PREFACE While this edition of the school law possesses no authority independent of the sources from which it was compiled, its publication by the Board of Education makes the work authoritative as a guide to school officers. The act of Assembly which gave the school system organic life was approved July 11, 1870. The history of subsequent legislation affecting the schools can be readily traced from chapters LXVI and LXVII of the Codes of Virginia 1887 and 1904, which constitute the basis of the "Public Free School Law.' The text of the Pollard's Code of 1904 has been followed, except in so far as it has been modified by legislation since its publication. Acts of Assembly passed subsequent to that date (1904) are incorporated with the original law. All acts of a local character are omitted and only such acts pertaining to State institutions of higher learning have been included as are of interest to the school officials at large. The compiler has endeavored to arrange the matter for the convenience of school officers, without regard to the order in which it is printed in the Code. Some recent regulations have been added out of regular order on page 168 and those that follow. It is the duty of every school officer receiving a copy of the law to preserve it carefully, and to transmit it to his successor in office. J. D. EGGLESTON, JR., Superintendent of Public Instruction DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION, RICHMOND, VIRGINIA, November 15, 1910. UNIV. OF Constitutional Provisions 1. Oath to be prescribed.-Members of the General Assembly and all officers, executive and judicial, elected or appointed after this Constitution goes into effect, shall, before they enter on the performance of their public duties, severally take and subscribe the following oath or affirmation: "I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support the Constitution of the United States, and the Constitution of the State of Virginia ordained by the Convention which assembled in the city of Richmond on the twelfth day of June, nineteen hundred and one, and that I will faithfully and impartially discharge and perform all the duties incumbent on me as ing to the best of my ability; so help me God." (Sec. 34) accord 2. Bonds of officers handling State funds.-All State officers, and their deputies, assistants or employees, charged with the collection, custody, handling or disbursement of public funds, shall be required to give bond for the faithful performance of such duties; the amount of such bond in each case, and the manner in which security shall be furnished, to be specified and regulated by law. (Sec. 85) 3. Magisterial districts, supervisors, etc.-The magisterial districts shall, until changed by law, remain as now constituted: provided, that hereafter no additional districts shall be made containing less than thirty square miles. In each district there shall be elected by the qualified voters thereof, one supervisor. The supervisors of the district shall constitute the board of supervisors of the county, which shall meet at stated periods and at other times as often as may be necessary, lay the county and district levies, pass upon all claims against the county, subject to such appeal as may be provided by law, and perform such duties as may be required by law. (Sec. 111) 4. Concerning the bonded indebtedness of cities and towns.No city or town shall issue any bonds or other interest-bearing obligations for any purpose, or in any manner, to an amount which, including existing indebtedness, shall at any time exceed eighteen per centum of the assessed valuation of the real estate in AIMBOLIAD the city or town subject to taxation, as shown by the last preceding assessment for taxes: provided, however, that nothing above contained in this section shall apply to those cities and towns whose charters existing at the adoption of this Constitution authorize a larger percentage of indebtedness than is authorized by this section; and provided further, that in determining the limitation of the power of a city or town to incur indebtedness there shall not be included the following classes of indebtedness: (a) Certificates of indebtedness, revenue bonds or other obligations issued in anticipation of the collection of the revenue of such city or town for the then current year: provided, that such certificates, bonds or other obligations mature within one year from the date of their issue, and be not past due, and do not exceed the revenue for such year. (b) Bonds authorized by an ordinance enacted in accordance with section one hundred and twenty-three, and approved by the affirmative vote of the majority of the qualified voters of the city or town voting upon the question of their issuance, at the general election next succeeding the enactment of the ordinance, or at a special election held for that purpose, for a supply of water or other specific undertaking from which the city or town may derive a revenue; but from and after a period to be determined by the council, not exceeding five years from the date of such election, whenever and for so long as such undertaking fails to produce sufficient revenue to pay for cost of operation and adminis tration (including interest on bonds issued therefor, and the co of insurance against loss by injury to persons or property), and an annual amount to be covered into a sinking fund sufficient to pay, at or before maturity, all bonds issued on account of said undertaking, all such bonds outstanding shall be included in determining the limitation of the power to incur indebtedness, unless the principal and interest thereof be made payable exclusively from the receipts of the undertaking. (Sec. 127) EDUCATION AND PUBLIC INSTRUCTION 5. Free schools to be maintained. The General Assembly shall establish and maintain an efficient system of public free schools throughout the State. (Sec. 129) 6. State board of education, composition; vacancies, how filled. The general supervision of the school system shall be vested in |