(1) The state board of education shall consist of one member elected from each congressional district in the state and, if the total number of congressional districts of the state is an even number, one member elected from the state at large. The members of the state board of education serving on April 30, 1982, shall continue to serve the terms for which they were elected. At the general election held in 1982, one member shall be elected from the second congressional district for a six-year term, one member shall be elected from the fourth congressional district for a six-year term, one member shall be elected from the fifth congressional district for a four-year term, and one member shall be elected from the state at large for a six-year term, all such terms commencing on the second Tuesday in January 1983. At the general election held in 1984, one member shall be elected from the first congressional district for a six-year term, and one member shall be elected from the third congressional district for a six-year term, all such terms commencing on the second Tuesday in January 1985. At the general election held in 1986, one member shall be elected from the fifth congressional district for a six-year term, and one member shall be elected from the sixth congressional district for a six-year term, all such terms commencing on the second Tuesday in January 1987. At the general election held in 2002, one member shall be elected from the seventh congressional district for a six-year term commencing on the second Tuesday in January 2003.

(2) The member of the state board from each congressional district of the state shall be nominated and elected by the registered electors of such district in the same manner as members of the house of representatives of the congress of the United States are nominated and elected. Each member from a congressional district shall be a registered elector of such district. If the total number of congressional districts of the state is an even number, the additional member of the board shall be nominated and elected at large in the same manner as state officers are nominated and elected. If the total number of congressional districts changes to an odd number during the term of the member elected at large, such member shall be permitted to continue serving on the state board until the expiration of his or her term.

(3) Except as provided in subsection (1) of this section, members shall be elected for terms of six years. They shall serve without compensation but shall be reimbursed for any necessary expenses incurred by them in the performance of their duties as members.

(3.5) Any member of the state board who was elected to office as a resident of a designated congressional district, and who no longer resides in such congressional district solely because of a change made to the boundaries of such district subsequent to the 2000 federal decennial census, is eligible to hold office for the remainder of the term for which the member was elected, notwithstanding such nonresidency.

(4) The state board shall elect from its own membership a chairman and a vice-chairman who shall hold office for terms of two years. The commissioner shall act as secretary to the state board. The state board shall meet at least quarterly and at such other times as may be necessary, upon call of the chairman or the commissioner or by a majority of its members.

(5) If the total number of congressional districts changes to an odd number during the term of the member elected at large, a vacancy of such member's seat shall not be filled by the state board.

(6) For any board member elected on or after May 22, 2008, during his or her term of office, a member of the state board shall not be a member of the general assembly; an officer, employee, or board member of a school district or charter school in the state; an officer, employee, or board member of the state charter school institute or the institute board; or an employee of the state board or the department of education.