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North Dakota Superintendent of Public Instruction
| North Dakota Superintendent of Public Instruction | |
 | |
| General information | |
| Office Type: | Non-partisan |
| Office website: | Official Link |
| 2011-2013 FY Budget: | $1,700,184,074 |
| Term limits: | None |
| Structure | |
| Length of term: | 4 years |
| Authority: | North Dakota Constitution, Article V, Section 2 |
| Selection Method: | Elected |
| Current Officeholder | |
 | |
| Name: | Kirsten Baesler |
| Assumed office: | January 2, 2013 |
| Compensation: | $99,876 |
| Elections | |
| Next election: | November 8, 2016 |
| Last election: | November 6, 2012 |
| Other North Dakota Executive Offices | |
| Governor • Lieutenant Governor • Secretary of State • Attorney General • Treasurer • Auditor • Superintendent of Education • Agriculture Commissioner • Insurance Commissioner • Natural Resources Commissioner • Labor Commissioner • Public Service Commission • Tax Commissioner | |
Contents |
Current officeholder
The current officeholder is Kirsten Baesler. She was first elected in 2012.
Authority
The state Constitution establishes the office of superintendent of public instruction in Article V, Section 2:
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The qualified electors of the state at the times and places of choosing members of the legislative assembly shall choose a governor, lieutenant governor, agriculture commissioner, attorney general, auditor, insurance commissioner, three public service commissioners, secretary of state, superintendent of public instruction, tax commissioner, and treasurer. ... |
Qualifications
Chapter 15.1-02 of the North Dakota Century Code establishes the qualifications to hold the office of superintendent of public instruction:
| The qualified electors of this state shall elect a superintendent of public instruction at the appropriate general election. The superintendent must be at least twenty-five years of age on the day of the election and have the qualifications of an elector for that office at all times during the superintendent's term of office. |
- qualified North Dakota voter
- at least 25 years old
Elections
The superintendent of public instruction in North Dakota is popularly elected every four years, in Presidential election years. For North Dakota, 2012, 2016, and 2020 are all superintendent election years. The term of office is four years.
2012
Incumbent Wayne Sanstead did not seek re-election in 2012. Kirsten Baesler (supported by Republican convention) defeated Tracy Potter (Did not seek Democratic convention support) in the November 6, 2012 general election.
| North Dakota Superintendent of Public Instruction General Election, 2012 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Non-partisan |  Kirsten Baesler |
55.1% | 154,177 | |
| Non-partisan | Tracy Potter | 44.6% | 124,807 | |
| N/A | Write-in | 0.4% | 1,069 | |
| Total Votes | 280,053 | |||
| Election Results via North Dakota Secretary of State. | ||||
Vacancies
Article V, Section 8 addresses vacancies in state executive offices. In the event of a vacancy, the governor nominates a successor who must be confirmed by the state senate. Once confirmed, the individual serves the remainder of the unexpired term.
Duties
The superintendent has a number of responsibilities related to the education of North Dakota's children. They enforce relevant state laws and regulations, supervise the North Dakota Schools for the Deaf and Blind, the State Library, and the Department of Public Instruction, and work to create more educational opportunities for the entire state. Chapter 15.1 of the North Dakota Century Code outlines the specific duties of the office:
- manage the elementary and secondary public education systems
- oversee the establishment and maintenance of schools
- provide advice and counsel regarding the welfare of schools
- manage the development of course content standards and student assessments
- direct school district annexation, reorganization, and dissolution
In addition, the superintendent serves as an ex officio member of the Board of University and School Lands.[1]
Divisions
The department of public instruction has four main divisions, one of which, the Administrative Services Division, provides financial and personnel management support for the entire department. Three ancillary organizations - the North Dakota Vision Services/School for the Blind, the North Dakota School for the Deaf, and the North Dakota State Library - also fall under the purview of the superintendent, though they each function independently of the rest of the department.
- The Education Improvement Division includes offices that manage information systems, special education, standards & achievement, and Title I.
- The Education & Community Support Division includes the offices that manage child nutrition & food distribution, coordinated school health & adult education, counselor programs, professional development, and school approval & accreditation.[2]
State budget
The budget for the Superintendent of Public Instruction's office in Fiscal Year 2011-2013 was $1,700,184,074.[3]
Compensation
In 2010, the North Dakota Superintendent of Public Instruction was paid an estimated $95,112 according to the Council of State Governments.[4] Chapter 15.1-02 of the North Dakota Century Code sets the salary for the superintendent at $102,868 through June 20, 2012, and $105,944 thereafter.
Contact information
North Dakota Department of Public Instruction
600 E. Boulevard Avenue, Dept. 201
Bismarck, North Dakota 58505-0440
Phone: 701-328-2260
E-mail: dpi@nd.gov
Employee contact list
See also
External links
References
- ↑ North Dakota Century Code, "Chapter 15.1-02," Accessed July 13, 2011
- ↑ North Dakota Department of Public Instruction, "Organizational chart," Accessed July 13, 2011
- ↑ State of North Dakota, "Legislative Appropriations 2011-2013 Biennium," accessed April 15, 2013
- ↑ The Council of State Governments,"The Book of States 2010 Table 4.11," retrieved April 23, 2011
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