(a) The board shall appoint the commissioner of education and early development subject to the approval of the governor. The commissioner shall be the principal executive officer of the department.
(b) The commissioner shall be appointed without regard to political affiliation and shall have at least a master's degree with five years' experience in the field of education since receiving it, with at least three of the five years in an exclusively administrative position.
(c) The commissioner serves at the pleasure of the board and may not be appointed by the board for a fixed term.
(d) The commissioner shall receive the salary set out in AS 39.20.080.
(e) The commissioner shall employ and remove all classified personnel in the department subject to AS 39.25 (State Personnel Act). The commissioner may employ and remove personnel in the exempt or partially exempt service subject to the approval of the board. Personnel in the exempt or partially exempt service have a right of appeal to the board if they are removed.
(f) [Repealed, § 5 ch 14 SLA 1996.]