January 31, 2023 SBOE General Meeting Item 4

Election of State Board of Education Officers

January 31, 2023

STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION: ACTION

SUMMARY: Pursuant to the provisions of the Texas Education Code (TEC), §7.107(b), 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 current operating rules establish the terms of office for the vice chair and secretary of the board as two years and until their successors are elected.

STATUTORY AUTHORITY: Texas Education Code (TEC), §7.107(b).

TEC, §7.107(b) requires the SBOE to organize, adopt operating rules, and elect a vice chair and secretary at the first meeting after an election and qualification of new members.

The full text of statutory citations can be found in the statutory authority section of this agenda.

PREVIOUS BOARD ACTION: At the January 2021 meeting, Pam Little was elected as vice chair and retired member, Georgina C. Pérez, was re-elected as secretary.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION AND JUSTIFICATION: 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. The vice chair and secretary serve two-year terms and continue to serve until their successors are elected.

MOTION TO BE CONSIDERED: The State Board of Education:

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

Staff Member Responsible:    
Yolanda M. Walker, Executive Director, State Board of Education Support