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September 2021 Committee on School Initiatives Item 2

Approval of Special Purpose School District Advisory Board Members for Texas Tech University K-12  

September 3, 2021

COMMITTEE ON SCHOOL INITIATIVES: ACTION
STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION: CONSENT

SUMMARY: This item provides an opportunity for the board to consider nominees from Texas Tech University (TTU) to serve as members of the district advisory board for TTU K-12. Appointees will serve for a staggered three-year term. Two of the initial advisory board members will serve for two years and then will be replaced with members serving three-year terms, allowing members to regularly rotate on and off the board.

STATUTORY AUTHORITY: Texas Education Code (TEC), §11.351.

TEC, §11.351 permits the State Board of Education (SBOE) on the recommendation of the commissioner and after consulting with the school districts involved and obtaining the approval of a majority of those districts in each affected county in which a proposed school district is located, to establish a special-purpose school district for the education of students in special situations whose educational needs are not adequately met by regular school districts. The SBOE is permitted to impose duties or limitations on the school district as necessary for the special purpose of the district.

The SBOE is required to grant to the districts the right to share in the available school fund apportionment and other privileges as are granted to independent and common school districts.

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

BACKGROUND INFORMATION AND JUSTIFICATION: In September 2020, the SBOE adopted 19 TAC §61.101 to outline applicability of state law for special purpose school districts. Section 61.101(d) requires each university to submit nominees for approval by the SBOE to serve as special purpose school district advisory board members. The superintendent may not participate in the nomination process for the advisory board. The advisory board is required to hold public meetings that comply with appropriate notice requirements for governmental bodies. The superintendent and advisory board are required to ensure information required to be made available to the public is made available on the special purpose school district's website. Each university must also develop an advisory board training program that provides the relevant board training required under Texas Education Code (TEC), §11.159, and submit to the SBOE the training requirements by September 1 of each odd-numbered year.

After consultation with the Provost’s Office and TTU K-12 leadership, Dr. Schovanec has submitted the following nominees to serve as special purpose school district advisory board members:

  • Stacy Hobbs, TTU K-12 parent
  • Margaret Leifeste, retired Special Education Director
  • Kayla Morrison, Superintendent, Lorenzo ISD
  • Syd Sexton, Coordinator of Curriculum Services, Region 17 Education Service Center
  • Doyle Vogler, Associate Superintendent, Lubbock ISD
  • Justin Louder, Interim Superintendent, TTU K-12

MOTION TO BE CONSIDERED: The State Board of Education:

Approve the appointment of nominees submitted by Dr. Lawrence Schovanec, President, Texas Tech University to serve a two-year term of office from September 3, 2021 to September 3, 2023, on the TTU K-12 advisory board.

Staff Member Responsible:
Monica Martinez, Associate Commissioner, Standards and Support Services

Attachment:         
Correspondence from Dr. Lawrence Schovanec, President, Texas Tech University

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