# Title 68 — Public School Education, Board of

## Article 68-01 — General Administration

## Chapter 68-01-01 — Organization of Board

### § 68-01-01-01. Organization and functions of the board of public school education.

1. History. To consolidate the functions of many boards and committees dealing with education,
the 1955 legislative assembly created the board of public school education. The original board
consisted of three ex officio members--the governor, attorney general, and the superintendent
of public instruction. In addition to the ex officio members, one member was selected by the
North Dakota education association and one member was selected by the North Dakota
school officials association. The governor served as chairman and the superintendent of
public instruction served as executive director and secretary to the board. In 1963 the
membership of the board was changed to consist of the superintendent of public instruction,
and one qualified elector from each of the following districts within the state, to be appointed
by the governor:
a. District one shall consist of the counties of Barnes, Cass, Grand Forks, Griggs, Nelson,
Steele, and Traill.
b. District two shall consist of the counties of Benson, Bottineau, Cavalier, McHenry,
Pembina, Pierce, Ramsey, Renville, Rolette, Towner, and Walsh.
c. District three shall consist of the counties of Dickey, Emmons, LaMoure, Logan,
McIntosh, Ransom, Richland, and Sargent.
d. District four shall consist of the counties of Burleigh, Eddy, Foster, Kidder, McLean,
Sheridan, Stutsman, and Wells.
e. District five shall consist of the counties of Burke, Divide, McKenzie, Mountrail, Ward, and
Williams.
f. District six shall consist of the counties of Adams, Billings, Bowman, Dunn, Golden
Valley, Grant, Hettinger, Mercer, Morton, Oliver, Sioux, Slope, and Stark.
Two members must be members of the school boards' association. The appointed members
serve six-year terms, arranged so that one term expires each year. The superintendent of
public instruction serves as executive director and secretary of the board.
2. Functions. The board of public school education serves as the board or committee for the
following:
a. The board of public school education is the state committee for school district
reorganization. The committee approves reorganization plans, annexations, and
dissolutions of school districts.
b. The board of public school education is responsible for the supervision of the division of
independent study acting through the superintendent of public instruction.

c. The board of public school education acts as the tuition appeals board. The board is the
appeals board for out-of-district high school students and for elementary and secondary
students out of state for the payment of tuition.
d. The board of public school education must hold at least one joint meeting each year with
the board of higher education to coordinate programs of the two agencies.
e. The board of public school education is the state board for vocational education. The
board for vocational education appoints the state director and executive officer for
vocational education, who is charged with the administration of the board's activities.
3. Functions subject to North Dakota Century Code chapter 28-32. The board of public
school education is an administrative agency subject to North Dakota Century Code chapter
28-32, the Administrative Agencies Practice Act. The board is not an administrative agency
and is excepted from chapter 28-32 when administrating the state school construction fund.
4. Inquiries. Inquiries regarding the board of public school education may be addressed to the
executive director and secretary:
Ms. Kirsten Baesler
Executive Director and Secretary
State Board of Public School Education
Department of Public Instruction
State Capitol
Bismarck, North Dakota 58505
Inquiries regarding the board for vocational education may be addressed to the director and
executive officer:
Mr. Wayne Kutzer
Director and Executive Officer
Department of Career and Technical Education
State Capitol
Bismarck, North Dakota 58505
History: Amended effective September 1, 1983; November 1, 1985; October 1, 1987; April 1, 1994.
General Authority: NDCC 28-32-02.1
Law Implemented: NDCC 28-32-02.1
