THE STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT / THE UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK / ALBANY, NY 12234

 

TO:	Full Board
FROM:	Jean C. Stevens
SUBJECT:	Appointments to the Roosevelt Union Free School District Interim Board of Education
DATE:	January 8, 2007
STRATEGIC GOAL:	Goals 1 and 2
AUTHORIZATION(S):

 

SUMMARY

 

Issue for Decision

 

Should the full Board of Regents approve the appointment of Gale Stevens Haynes, Heather M. Palmore, and Bishop J. Raymond Mackey to fill the vacancies on the Interim Board of Education of the Roosevelt Union Free School District as recommended by the Regents interview panel?  Should the full Board approve the interview panel’s recommendation of Gale Stevens Haynes for board president?

 

Reason(s) for Consideration

          Required by State statute, Chapter 33 of the Laws 2002. 
         

Proposed Handling

 

The question will come before the full Board of Regents on January 9, 2007 for action.

 

Procedural History

 

The Commissioner of Education removed the Roosevelt Union Free School District Board of Education under Chapter 33 of the Laws of 2002. The Board of Regents appoints board members to the Roosevelt Interim Board of Education and fills vacancies as they occur. The Board of Regents appoints interim board members for staggered terms that will transition the board back to an elected board by 2011.

 

Background Information

 

Under Chapter 33 of the Laws of 2002, the Board of Regents is responsible for appointing members to the Interim Board of Education of the Roosevelt Union Free School District and filling any vacancies on the interim board.  The board consists of five members, at least three of whom must be residents of the district and no more than two of whom may be non-residents.

 

Board members are appointed (and may be reappointed) for terms ranging from one to five years “so that an equal number of terms expire on June 30 of each year beginning on June 30, 2007.” (Chapter 33, Laws of New York, 2002, Paragraph 2).  In May 2007, and for each consecutive year through 2011, the residents of the Roosevelt community who are qualified to vote may elect a candidate to fill one of the positions on the interim board for a term of three years. In 2011, all board positions will be filled with members elected by the community. 

 

In December 2006, the board president resigned effective December 15, 2006, and two other board members resigned effective December 31, 2006. A public announcement of the vacancies was posted and 14 applicants applied to be members of the Roosevelt Union Free School District interim school board. A Board of Regents interview panel, composed of Vice Chancellor Sanford and Regents Cofield and Tilles, conducted interviews on January 5, 2007 and recommended three candidates to serve the remainder of the terms of the resigning board members. One of these candidates is recommended to serve as president of the interim board.

 

Recommendation

 

          VOTED:  That the Board of Regents approve the appointment of Heather M. Palmore to fill a vacancy on the Interim Board of Education of the Roosevelt Union Free School District and to serve the remainder of the unexpired term ending June 30, 2008.

 

          VOTED:  That the Board of Regents approve the appointment of Bishop J. Raymond Mackey (resident of Roosevelt) to fill a vacancy on the Interim Board of Education of the Roosevelt Union Free School District and to serve the remainder of the unexpired term ending June 30, 2009.

 

          VOTED:  That the Board of Regents approve the appointment of Gale Stevens Haynes to fill a vacancy on the Interim Board of Education of the Roosevelt Union Free School District and to serve the remainder of the unexpired term ending June 30, 2011.

 

          VOTED: That the Board of Regents approve the appointment of Gale Stevens Haynes  as president of the Interim Board of Education of the Roosevelt Union Free School District for the term January 9, 2007 to June 30, 2011.

 

Timetable for Implementation

 

These appointments are effective immediately.