Skip to main content

January 28, 2019 General Meeting Item 3

 Election of State Board of Education Officers


January 28, 2019

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.

PREVIOUS BOARD ACTION: At the January 2017 meeting, Marty Rowley was elected vice chair and Ruben Cortez, Jr. was re-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. The vice chair and secretary serve two-year terms and continue to serve until their successors are elected.

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

PUBLIC COMMENTS: None.

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:

Debbie Ratcliffe, Executive Director, Division of State Board of Education Support