February 11, 2015 General Meeting Item 3

Election of State Board of Education Officers

February 11, 2015

STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION: ACTION

SUMMARY: Pursuant to the provisions of the Texas Education Code (TEC), §7.107, at the first regular meeting after the election and qualification of new State Board of Education (SBOE) members, the board shall elect by separate votes a vice chair and a secretary. The vice chair and secretary of the board will be elected to serve for terms of two years and until their successors are elected.

STATUTORY AUTHORITY: TEC, §7.107.

PREVIOUS BOARD ACTION: At the January 2013 meeting, Thomas Ratliff was elected vice chair and Mavis B. Knight was elected secretary.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION AND SIGNIFICANT ISSUES: The chair of the board is appointed by the governor, with the advice and consent of the Texas Senate, for a two-year term of office. The chair holds over in the position until a new chair is appointed and confirmed by the Texas Senate.

The other officers of the board – the vice chair and secretary – are elected by the board in separate votes. The duties of these two officers are listed in Section 1.1(b) of the board’s operating rules. They serve two-year terms and continue to serve until their successors are elected.

FISCAL IMPACT: None.

PUBLIC AND STUDENT BENEFIT: Election of a vice chair and a secretary will enable the board to organize and perform its statutory duties relating to public education.

PROCEDURAL AND REPORTING IMPLICATIONS: None.

PUBLIC COMMENTS: None.

ALTERNATIVES: None.

OTHER COMMENTS AND RELATED ISSUES: None.

MOTION TO BE CONSIDERED: The State Board of Education:

Elect a vice chair and a secretary as required by the TEC, §7.107.

Staff Members Responsible:
Gene Acuna, Director
Division of Communications and SBOE Support

Debbie Ratcliffe, Director of Media Relations
Division of Communications and SBOE Support