The Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education
Advisory Council Appointments and Reappointments
At the September meeting I presented to the Board preliminary recommendations for appointments and reappointments of candidates to serve on the 17 advisory councils established under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 15, Section 1G. In the 2011-2012 school year, the following advisory councils will be continuing their work on behalf of the Board and the Department:
- adult basic education
- arts education
- community service learning
- educational personnel
- educational technology
- English language learners/bilingual education
- gifted and talented education
- global education
- interdisciplinary health education and human services
- life management skills
- mathematics and science education
- parent and community education and involvement
- racial imbalance
- school and district accountability and assistance
- special education
- technology/engineering education
- vocational/technical education.
Each advisory council advises the Commissioner and the Board on matters pertinent to the implementation of education reform in the Commonwealth and provides programmatic recommendations to meet federal or state requirements or to accomplish the goals and priorities established by the Board and the Department.
The council members are appointed for up to two consecutive three-year terms. Council members include school committee members, school superintendents, professional educators, parents, students, and experts in their field. The statute calls for councils to have a reasonable balance of members representing business, labor, civic, educational, parental, and professional groups, striving for diversity and geographic balance. The Commissioner appoints the chairperson or co-chairs for each council.
A Department administrator and liaison work with each council chairperson in scheduling the council meetings, generally four per year, depending on the needs and business of the council. The meetings are open to the public and are posted on the Department's advisory council website. Each council submits an annual report on current issues that are relevant to the goals and objectives of the Board and Department. You received copies of the 2010-2011 advisory council reports in September.
Invitations to apply for appointment to a 2010-2011 advisory council were posted in the Commissioner's update and disseminated by Department administrators and advisory council liaisons through council activities. Applications were encouraged from educators, parents, students, community members, school committee members, higher education personnel, and business leaders who have demonstrated interest in and commitment to educational improvement as well as the knowledge, skills, and experience in the subject matter of the advisory council of interest. Applications were reviewed by advisory council administrators, liaisons, and senior staff.
The list I am submitting to the Board for discussion and vote at this meeting is updated from the preliminary list you received in September. Specifically, I am recommending one additional member to each of the following advisory councils: English language learners/bilingual education, global education, interdisciplinary health and human services, special education, and technology/engineering education.
I recommend that the Board appoint or reappoint the nominees as indicated. The categories reflect the stage of membership as follows:
- Maintains: members who are in years 1 to 3 of either their first or second term or are designated members by statute - provided for informational purposes.
- Reappoints: applicants recommended to serve a second three-year term.
- Recommends: applicants nominated to serve their first three-year term.
Enclosures:
