20-6-203. District consolidation. Any two or more elementary districts in one county may consolidate to organize an elementary district. The consolidation shall be conducted under the following procedure:
     (1) At the time the consolidation proposition is first considered, the districts involved shall jointly determine whether the consolidation shall be made with or without the mutual assumption of the bonded indebtedness of each district by all districts included in the consolidation proposition.
     (2) A consolidation proposition may be introduced, individually, in each of the districts by either of the two following methods:
     (a) the trustees may pass a resolution requesting the county superintendent to order an election to consider a consolidation proposition involving their district; or
     (b) not less than 20% of the electors of an elementary district who are qualified to vote under the provisions of 20-20-301 may petition the county superintendent requesting an election to consider a consolidation proposition involving their resident district.
     (3) When the county superintendent has received a resolution or a valid petition from each of the districts included in the consolidation proposition, he shall, within 10 days after the receipt of the last resolution or petition and as provided by 20-20-201, order the trustees of each elementary district included in the consolidation proposition to call a consolidation election.
     (4) Each district, individually, shall call and conduct an election in the manner prescribed in this title for school elections. In addition:
     (a) if the districts to be consolidated are to mutually assume the bonded indebtedness of each district involved in the consolidation, the consolidation election also shall follow the procedures prescribed in 20-6-206; or
     (b) if the districts to be consolidated are not to mutually assume the bonded indebtedness of each district involved in the consolidation, the consolidation election also shall follow the procedures prescribed in 20-6-207.
     (5) After the county superintendent has received the election certification under the provisions of 20-20-416 from the trustees of each district included in a consolidation proposition, he shall determine if the consolidation proposition has been approved in each district. If each district has approved the consolidation proposition, he shall, within 10 days after the receipt of the last election certificate, order the consolidation of such districts. If it be for consolidation with the mutual assumption of bonded indebtedness of each elementary district by all districts included in the consolidation order, such order shall specify that all the taxable real and personal property of the consolidated district shall assume the bonded indebtedness of each district. In addition, such order shall specify the number of the consolidated elementary district and shall contain the county superintendent's appointment of the trustees for the consolidated district who shall serve until a successor is elected at the next succeeding regular school election and qualified. The superintendent shall send a copy of such order to the board of county commissioners and to the trustees of each district incorporated in the consolidation order.
     (6) If any district included in the consolidation proposition disapproves the consolidation proposition, the consolidation of all districts shall fail, and the county superintendent shall notify each district of the disapproval of the consolidation proposition.

     History: En. 75-6506 by Sec. 165, Ch. 5, L. 1971; R.C.M. 1947, 75-6506.