6-4-304. Creation of the State Council.

6-4-304. Creation of the State Council. (a) There is created the State Council for the Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children to be composed of the following members: (1) The Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education or his or her designee, serving as Compact Commissioner for Arkansas as provided under § 6-4-303; (2) The superintendent of the public school district with the greatest number of children of military families from each Arkansas congressional district as determined every four (4) years; (3) One (1) member to be appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate from a list of three (3) nominees submitted by the Executive Director of the Arkansas Education Association; (4) One (1) member to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives from a list of three (3) nominees submitted by the Executive Director of the Arkansas Association of Educational Administrators; (5)(A) One (1) member selected from the state at large and appointed by the Governor subject to confirmation of the Senate. (B) The Governor shall consult the Arkansas School Boards Association before making an appointment under subdivision (a)(5)(A) of this section; (6) The charter school leader of the open-enrollment public charter school with the greatest number of children of military families; (7)(A) A representative from each federal and state military installation in Arkansas that employs uniformed service members as designated by each military installation commander. (B) A representative from a federal military installation shall serve as a nonvoting, ex officio member; (8) The Executive Director of the Arkansas Activities Association, serving as a nonvoting, ex officio member; (9) The Chair of the Senate Committee on Education and the Chair of the House Committee on Education or designees from each of the committees, serving as nonvoting, ex officio members; and (10) The United States Department of Defense representative for Arkansas shall have duties and responsibilities as established by United States Department of Defense Instruction Number 1342.29, and shall not be a member of the State Council. (b)(1) Each appointed member shall have a background or interest in the education of military children. (2)(A) The terms for the initial appointees to the council shall be staggered as determined by lot with: (i) One (1) member serving a term of three (3) years; (ii) One (1) member serving a term of four (4) years; and (iii) One (1) member serving a term of five (5) years. (B) Each succeeding appointment to the council shall be for a term of five (5) years, but the member appointed shall serve until the member's successor is appointed. (3)(A) If a vacancy occurs in an appointed position for any reason, the vacancy shall be filled by appointment by the official that made the appointment. (B) The new appointee shall serve for the remainder of the unexpired term. (c)(1) The council shall meet at least quarterly or as decided upon by a majority of its members. (2) Unless otherwise approved by the Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education, the State Council shall conduct its meetings in Central Arkansas and via teleconference or web conference to allow for scheduling flexibility for council members. (d)(1) A majority of the members of the council shall constitute a quorum for transacting business of the council. (2) All actions of the council shall be by a quorum. (e) The Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education or his or her designee serving as Compact Commissioner for Arkansas shall be the chair of the council and be a full-voting member. (f) Appointments to the council shall be for a term of four (4) years. (g) All state agencies, school districts, and political subdivisions of the state shall furnish to the council any information and assistance the council may reasonably request.