The Wicomico County Board consists of: Seven nonpartisan elected voting members; and At least one student member. Beginning with the general election in 2026, the seven elected members shall be elected from each of the seven councilmanic districts in the county, elected by the voters of that district. A candidate who becomes an elected member of the county board must be a resident and registered voter of Wicomico County. An elected member who no longer resides in Wicomico County may not continue as a member of the board. A member elected from a councilmanic district who no longer resides in that district may not continue as a member of the board. If the boundary line of a Wicomico County councilmanic district is changed, the term of an incumbent elected member of the county board who no longer resides in that councilmanic district because of the change is not affected during this term.

The seven elected members of the Wicomico County Board shall be elected: At the general election in 2018 and at the general election every 4 years thereafter; and In accordance with § 3–13A–01 of this subtitle and Title 8, Subtitle 8 of the Election Law Article. The terms of the elected members are as provided in this subsection. Each term of office begins on the first Monday in December after the election of a member and until a successor is elected and qualifies. The term of office of each member is 4 years.

There is a Wicomico County School Board Nominating Commission. The purpose of the Commission is to select nominees to recommend to the Wicomico County Council as qualified candidates for appointment to fill a vacancy of an elected member on the Wicomico County Board. Within 60 days of a vacancy on the county board, the Commission shall: Develop and publicize criteria for choosing nominees to fill the vacancy; Make public the names of the candidates that apply for appointment to fill a vacancy on the county board; Hold at least two public hearings on the applicants for appointment; and Make public and submit to the County Council the names of two nominees for any vacancy. Within 60 days after the County Council receives the names of the nominees from the Commission, the County Council shall hold a public hearing regarding the nominees. After the hearing, if the County Council deems at least one of the nominees acceptable, the County Council shall vote on the nominees and fill the vacancy. If the County Council deems both nominees unacceptable, the County Council shall return the names to the Commission and request that the Commission submit the names of at least two additional qualified nominees from which the County Council shall select an individual to fill the vacancy. The Commission consists of 14 members. The members of the Commission shall be appointed from the names submitted by the following organizations, entities, or communities of interest: One member from the Wicomico County Branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People; One member from the Wicomico County Education Association; One member from the Wicomico County area chambers of commerce, selected by the chambers by consensus; One member from the Wicomico County Educational Support Professionals Association; One member from the Wicomico County Council of PTAs; One member from each of the eight incorporated municipalities in Wicomico County; and One member who is a parent of a child with special needs in the Wicomico County Public School System and who is affiliated with an advocacy group for children with special needs in the county. To the extent practicable, the Commission shall reflect the gender, ethnic, and racial makeup of the county. The County Executive of Wicomico County shall appoint the members of the Commission, with the advice and consent of the County Council, from the names submitted by the organizations, entities, or communities of interest listed under paragraph (5) of this subsection. The term of a member of the Commission is 4 years. The Commission shall select a chair and vice chair from among the members. The Wicomico County Public School System shall provide staff for the Commission.

Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, the Wicomico County Council shall appoint an individual to fill a vacancy of an elected member on the county board in accordance with § 3–13A–03 of this subtitle. If a vacancy for an elected member occurs before the date that is 30 days before the date for filing a certificate of candidacy for the primary election in the presidential election year, the individual appointed under subsection (a) of this section shall serve only until a successor is elected by the voters at the next general election. Candidates for the vacated office may be nominated at a primary election in the same manner as for any other position on the county board.

The State Board may remove an elected or appointed member of the county board for any of the following reasons: Immorality; Misconduct in office; Incompetency; Willful neglect of duty; or Failure to attend, without good cause, at least 75% of the scheduled meetings of the county board in any 1 calendar year. Before removing a member, the State Board shall send the member a copy of the charges against the member and give the member an opportunity to request a hearing within 10 days. If the member requests a hearing within the 10–day period: 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 The member shall have an opportunity to be heard publicly before the State Board in the member’s own defense in person or by counsel. A member removed under this section has the right to a de novo review of the removal by the Circuit Court for Wicomico County.

At the first meeting of the county board in December of each year, the county board shall elect a chair and vice chair from among the elected members.

A student member of the county board shall be selected in accordance with procedures established by the county board. Each student member shall: Be an 11th or 12th grade student in good standing and regularly enrolled in the Wicomico County public school system; Serve for 1 year beginning July 1 after the selection of the member; Be a nonvoting member; and Advise the county board on the thoughts and feelings of students in the Wicomico County public schools. Unless invited to attend by an affirmative vote of a majority of the elected members of the county board, a student member may not attend a closed session of the county board.

The chair of the county board is entitled to receive annually as compensation the greater of: $4,000; or A salary set by the Wicomico County Council. The vice chair of the county board and the other elected members of the county board are entitled to receive annually as compensation the greater of: $3,700; or A salary set by the Wicomico County Council. After submitting vouchers under the rules and regulations adopted by the county board, the elected members are entitled to receive reimbursement for travel and other expenses as provided in the county board’s budget. On the submission of expense vouchers, a student member is entitled to reimbursement for travel and other expenses incurred in the performance of official duties for the county board. A student member may be granted a scholarship as authorized by the county board. A student member is not entitled to any compensation or payment other than that specified under paragraphs (1) and (2) of this subsection for the student member’s work as a student member of the county board.