The qualifications of the county superintendent of schools in each county shall be as set forth in Sections 1205 to 1212, inclusive, for that class into which the county falls. The class into which each county falls shall be determined on October 1st of each year based upon the average daily attendance in the public schools of such county for the preceding school year as reported to the State Department of Education. In no case will the salary of the county superintendent be lowered during his term of office.

The salaries set forth in Section 1213 are payable to incumbent county superintendents of schools; provided, however, that the salary of an incumbent shall not be reduced during the term for which he was elected or appointed or for any consecutive new term to which he is elected or appointed.