Section 3-801 - Membership(a) The Kent County Board consists of: (1) Five voting members; and(2) One nonvoting student member.(b)(1) A candidate elected to the county board shall be a resident and registered voter of Kent County.(2) Any member who no longer resides in Kent County may not continue as a member of the board.(c)(1) The incumbent voting members of the Kent County Board who hold office on July 1, 2010, shall hold office until their successors are elected and qualify.(2) Voting members of the Kent County Board shall be elected from Kent County at large as follows: (i) Two voting members of the county board shall be elected in the November general election of 2012 and every 4 years thereafter; and(ii) Three voting members of the county board shall be elected in the November general election of 2014 and every 4 years thereafter.(d)(1) The student member shall:(i) Be a bona fide resident of Kent County;(ii) Be a regularly enrolled junior or senior at the Kent County public high school elected by the high school students of the county in accordance with paragraph (2) of this subsection;(iii) Be a member of student government;(iv) Serve for 1 year beginning on July 1 after the election of the student member; and(v) Advise the county board on the thoughts and feelings of students in the Kent County public schools.(2)(i) The process for applying and electing a student as a student member shall be as set forth in this paragraph.(ii)1. An eligible student shall submit an application to the county board on a form provided by the county board beginning on January 1 of each year.2. Each applicant shall deliver a speech to the student body of Kent County High School.(iii)1. Any high school student in the county may vote directly for the student member candidates in an election held before May 1 each year.2. The student member candidate that receives the highest number of votes shall become the student member.(iv) Notice of the results of the election for student member shall be reported to the County Superintendent on or before May 1 each year.(3) If the student member is unable, ineligible, or disqualified to complete the student member's term of the office, the county board shall appoint a qualified student to serve for the remainder of the term.(4) The student member shall attend:(i) The Maryland Association of Boards of Education new student board member orientation; and(ii) All regular meetings of the county board.(5) The student member may not attend an executive session of the county board.(e)(1)(i) Each voting member serves for a term of 4 years beginning on January 1 after his election and until a successor is elected and qualifies.(ii) The terms of members are staggered and elections shall be held as provided in subsection (c) of this section.(2) Any vacancy on the county board of a voting member shall be filled by a qualified individual appointed by the County Commissioners of Kent County to serve until a successor is elected and qualifies at the general election next following the creation of the vacancy and for which the deadline for the filing of candidates has not expired.(3) An individual may serve for more than 2 consecutive terms.(f)(1) The State Board may remove a member of the county board for: (ii) Misconduct in office;(iv) Willful neglect of duty.(2) Before removing a member, the State Board shall send the member a copy of the charges against him and give him an opportunity within 10 days to request a hearing.(3) If the member requests a hearing within the 10-day period:(i) The State Board promptly shall hold a hearing, but a hearing may not be set within 10 days after the State Board sends the member a notice of the hearing; and(ii) The member shall have an opportunity to be heard publicly before the State Board in his own defense, in person or by counsel.(4) A member removed under this subsection has the right to a de novo review of the removal by the Circuit Court for Kent County.Amended by 2023 Md. Laws, Ch. 675, Sec. 1, eff. 7/1/2023.Amended by 2023 Md. Laws, Ch. 674, Sec. 1, eff. 7/1/2023.