Three school board members shall be elected for each Class II school district at each statewide general election, except that when a Class II school district is created by a Class I school district which determines by a majority vote to establish a high school pursuant to section 79-406, a six-member board shall be elected at the next statewide general election and the three members receiving the highest number of votes shall be elected for terms of four years, and the three members receiving the next highest number of votes shall be elected for terms of two years. Each member's term of office shall begin on the date of the first regular meeting of the board in January following the statewide general election at which he or she is elected and, except as otherwise provided in this section, shall continue for four years or until the member's successor is elected and qualified. The term of a board member holding office on January 1, 1997, which term would otherwise expire before the first regular meeting of the board in January following the statewide general election, shall be extended to the first regular meeting of the board in January following the date his or her term would otherwise expire. The school board members of a Class II school district shall meet the qualifications found in section 79-543.