§ 6-11-101 - Members. - Arkansas Statutes

6-11-101. Members.

(a) The State Board of Education shall be composed of nine (9) members: (1) Two (2) members to be selected from each of the congressional districts of the state as they exist on the July 31, 2007; and

(2) One (1) member to be appointed at large from within the state.

(b) (1) The term of office of a member of the state board shall be for a single term of seven (7) years.

(2) (A) Any member appointed to the state board to fill a vacancy for an uncompleted term with less than three (3) years remaining on the original term may be reappointed to an additional term of seven (7) years.

(B) No member serving three (3) or more years on the state board may be reappointed.

(3) No current or new member shall be allowed to resign in order to be appointed to a new term on the state board.

(4) Nothing in this section shall be construed to change the terms of any member of the state board who was appointed prior to June 3, 2004.

(c) The membership of the state board shall reflect the diversity in general education.

(d) (1) No person may serve as a member of the state board unless he or she is a qualified elector and is a person of high moral standards and recognized ability.

(2) Neither the Commissioner of Education nor any candidate for public office, holder of a public office in the state, schoolteacher, county or city superintendent, employee of a state-supported college or university, or member of any board of trustees of any state institution of higher learning shall serve as a member of the state board.

(e) The members of the state board shall be appointed by the Governor, subject to the confirmation of the Senate and shall take the oath of office for officers prescribed by the Arkansas Constitution.

(f) (1) Whenever a vacancy occurs in the membership of the state board, the Governor shall appoint a successor who shall serve the remainder of the unexpired term of the member that he or she succeeded, subject to all other provisions of this section.

(2) Resignation, removal from the district from which he or she is appointed, disqualification, incapacitation from mental or physical disability or otherwise, or change in status from the eligibility requirements for membership on the state board shall automatically create a vacancy in the membership of the state board, and no such member shall thereafter exercise any of the functions of membership on the state board even though his or her successor has not been appointed.

(g) (1) Members of the state board shall be subject to removal from office by the Governor when the actions or condition of a member shall be considered as sufficient cause for removal.

(2) However, before a member may be removed for cause, this cause must have been accepted as true, good, and sufficient by a majority written vote of all members of the state board after a formal hearing at a regular or special session of the state board.

(h) The members of the state board shall serve without remuneration but may receive expense reimbursement and stipends in accordance with 25-16-901 et seq., as follows:

(1) Actual expenses while attending regular and special meetings of the state board; and

(2) A per diem allowance when in attendance at regular or special meetings of the state board.