142                               LAWS OF MARYLAND                        [CH. 109

Section 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Maryland,
That Section 56 of Article 77 of the Annotated Code of Maryland
(1965 Replacement Volume), title "Public Education," subtitle
"Chapter 5. County Board of Education," be and it is hereby repealed
and re-enacted, with amendments, to read as follows:

56.

The county board of education shall divide the county into appro-
priate school districts, shall keep full records of the boundaries there-
of, and shall locate and maintain schools, as needed, within each
district.

They are authorized and empowered with the approval of the State
Superintendent of Schools, to purchase grounds, school sites or build-
ings, or to sell the same; to rent, repair, improve and construct school
buildings, or approve contracts for so doing, when the plans conform
to the rules and regulations of the State Board of Education, and
are approved by the State Superintendent of Schools, as provided for
in Section 40 of this article.

They shall employ an architect or architects on the recommendation
of the county superintendent of schools to assist in the preparation
of plans and specifications for remodeling old buildings and for con-
structing new buildings.

Except in Allegany and Frederick Counties [County], they may
sell, with the approval of the State Superintendent of Schools, school
grounds, school sites and school buildings when no longer needed for
educational purposes. In Allegany [County] and Frederick Counties,
the title to such grounds, sites and buildings no longer needed for
school purposes shall vest in the County Commissioners and may be
sold, leased, or otherwise disposed of (except by gift) by [said] the
County Commissioners.

The Board of Education of Howard County is authorized and em-
powered, subject to the limitations hereinafter set forth, to secure
the services of attorneys at law to represent it in all legal matters
affecting said Board and to contract for the payment of the fees of
such attorneys in an aggregate amount not to exceed five hundred
dollars ($500.00) annually. The Board of Education of Howard Coun-
ty is further authorized and empowered, with the consent of the
County Commissioners of Howard County, to contract for the pay-
ment of fees for such legal services over and above the aforesaid
annual sum of five hundred dollars ($500.00). When and as such
fees shall become due and payable said Board of Education shall
certify the same to the County Commissioners of Howard County for
payment. Said County Commissioners are authorized and directed
to pay such fees which shall have been contracted for and certified
as hereinbefore provided and are further authorized to levy annually
upon the assessable property of Howard County a sum sufficient to
pay the aggregate of such fees.

Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That this Act shall take effect
July 1, 1968.

Approved April 10, 1968.