(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, rule, or regulation, an employee of the District of Columbia Public Schools shall be: (1) Classified as an Educational Service employee; (2) Placed under the personnel authority of the Board of Education; and (3) Subject to all Board of Education rules. (b) School-based personnel shall constitute a separate competitive area from nonschool-based personnel who shall not compete with school-based personnel for retention purposes.