Amends TCA Title 49.

Under present law, the director of schools is an appointed position. This bill authorizes a county or municipality to vote to reestablish an elected superintendent of schools, instead of having a director of schools appointed by the board of education, upon two-thirds vote of the legislative body and approval of the voters in a referendum.<br /> <br /> If the office of elected superintendent is reestablished pursuant to approval by the legislative body and voters, then an election would be held at the regular August election coinciding with the election of the chief executive officer of the county. The full text of this bill specifies some of the procedural requirements for the elections. The four-year term of office would begin September 1.<br /> <br /> This bill specifies that, if the office of elected superintendent is reestablished, the contractual term of an appointed director of schools must not be abridged by the reestablishment and local board of education shall not appoint or extend the contract or term of a director of public schools after the county or municipality reestablishes such office.<br /> <br /> Under present law, an appointed director of schools must have a bachelor's degree. Under this bill, a candidate for the elected office of superintendent of schools must be someone of literary attainment and experience in teaching or school administration and the person must possess a license of qualification issued by the state board of education before being elected. The state board of education would establish requirements for a license of qualification for superintendent that must include:<br /> <br /> (1) The candidate must hold a teacher's professional license with endorsement as principal or supervisor of instruction; <br /> <br /> (2) The candidate must hold a master's degree with a major in educational administration; and <br /> <br /> (3) The candidate must have five years of teaching or administrative experience.<br /> <br /> This bill authorizes counties and municipalities that reestablish the office of elected superintendent of schools to abolish the office by means of adoption of a resolution and voter approval in an election similar to the process for reestablishing the office.<br />