| (a) Charter school member. Notwithstanding the provisions of §53.1001 of this title (relating to Board of Directors), where a regional education service center (RESC) has at least one open-enrollment charter school, as defined by §100.1011(3) of this title (relating to Definitions), approved to operate within its boundaries on or after June 1, the commissioner of education shall appoint a representative of the open-enrollment charter schools in the region to serve as a non-voting member of the board of directors of that RESC as provided by this section. (b) Term of office. (1) A charter school member of an RESC board of directors shall be appointed for a one-year term. The term of office shall begin June 1, and may be extended for up to three years by the commissioner. (2) If a vacancy occurs due to death or resignation of a charter school member of an RESC board of directors, a 30-day period shall elapse, after notice has been given to the board chair, before the vacancy is filled. (3) At the beginning of the 30-day period, notice of any vacancy shall be given to the president of the governing body and the chief executive officer of each open-enrollment charter school in the education service center region and shall be posted in appropriate locations. (4) A vacancy for the unexpired term of a charter school member of an RESC board of directors shall be filled by appointment by the commissioner of education. (c) Appointment process. (1) A charter school member of an RESC board of directors must be a United States citizen and a resident of the State of Texas, and must be at least 18 years of age. A person may be appointed to serve as a charter school member of more than one RESC board of directors. (2) Any eligible person wishing to seek appointment as a charter school member of an RESC board of directors shall file an application between February 1 and February 20. The application shall be in the form of a letter seeking appointment to a specific RESC board of directors. The letter must: (A) include a description of the applicant's qualifications to serve as a charter member of the RESC board of directors; (B) enclose letters of support signed by representatives from at least one open-enrollment charter school in the education service center region; and (C) supply contact information for the persons signing the letters of support. (3) The application for appointment as a charter school member of an RESC board of directors may be filed by mail if sent by certified United States mail, return receipt requested, or by an overnight courier service. The envelope must be addressed to the Charter School Division, Texas Education Agency, 1701 N. Congress Avenue, Austin, Texas 78701-1494. (4) Not later than May 31, the commissioner of education shall notify the board of directors of each qualifying RESC of the commissioner's appointee to serve as the charter school member of that RESC board of directors effective June 1. (d) No applicant appointed. If the commissioner does not select a representative from among the applicants under subsection (c) of this section, or if no applicant applies for such appointment, then there shall be a vacancy which shall be filled by appointment by the commissioner of education. |
