State Board of Education; establishment; membership

(a)(1) There is established a State Board of Education (“Board”) consisting of 9 members. Four members shall be appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by the Council. Five members shall be elected. Four of the 5 elected members shall be elected from the 4 school districts created pursuant to subsection (c) of this section. One member shall be elected at-large as the President of the Board. (2) Upon the repeal of §§ 1-204.52 and 1-204.95, the members of the Board of Education established pursuant to § 1-204.95 shall serve as the initial State Board of Education established by this chapter until noon, January 2, 2009. (b) Beginning at 12:01 p.m. on January 2, 2009, the Board shall consist of 9 elected members. One member shall be elected from each of the 8 school election wards created pursuant to § 1-1011.01 and one member shall be elected at-large. The Board shall select its president from among the 9 members of the Board. (c) The 4 school districts for the election of Board members, as described in subsection (a)(1) of this section, shall be comprised of the 8 election wards created pursuant to § 1-1011.01: (1) Wards 1 and 2 shall comprise School District I; (2) Wards 3 and 4 shall comprise School District II; (3) Wards 5 and 6 shall comprise School District III; and (4) Wards 7 and 8 shall comprise School District IV. (d)(1) Except as provided in paragraph (3)(B) of this subsection, the term of office of a member of the Board, including the at-large member, shall be 4 years. (2) Members may receive compensation at a rate fixed by the Council, which shall not exceed the amount provided for in § 1-611.10. (3)(A) The term of office of a member elected in a general election shall commence at 12:01 p.m. on January 2 of the year following the election. The term of office of an incumbent member shall expire at noon, January 2 of the year following the general election. (B) The initial terms of the members of the Board elected in the general election in November 2008 shall be as follows: (i) The 4 members elected from Wards 1, 3, 5, and 6 shall serve 2- year terms, ending at noon, January 2, 2011. (ii) The 4 members elected from Wards 2, 4, 7, and 8 and the member elected at-large shall serve 4-year terms, ending at noon, January 2, 2013. (e)(1) Each member of the Board, including the at-large member, shall: (A) Be a qualified elector, as that term is defined in § 1-1001.02, in the school election ward from which he seeks election; (B) Have resided in the ward from which he or she is nominated for one year immediately preceding the election; (C) Not hold another elective office, other than delegate or alternate delegate to a convention of a political party nominating candidates for President and Vice-President of the United States; or (D) Not be an officer or employee of the District of Columbia government or of the Board. (2) A member shall forfeit his or her office upon failure to maintain the requirements of this subsection. (f) The election of the members of the Board shall be conducted on a nonpartisan basis and in accordance with subchapter I of Chapter 10 of Title 1 [§ 1-1001.01 et seq.]. (g) If a member of the Board dies, resigns, or otherwise becomes unable to serve or a member-elect fails to take office, the vacancy shall be filled as provided in § 1-1001.10(e) and (g).