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APPLICATION

and

 AFFIDAVIT OF RESIDENCY/QUALIFICATIONS

 for

 Commissioner of Education’s Appointments

of Members to the Boards of Education of Special Act School Districts

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Information Sheet

• Description of Position

• Candidate Qualifications

• Term of Appointment

• Education Department Review

• Interview of Candidates

Application

Affidavit of Residency

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INFORMATION SHEET

Chapters 628 and 629 of the Laws of 2004 require the Commissioner of Education to appoint two public members to the board of education of each special act school district for four-year terms. 

If you are interested in serving as a member of the board of education of a special act school district (listed below), the New York State Education Department is currently accepting applications for such service.  In order to be considered for appointment, you must meet the legal requirements, specified in the attached affidavit, and submit the completed application, a letter of intent, a current resume and a properly executed affidavit to: Dr. Raymond H. Kesper, Office of the Senior Deputy Commissioner of Education-P-16, New York State Education Department, Second Floor, West Mezzanine,  Albany, New York 12234. (N.B. – Information must be typed or printed legibly.  Faxed submissions will not be accepted.)

Special Act School Districts

Description of Position

The position is a member of the school board that is responsible for the education of the children attending the special act school district and must provide for the governance and oversight of the district’s affairs, personnel and properties.  To address the responsibilities, a board member is expected to work with other board members to establish a strong control environment, issue comprehensive policies, ensure the district operates in accordance with its mission and all legal requirements, monitor the district’s financial condition and ensure the district hires qualified individuals.

Specifically, the board member would be expected to:

• Regularly attend and participate in board meetings and committee meetings where   applicable;

• Read, review and inquire about materials that involve the school district, including board   minutes, fiscal reports and other reports; and

• Use good judgment in analyzing all school district matters and act in good faith consistent   with the best interests of the school district.

It should be noted that under section 2102-a of the Education Law, as added by Chapter 263 of the Laws of 2005, "Every trustee or voting member of a board of education of a school district or a board of cooperative educational services, elected or appointed for a term beginning on or after July first, two thousand five, shall, within the first year of his or her term, complete a minimum of six hours of training on the financial oversight, accountability and fiduciary responsibilities of a board member."

Candidate Qualifications

• A candidate must be eligible to vote in the general election (i.e., over 18 years of age, a United States citizen and a New York State resident).

• A candidate must reside in the general vicinity of the special act school district (supervisory district in which the special act school district is located, contiguous supervisory district or non-component district, e.g., New York City would serve as the “general vicinity” for a special act school district located in the area served by the Southern Westchester BOCES).

• A candidate cannot be an officer or employee of the child care agency that appoints members to the board of education of the special act school district; serve as an officer or employee of the special act school district other than as a public member; have a prohibited interest in a contract with the special act school district under article 18 of the General Municipal Law; be an officer or employee of a school district, or a board of cooperative educational services (BOCES), or a public agency, as defined in subdivision 6 of section 4001 of the Education Law, that contracts with the special act school district; or be an officer or employee of an employee organization that represents employees of the special act school district, pursuant to article 14 of the Civil Service Law, or its parent employee organization.

• Preference will be given to candidates with a background in corporate or school finance; the governing board of an education corporation, another not-for-profit corporation or a school district; and/or the education or treatment of troubled youth.

Term of Appointment

Applicants must be available to serve as a member of a special school district for a four-year term.  All board members appointed by the Commissioner of Education will serve at the pleasure of the Commissioner.

Education Department Review

Education Department staff will review the applications, letters of intent and other required documentation against the established criteria.  Upon completion of the review process, the names of qualified candidates, together with relevant information, will be forwarded to regional teams for the purpose of interviewing candidates. 

Interview of Candidates

Candidates will be interviewed by regional teams comprised of members representing the following sectors: a district superintendent of schools; a duly licensed certified public accountant or public accountant; and individuals recommended by organizations representing superintendents of schools, boards of education and teachers; and individuals with disabilities and/or parents of individuals with disabilities.