§ 16-97-1. Rhode Island board of education established.
(a) Effective January 1, 2013, there is created a board of education that shall be responsible
for and shall exercise the purposes, powers, and duties of, this chapter and chapters
59 and 60 of this title. The board is responsible for the coordination of education
from pre-K through higher education and shall set goals and policies for the effective
coordination of these public education systems.
(b) The board of education shall consist of seventeen (17) public members appointed by
the governor with the advice and consent of the senate, eight (8) of whom shall be
designated to serve on the council on elementary and secondary education and eight
(8) of whom shall be designated to serve on the council on postsecondary education.
The chairperson of the board shall serve as a member of both councils. Six (6) of
the members initially appointed pursuant to this section shall serve terms of three
(3) years; six (6) members initially appointed pursuant to this section shall serve
terms of two (2) years; and, four (4) members initially appointed pursuant to this
section shall serve terms of one year. To the greatest extent possible, the initial
staggered terms shall be equitably divided among the councils so as to protect against
sudden changes in membership and reversal of policy. Thereafter, all members appointed
pursuant to this section shall serve terms of three (3) years. At the expiration of
their terms, members shall remain and continue in their official capacity until their
successor is appointed and qualified. Members shall not be appointed to more than
three (3), successive three-year (3) terms each; provided that the chair of the board
shall have no term and shall serve at the pleasure of the governor. Any vacancy among
the members of the board shall be filled by appointment of the governor for the remainder
of the unexpired term. In the selection and appointment of the board, the governor
shall seek persons who best serve the needs of the entire state. No person shall be
eligible for appointment to the board after the effective date of this act unless
a resident of this state. Members of the board shall not be compensated for their
service in attending board or council meetings.
(c) The chair of the Governor's workforce board, or designee; the chair of the Rhode Island
commerce corporation, or designee; the chair of the university of Rhode Island board
of trustees, or designee; and the Rhode Island teacher of the year shall serve as
non-voting, ex-officio members of the board.
(d) The Rhode Island teacher of the year shall serve on the board for one year, beginning
after their term as teacher of the year has expired. If the teacher of the year is
unable or unwilling to serve, a former Rhode Island teacher of the year may be selected
to serve on the board by the commissioner of elementary and secondary education; provided
that, the individual is still teaching in Rhode Island public schools.
(e) The governor shall select from the appointed members a chairperson and vice chairperson.
A quorum shall consist of nine (9) members of the board. A majority vote of those
present shall be required for action.
(f) Except as provided by subsection (b) of this section, members of the board shall be
removable by the governor for cause only. Removal solely for partisan or personal
reasons unrelated to performance, capacity, or fitness for the office shall be unlawful.
(g) The statutory responsibilities of the department of elementary and secondary education,
the commissioner of elementary and secondary education, and the commissioner of postsecondary
education shall remain unchanged.
(h) The chair of the board of education shall consult with the chairs of the council on
elementary and secondary education, the council on postsecondary education, the commissioner
of elementary and secondary education, and the commissioner of postsecondary education
in developing agendas, goals, policies, and strategic plans for the board.