School board members in each county are required to be elected by the people from districts of substantially equal population.

Board members must be elected to staggered four-year terms, and may succeed themselves.

Board members in special school districts may serve different terms of office established by private act but must be popularly elected on a staggered term basis. T.C.A. § 49-2-201.

Boards of education may have "no more members than the number of members authorized by general law or private act for boards of education in existence on January 1, 1992, or the number of members actually serving on a board on January 1,1993," or the General Assembly, by private act, may establish the membership of particular school boards at any number not less than three nor more than eleven. T.C.A. § 49-2-201.

Members of the board of education must be residents and voters of the county in which they are elected, and, except in a few counties, must possess a high school degree or G.E.D.

Members of the county legislative body and other county officials are not eligible for election to the board of education. T.C.A. § 49-2-202(a).

Members of the board of education are not eligible for election as teacher or any other paid position under the board. T.C.A. § 49-2-203(a)(1)(D).

SOURCE: COUNTY TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE SERVICE (CTAS)