PETITION OF:

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In the Year Two Thousand and Seven.

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An Act reforming the board of education.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:

SECTION 1. Section 1E of chapter 15 of the General Laws as appearing in the 2004 official edition, is amended by striking the first 7 sentences of the first paragraph, through “term.” and inserting in place thereof the following: —
There shall be a board of education, in this section and in sections 1F and 1G called the board, which shall consist of a chairman and 12 members, including the chairman of the student advisory council established under this section; the chancellor of higher education; the commissioner of early education and care; 1 representative of a labor organization selected by the governor from a list of 3 nominees provided by the Massachusetts State Labor Council, AFL-CIO; 1 representative of parents of school children selected by the governor from a list of 3 nominees provided by the Massachusetts Parent Teachers Association; and 7 additional members appointed by the governor, 1 of whom shall be a teacher, 1 of whom shall be an administrator and 1 of whom shall be a representative of business or industry with a demonstrated commitment to education.

In making such appointments, the governor shall seek to appoint persons who are ethnically, racially, and economically diverse and represent the diverse geographic regions of the commonwealth, and who are familiar with the differing interests, perspectives and needs of urban, rural and suburban school districts. The members appointed shall be committed to the academic and all-around achievement of all children and young people in the commonwealth and to true equal-educational opportunity.

The Governor shall appoint a chairman and 4 additional members to serve an initial term of 4 years; 1 member to serve an initial term of 3 years; 1 member to serve an initial term of 2 years; and 1 member to serve an initial term of 1 year. Thereafter, members shall serve for a period of 4 years and no appointed member shall serve more than 2 terms. A member appointed to fill a vacancy for an unexpired term of a member who has vacated a seat on the board shall serve the remainder of the term vacated and may be reappointed for 1 additional term.

The terms of the current appointed members of the board of education upon passage of this act, excluding the representative of the Massachusetts State Labor Council, AFL-CIO and the parent representative of the Massachusetts Parent Teachers Association, shall expire 30 days after the passage of this act. Not more than two appointive members of said board shall be employed on a full-time basis by any agency of the commonwealth.