Subdivision 1. Appointment of members. The Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board consists of 11 members appointed by the governor, with the advice and consent of the senate. Membership terms, compensation of members, removal of members, the filling of membership vacancies, and fiscal year and reporting requirements are as provided in sections 214.07 to 214.09. No member may be reappointed for more than one additional term.

Subd. 2. Eligibility; board composition. Each nominee, other than a public nominee, must be selected on the basis of professional experience and knowledge of teacher education, accreditation, and licensure. The board must be composed of:

(1) six teachers who are currently teaching in a Minnesota school or who were teaching at the time of the appointment, have at least five years of teaching experience, and were not serving in an administrative function at a school district or school when appointed. The six teachers must include the following:

(i) one teacher in a charter school;

(ii) one teacher from the seven-county metropolitan area, as defined in section 473.121, subdivision 2;

(iii) one teacher from outside the seven-county metropolitan area;

(iv) one teacher from a related service category licensed by the board;

(v) one special education teacher; and

(vi) one teacher from a teacher preparation program;

(2) one superintendent that alternates each term between a superintendent from the seven-county metropolitan area, as defined in section 473.121, subdivision 2, and a superintendent from outside the metropolitan area;

(3) one school district human resources director;

(4) one administrator of a cooperative unit under section 123A.24, subdivision 2, who oversees a special education program;

(5) one principal that alternates each term between an elementary and a secondary school principal; and

(6) one member of the public that may be a current or former school board member.

Subd. 2a. First appointments. (a) The governor shall nominate all members to the Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board. The terms of the initial board members must be as follows:

(1) two members must be appointed for terms that expire January 1, 2019;

(2) three members must be appointed for terms that expire January 1, 2020;

(3) three members must be appointed for terms that expire January 1, 2021; and

(4) three members must be appointed for terms that expire January 1, 2022.

(b) Members of the Board of Teaching as of January 1, 2017, are ineligible for first appointments to the Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board for four years from September 1, 2017, except that two members of the Board of Teaching as of January 1, 2017, are eligible for appointment under paragraph (a), clause (1).

Subd. 3. Vacant position. With the exception of a teacher who retires from teaching during the course of completing a board term, the position of a member who leaves Minnesota or whose employment status changes to a category different from that from which appointed is deemed vacant.

Subd. 4. Terms, compensation; removal; vacancies. The review and processing of complaints; the setting of fees; the selection and duties of an executive director to serve the board; and other provisions relating to board operations not provided in this chapter are as provided in chapter 214. Membership terms, except as provided in subdivision 2a, compensation of members, removal of members, the filling of membership vacancies, and fiscal year and reporting requirements are as provided in sections 214.07 to 214.09.

Subd. 4a. Administration. (a) The executive director of the board shall be the chief administrative officer for the board but shall not be a member of the board. The executive director shall maintain the records of the board, account for all fees received by the board, supervise and direct employees servicing the board, and perform other services as directed by the board.

(b) The Department of Administration must provide administrative support in accordance with section 16B.371. The commissioner of administration must assess the board for services it provides under this section.

(c) The Department of Education must provide suitable offices and other space to the board at reasonable cost until January 1, 2020. Thereafter, the board may contract with either the Department of Education or the Department of Administration for the provision of suitable offices and other space, joint conference and hearing facilities, and examination rooms.

Subd. 5. District reimbursement for costs of substitute teachers. The Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board may reimburse local school districts for the costs of substitute teachers employed when regular teachers are providing professional assistance to the state by serving on the board or on a committee or task force appointed by the board and charged to make recommendations concerning standards for teacher licensure in this state.

Subd. 6. Public employer compensation reduction prohibited. The public employer of a member must not reduce the member's compensation or benefits because of the member's absence from employment when engaging in the business of the board.

History: Ex1967 c 25 s 3; 1973 c 749 s 9; 1975 c 136 s 1,2; 1975 c 271 s 6; 1976 c 149 s 27; 1976 c 222 s 22,23,27,208; 1978 c 706 s 40; 1978 c 793 s 62; 1980 c 345 s 9,10; 1986 c 444; 1989 c 251 s 7,8; 1998 c 397 art 8 s 57-59,101; art 11 s 3; 1998 c 398 art 5 s 11,12; 2009 c 96 art 2 s 15,16; 1Sp2017 c 5 art 12 s 2; 1Sp2019 c 11 art 3 s 1