Part I

Amends SL 1967-1254 as follows. Removes outdated language related to the Watauga County Board of Education (Board). Requires that the Board be composed of five members serving staggered four-year terms (was, two or four-year terms) and specifies that the terms begin the first Monday in December following their election. Requires members to be elected from five single-member electoral districts using the nonpartisan primary and election method under GS 163-294. Requires one member to be elected from each district by the district’s qualified voters; requires candidates to reside in the district in which they seek election. Requires that the Board’s electoral districts be the same as those for the Watauga County Board of Commissioners. Sets out staggered terms by requiring that members be elected from districts 1 and 4 starting in 2026 and from districts 2, 3, and 5 starting in 2028. Make conforming and technical changes. Effective January 1, 2025, and applies to elections held on or after that date.

Requires that for the general election held in Watauga County in November 2024, the three candidates for the Board that receive the highest number of votes will be elected to four-year terms.

Part II

Prohibits the Watauga County Board of Commissioners from changing its method of election or from redrawing its county commissioner districts until after the return of the next federal decennial census.