1897_public laws_345_9
CHAPTER 343 An act to establish graded schools in the town of Washington. The General Assembly of North Carolina do enact :
That the public school committee of the said public schools shall consist of nine members, six of whom shall be of the white race and three of whom shall be of the colored race. They shall be elected by the board of town commissioners of the said town of Washington at the first regular meeting of the said board of commissioners held after the municipal election in May, next, and shall hold office from date of election. The said three members from the colored race shall be nominated by the colored members of the board of town commissioners, and no one not so nominated shall be elected a member of the public school committee from the colored race. The said board of commissioners shall, by ballot, divide the said public school committee into three classes of three each ; the members of the first class shall hold office for a term of two years from date of election; the members of the second class shall hold office for a term of four years from date of election, and the members of the third class shall hold office for a term of six years from date of election. All vacancies oceurring in said public school committee shall be filled by the said board of town commissioners for terms of six years each except in cases of death or resignation in which cases the vacancies shall be filled only for the unexpired terms of the members dying or resigning.