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Changes in Structure of the Board of Education
Prepared by Councilmember Kevin Chavous’s Staff
February 17, 2000

Council Period 12

Council Period 13

Council Period 14

Council Period 15

Changes in Structure of the Board of Education
	Current	Bill 13-469 & 13-470 as introduced	Committee Prints	Amendments Passed in the Nature of Substitutes	Amendments introduced today
Number of members	11 members 8 ward representatives 3 at-large president elected by Board	9 members 8 ward representatives president elected at large (no at-large representatives other than president)	7 members 4 District representatives 2 at-large and one president	Choice between 9-member elected and 5-member appointed	Five Members elected, Four appointed, with president elected at-large
How elected	Simple majority in general election	During ward primaries, voters choose two candidates for school board; voters city-wide then choose between the two. President is elected by simple majority at-large	President and 2 at-large elected at-large with at-large person with the most votes getting 4 years; One representative each of four new Districts	President elected at-large or appointed	President elected at-large One representative each of four new Districts
Roles and responsibility of Board detailed	Board controls the public schools	Details the following Board roles: hires, evaluates, and can fire the superintendent approves annual budget reconciles budget after it is approved by Congress establishes policies to guide expenditure and approves expenditures over an amount to be determined develops memorandum of Understanding with superintendent at least every 2 years, which is approved by the Council	Roles determined by laws of Council 2 changes: 1. Mayor appoints and fires the superintendent, with approval from the Board 2. Memorandum of understanding not approved by the Council	Charter: hires, evaluates, and can fire the superintendent approves annual budget reconciles budget after it is approved by Congress establishes policies to guide expenditure and approves expenditures over an amount to be determined Companion: develops memorandum of Understanding with superintendent at least every 2 years Board required to have annual training	Details the following Board roles: hires, evaluates and can fire the superintendent approves annual budget reconciles budget after it is approved by Congress establishes policies to guide expenditure and approves expenditures over an amount to be determined develops memorandum of Understanding with superintendent at least every 2 years, which is approved by the Council
Removing chartering authority from Board of Education	Board of Education is one of two legislatively designated chartering authorities; authorized to charter 10 new charter schools per year	Board of Education would no longer have authority to charter schools. Existing provision allowing Council to enact new chartering authority in the future would remain intact.	Board of Education retains the ability to charter	Board of Education retains the ability to charter	Board of Education retains the ability to charter
Appointment of teachers	Board officially appoints all teachers	Board no longer appoints teachers	Board no longer appoints teachers	Board no longer appoints teachers	Board no longer appoints teachers
Election of President	President elected annually by member of the Board	President elected for 4 years at-large in 2000 election In following election years, candidates run in primary. The two top then run at-large in the general election	President elected for 4 years at-large in 2000 election	President elected for 4 years at-large	President elected for 4 years at-large
Filling vacancy in mid-term	Presidential vacancy no provision Ward representatives vacancy special election	Presidential vacancy members appoint interim president special primary election, then special at-large election Ward representatives vacancy special primary election, then special at-large election	Presidential vacancy members appoint interim president special primary election, then special at-large election District representative vacancy special primary election, then special at-large election	Presidential vacancy members appoint interim president special primary election, then special at-large election District representative vacancy special primary election, then special at-large election	Presidential vacancy members appoint interim president special primary election, then special at-large election District representative vacancy special primary election, then special at-large election
Terms of office of Board members	4 years staggered. Not in the same year as their ward councilmember	Four year staggered terms in the same year as their ward councilmember after the following actions have been completed in the year 2002 election: No year 2000 primary election for the Board Nov. 2000 general election two-year terms for Wards 1, 3, 5, and 6 Nov. 2002 general election two-year positions for Wards 2, 4, 7, and 8 Nov. 2002 general election four-year positions	Four year staggered terms with three Board members originally elected for 2 year terms District I (Wards 1 and 3) and District III (Wards 2 and 4) get 2-year terms along with at-large candidate with 2nd highest votes District II (Wards 2 and 4) and District IV (Wards 7 and 8) get 4-year terms along with at-large candidate with 1st highest vote and President	Four year staggered terms	All nine members serve four year terms with sunset provision allowing Council to change the composition of the elected board
Residency requirement	One year residency to qualify to be a candidate for the Board	90 day residency required	One year residency to be a candidate for the Board	One year residency to be a candidate for the Board

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