2024 -- S 2528

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LC004841

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2024

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION -- THE RHODE ISLAND BOARD OF EDUCATION ACT

     Introduced By: Senators DiMario, Cano, Lauria, Valverde, and Lawson

     Date Introduced: March 01, 2024

     Referred To: Senate Education

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 16-97-1 of the General Laws in Chapter 16-97 entitled "The Rhode

Island Board of Education Act" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     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; and 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 and shall be a voting member. 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.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION -- THE RHODE ISLAND BOARD OF EDUCATION ACT

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     This act would add the Rhode Island teacher of the year as a voting member on the Rhode

Island Board of Education.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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LC004841

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