AN ACT to modify the law regarding contracts for school principals.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  G.S. 115C‑287.1(b) reads as rewritten:
"(b)	Local boards of education shall employ school administrators who are ineligible for career status as provided in G.S. 115C‑325(c)(3), upon the recommendation of the superintendent.  The initial contract between a school administrator and a local board of education shall be for two to four years, ending on June 30 of the final 12 months of the contract. In the case of a subsequent contract between a principal or assistant principal and a local board of education, the contract shall be for a term of four years. In the case of an initial contract between a school administrator and a local board of education, the first year of the contract may be for a period of less than 12 months provided the contract becomes effective on or before September 1. A local board of education may, with the written consent of the school administrator, extend, renew, or offer a new school administrator's contract at any time after the first 12 months of the contract so long as the term of the new, renewed, or extended contract does not exceed four years. Rolling annual contract renewals are not allowed. Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit the filling of an administrative position on an interim or temporary basis."
SECTION 2.  This act becomes effective July 1, 2003.
In the General Assembly read three times and ratified this the 24th day of June, 2003.

	_____________________________________
		 Marc Basnight
	 President Pro Tempore of the Senate

	_____________________________________
		 Richard T. Morgan
	 Speaker of the House of Representatives

	_____________________________________
		 Michael F. Easley
	 Governor

Approved __________.m. this ______________ day of ___________________, 2003