21-N:10 State Board of Education. –
I. There is hereby established the state board of education consisting of 7 members who shall serve without pay and shall not be technical educators or professionally engaged in school work. The members shall be paid for actual expenses incurred in the performance of their duties out of moneys appropriated for the department of education.
II. The education committee of the house of representatives or the education committee of the senate may, by majority vote of its members, propose areas of study to the board, which shall be put on the agenda of the next meeting of the board for its consideration and response.
III. The governor and council shall appoint the members of the board. Five of the members shall be selected one each from the 5 executive councilor districts and 2 members shall be selected from the public at large. Terms of office of members shall be for 4 years from the January 31 on which the terms of their predecessors expired. Annually, on or before January 31, the governor shall name a member of the board who shall serve as chairperson for one year and until a successor is appointed. No member of the board shall serve more than 3 consecutive full terms.
IV. The governor and council may, after notice and hearing, remove a member of the board for incompetency, failure to discharge the member's duties, malfeasance, immorality, or other cause inimical to the welfare of the public schools, and in case of such removal, or of a vacancy arising from any other cause, they shall make another appointment for the unexpired term.
V. The state shall provide an office for the board. The board shall hold at least 6 regular meetings each year, and such special meetings as may be required. The time and places for regular meetings shall be fixed by the board, and the chairperson shall call a special meeting upon the written request of any 2 members, or on the chairperson's own motion.