(1) Until an initial school board for a community district is elected under this section, the transition manager designated under section 12b shall exercise the powers and duties with respect to governance of the community district as provided under that section.

    (2) The initial school board for a community district shall consist of 7 members elected as provided in this section. The school district election coordinator for the community district shall conduct the election as provided for under this section and the Michigan election law.

    (3) The school board for a community district shall consist of 7 school electors of the community district elected on a districtwide basis. Members elected to the initial elected school board shall be elected at the first November regular election date, as established under section 641 of the Michigan election law, MCL 168.641, that occurs at least 90 days after the transfer date.

    (4) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, for an individual’s name to appear on the official ballot as a candidate for member of the initial elected school board of a community district, the candidate shall file a nominating petition and the affidavit required by section 558 of the Michigan election law, MCL 168.558, with the school district election coordinator not later than 4 p.m. on the fifteenth Tuesday before the election date. The nominating petition must be signed by a minimum of 40 and maximum of 100 school electors of the community district. The nominating petition shall be substantially in the form prescribed under section 303 of the Michigan election law, MCL 168.303. However, instead of filing nominating petitions, a candidate for school board member may pay a nonrefundable filing fee of $100.00 to the school district election coordinator. If this fee is paid by the due date for a nominating petition, the payment has the same effect under this section as the filing of a nominating petition.

    (5) The 2 members of the initial elected school board receiving the highest vote totals in that election among the 7 members elected shall be elected for a term of 6 years, the 3 members of the initial elected school board receiving the next highest vote totals in that election among the 7 members elected shall be elected for a term of 4 years, and the 2 members of the initial elected school board receiving the lowest vote totals in that election among the 7 members elected shall be elected for a term of 2 years. The term of a member of the initial elected school board shall begin on January 1 following the member’s election.

    (6) After the initial terms under subsection (5), each member of the school board of a community district shall be elected at the November regular election date for a term of 4 years beginning on January 1 following the member’s election.

    (7) The school board of a community district shall adopt bylaws as described in section 11a(6) for a general powers school district. These bylaws may establish or change board procedures; establish the number, titles, and duties of board officers; and address any other matter related to effective and efficient functioning of the board. Regular meetings of the board shall be held at least once each month, at the time and place fixed by the bylaws. Special meetings may be called and held in the manner and for the purposes specified in the bylaws.

    (8) A member of a school board for a qualifying school district under section 12b may not also serve as a member of a school board for a community district that has the same geographic boundaries as the qualifying school district. A member of a school board of a community district may not also serve as a member of a school board for a qualifying school district that has the same geographic boundaries as the community district.

    (9) As used in this section, “school district election coordinator” means that term as defined under section 4 of the Michigan election law, MCL 168.4.