Chapter 200
H.P. 133 - L.D. 151
An Act To Include Student Representation on the State Board of Education
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 20-A MRSA §401, sub-§1, as enacted by PL 1981, c. 693, §§5 and 8, is amended to read:
1. Appointment.
The state board shall consist consists of 9 members who shall be and, beginning in the 2007-2008 school year, 2 nonvoting student members, one junior and one senior in high school. All members are appointed by the Governor. One of the student members must reside in the State's First Congressional District at the time of appointment and one must reside in the State's Second Congressional District at the time of appointment. Each appointment shall be is subject to review by the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over education matters and to confirmation by the Legislature.
Sec. 2. 20-A MRSA §401, sub-§1-A is enacted to read:
1-A. Nomination of student members.
Each student member of the state board serves for a term of 2 years, except that the senior appointed in the 2007-2008 school year serves for one year. A junior in high school must be added each year to the state board to serve a term of 2 years. A. The state board shall notify every public high school principal by March 15th of the year in which applications are being accepted for the student member's position.
B. Applications for the student member's position must be submitted to the state board no later than April 15th of the year in which applications are being accepted.
C. A screening committee of the state board shall select 6 semifinalists for the student member's position.
D. The state board shall, by May 1st of the year in which applications are being accepted, select 3 finalists for the Governor's consideration and shall rank the finalists according to its preference.
Sec. 3. 20-A MRSA §401, sub-§1-B is enacted to read:
1-B. Term of student member.
Notwithstanding subsection 4, the term of office of the student member of the state board is 2 years.
Sec. 4. 20-A MRSA §401, sub-§1-C is enacted to read:
1-C. Qualifications for service as student member.
At the time a student member of the state board's term commences, the student must: A. Be enrolled in good standing in a public high school in the State;
B. Have completed 10th grade prior to the commencement of the term;
C. Provide at least 3 references from teachers in the school that the student attends; and
D. Meet other criteria established by the state board in consultation with students in the State.
Effective September 20, 2007