The Worcester County Board consists of seven voting members and one nonvoting student member from each public high school in the county. The seven voting members of the Worcester County Board shall be elected at a general election. Members of the Worcester County Board shall be elected in accordance with Title 8, Subtitle 8 of the Election Law Article. A member from a county commissioner district shall be a resident of the district. A member from a county commissioner district who no longer resides in the district may not continue as a member of the county board. Notwithstanding § 3–114(g) of this title or any other law, a school bus contractor is eligible to serve as a member of the county board. Of the seven voting members of the county board, one shall be elected from each of the seven county commissioner districts. A member serves for a term of 4 years beginning on the January 1 after the member’s election and until a successor is elected and qualifies. One member shall be elected from each of the county commissioner districts 1, 4, 6, and 7 at the November 2002 general election. One member shall be elected from each of the county commissioner districts 2, 3, and 5 at the November 2004 general election. The county commissioners shall appoint a new member to fill any vacancy on the county board for the remainder of that term and until a successor is elected and qualifies. A resident of the district in which a vacancy exists may apply to the county commissioners to fill the vacancy. The county commissioners shall adopt rules for the application procedure to fill a vacancy on the county board. Each student member shall: Be a 12th grade student in the Worcester County public school system elected by the high school students of the public school which the student attends, in accordance with procedures established by the school system; Serve for 1 year beginning on July 1 after the election of the member; Be a nonvoting member; and Advise the board on the interests of students. Unless invited to attend by an affirmative vote of a majority of the county board, the student members may not attend an executive session.

The State Board may remove a 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 board in any 1 calendar year; or Three consecutive scheduled meetings of the board. 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 within 10 days to request a hearing. If the member requests a hearing within the 10–day period: The State Board shall promptly 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 Worcester County.

At its first meeting at the beginning of each calendar year, the county board shall elect a president and a vice president from among its members.

Subject to subsection (b) of this section, the members shall receive compensation as set by the county commissioners. The salary of each member of the county board shall be at least $3,200. The salary of the president of the county board shall be at least $3,600.

The county board shall meet at least once each month. Except for those actions authorized by subsection (c) of this section, all actions of the county board shall be taken at a public meeting and a record of the meeting and all actions shall be made public. The county board may take actions in executive session in accordance with § 10–508 of the State Government Article.