MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2018 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Senator(s) Watson
Senate Concurrent Resolution 542
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO SECTION
203 OF THE MISSISSIPPI CONSTITUTION OF 1890 TO TRANSFER THE POWERS AND DUTIES
OF THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION TO THE GOVERNOR; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE
LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That the following amendment to the
Mississippi Constitution of 1890 is proposed to the qualified electors of the
state:
Amend Section 203,
Mississippi Constitution of 1890, to read as follows:
Section 203. * * *
(1) Until July 1, 1984, there shall be a board
of education, consisting of the Secretary of State, the Attorney General and
the Superintendent of Public Education, for the management and investment of
the school funds according to law, and for the performance of such other duties
as may be prescribed. The superintendent and one (1) other of said board shall
constitute a quorum.
(2)
From and after * * * July
1, 1984, there shall be a State Board of Education which January
1, 2019, the Governor shall manage and invest school funds according to
law, * * * formulate
policies according to law for and perform duties as prescribed by
law relating to the management and operation of public schools for
implementation by the State Department of Education. * * *and perform such other duties as prescribed by law. The
board shall consist of nine (9) members of which none shall be an elected
official. The Governor shall appoint one (1) member who shall be a resident of
the Northern Supreme Court District and who shall serve an initial term of one
(1) year, one (1) member who shall be a resident of the Central Supreme Court
District and who shall serve an initial term of five (5) years, one (1) member
who shall be a resident of the Southern Supreme Court District and who shall
serve an initial term of nine (9) years, one (1) member who shall be employed
on an active and full‑time basis as a school administrator and who shall
serve an initial term of three (3) years, and one (1) member who shall be
employed on an active and full‑time basis as a schoolteacher and who
shall serve an initial term of seven (7) years. The Lieutenant Governor shall
appoint two (2) members from the state at large, one (1) of whom shall serve an
initial term of four (4) years and one (1) of whom shall serve an initial term
of eight (8) years. The Speaker of the House of Representatives shall appoint
two (2) members from the state at large, one (1) of who shall serve an initial
term of two (2) years and one (1) of whom shall serve an initial term of six
(6) years. The initial terms of appointees shall begin on July 1, 1984, and
all subsequent appointments shall begin on the first day of July for a term of
(9) years and continue until their successors are appointed and qualify.
Appointments made to fill vacancies created by expiration of members' terms of
office occurring after January 1, 2018, shall be made for terms of four (4)
years. An appointment to fill a vacancy which arises for reasons other than by
expiration of a term of office shall be for the unexpired term only. The
Legislature shall by general law prescribe the compensation which members of
the board shall be entitled to receive. All members shall be appointed with
the advice and consent of the Senate and no members shall be actively engaged
in the educational profession except as stated above.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That
this proposed amendment shall be submitted by the Secretary of State to the
qualified electors at an election to be held on the first Tuesday after the
first Monday of November 2018, as provided by Section 273 of the Constitution
and by general law.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That
the explanation of this proposed amendment for the ballot shall read as
follows: "This proposed constitutional amendment transfers the powers and
duties of the State Board of Education to the Governor."
