The Florida Senate

231.545  Education Standards Commission; organization.--

(1)  The Education Standards Commission shall consist of 24 members appointed by the State Board of Education from nominations by the Commissioner of Education and subject to Senate confirmation. Prior to making nominations, the commissioner shall consult with the teaching and other involved associations in the state. In making nominations, the commissioner shall attempt to achieve equal geographical representation, as closely as possible. The members shall include:

(a)  Twelve teachers at least one of whom is a teacher in a private institution who is certified by the Department of Education and one of whom is certified as a vocational teacher.

(b)  One superintendent of schools.

(c)  One school principal.

(d)  One school personnel officer, to be appointed on the date of the first expiration of a school principal's term.

(e)  One teacher education or inservice director.

(f)  Four citizens, two of whom are district school board members.

(g)  Three representatives from higher education, two of whom are deans of colleges, schools, or departments of education and one of whom is employed by an independent institution.

(h)  One administrative representative from a community college.

(2)  The commission shall employ an executive director, who shall be exempt from career service, shall have staff, and shall be assigned to the department for administrative purposes. Adequate staff and support shall be provided to carry out purposes of the commission under this act.

(3)  Members shall serve for 3-year staggered terms and shall be entitled to reimbursement for expenses of attending meetings of the commission. Reimbursement for such expenses shall be made by the Treasurer from funds appropriated for the Department of Education, on warrants drawn by the Comptroller upon requisitions approved by the Department of Education. School districts shall be reimbursed for substitute teachers required to replace commission members, when they are carrying out their official duties, at the rate established by the school district for substitute teachers. The department may reimburse local school districts for substitutes.

(4)  As soon as practicable following appointment of the commission, the Commissioner of Education shall call an organizational meeting of the commission. By majority vote of all its members, the commission shall elect its own chair from among its members and adopt bylaws for its own governance. The chair shall preside over meetings of the commission and perform other duties directed by the commission or required by its duly adopted bylaws or operating procedures.

(5)  If a member is absent from any three regularly scheduled meetings in any calendar year, his or her office as a member of the commission shall be deemed vacant, unless the commission determines extenuating circumstances.

(6)  The State Board of Education may remove any member from the commission for misconduct or malfeasance in office, incapacity, or neglect of duty.

(7)  The commission shall be financed from certificate fees and general revenue.

History.--ss. 5, 11, ch. 80-190; ss. 2, 3, ch. 81-318; s. 1, ch. 82-46; ss. 28, 30, ch. 82-242; s. 2, ch. 83-265; ss. 1, 3, 4, 5, ch. 85-266; s. 5, ch. 91-429; s. 1253, ch. 95-147; s. 46, ch. 2000-301.