall notify the members of the time and

place where workshops, classes and seminars are to be conducted.

Upon completion of the instructional requirements, the certificate

of completion shall be included in the public records of the school

board's minutes. Each school board member, except for an incumbent

member, shall be required within fifteen (15) months following or

preceding election to complete the workshop established by

subsection A of this section or to attend twelve (12) hours of other

state workshops, classes or seminars conducted as instruction on the

subjects of school finance, legal issues, and the ethics, duties and

responsibilities of district board of education members, including
ber, shall be required within fifteen (15) months following or

preceding election to complete the workshop established by

subsection A of this section or to attend twelve (12) hours of other

state workshops, classes or seminars conducted as instruction on the

subjects of school finance, legal issues, and the ethics, duties and

responsibilities of district board of education members, including

at least one (1) hour of instruction in school finance, one (1) hour

of instruction in the Oklahoma Open Records Act and the Oklahoma

Open Meeting Act and one (1) hour of instruction in ethics.

D. If a school board member, including an incumbent member, has

not satisfied the instructional requirements as set forth in this

section within fifteen (15) months of election, reelection or

appointment, the district board of education shall declare the seat

of the member vacant within sixty (60) days of the final date that

the member has to complete the requirements as indicated by receipt

of the certified notice from the State Board of Education as

provided for pursuant to Section 5-110.2 of this title and shall

fill the vacancy according to law. A school board member who is

required to vacate a school board seat pursuant to this subsection

and Section 5-110.2 of this title shall be ineligible to be

reappointed to, to run for reelection to or to hold that respective

board seat on the school district board of education or to run for

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools Page 251

election to or to hold any other board seat on the board of

education for a two-year period.

E. All government departments, agencies and institutions of

this state are directed to lend assistance as may be required by the

State Department of Education for the proper conduct and

administration of the workshops as authorized in subsection A of

this section. The State Department of Education shall maintain a

permanent record of the instructional hours and continuing education

hours earned for each district board of education member.

F. The State Department of Education, the Oklahoma Department

of Career and Technology Education, and, upon approval of the State

Board of Education, any organization or association representing

district boards of education in this state are authorized to charge

persons pledged to attend a workshop, class or seminar for purposes

of meeting the instructional requirements of this section, a

registration fee sufficient to defray the estimated costs of

presenting the workshop, class or seminar and to collect the fees at

the time of registration.

G. Any member of a district board of education or any

individual elected, certified as the elected member by the county

election board, but not sworn in and seated as a member of a

district board of education at the time of a workshop, class or

seminar presented by the State Board of Education, the Oklahoma

Department of Career and Technology Education, or an organization or

association representing district boards of education within the

state who attends and successfully completes a workshop, class or

seminar as required by subsection A or B of this section shall be

reimbursed by the school district in accordance with the travel

reimbursement policy of the district.