(b) Subject to the provisions of subsection (e) of this section, the Chief Executive Officer of the Prince George’s County public school system shall be:

(1) Selected by the County Executive in accordance with subsection (c) of this section; and

(2) Appointed by the county board after agreement on contract terms negotiated by the chair of the county board.

(c) (1) The County Executive shall select a Chief Executive Officer from a list of three nominees recommended by a search committee that is comprised of:

(i) One member of the State Board, appointed by the State Superintendent; and

(ii) Two residents of Prince George’s County, appointed by the Governor.

(2) The search committee shall be chaired by a member selected by the State Superintendent.

(d) (1) The term of the Chief Executive Officer is 4 years beginning on July 1.

(2) The Chief Executive Officer continues to serve until a successor is appointed and qualifies.

(3) By February 1 of the year in which a term ends, the Chief Executive Officer shall notify the County Executive and the county board if the Chief Executive Officer is a candidate for reappointment.

(4) (i) In the year a term begins, the County Executive shall select a Chief Executive Officer between February 1 and June 1, and the county board shall complete the appointment on or before June 30.

(ii) If the County Executive decides to select the incumbent Chief Executive Officer, the county board shall complete the reappointment no later than March 1 of that year.

(5) If the county board is unable to appoint a Chief Executive Officer by July 1 of the year a term begins, the provisions of subsection (f) of this section apply.

(e) (1) An individual may not be appointed as Chief Executive Officer unless the individual:

(i) Is eligible to be issued a certificate for the office by the State Superintendent;

(ii) Has graduated from an accredited college or university; and

(iii) Has completed 2 years of graduate work at an accredited college or university, including public school administration, supervision, and methods of teaching.

(2) The appointment of the Chief Executive Officer is not valid unless approved in writing by the State Superintendent.

(3) If the State Superintendent disapproves an appointment, the State Superintendent shall give the reasons for disapproval in writing to the county board and the County Executive.

(f) If a vacancy occurs in the office of Chief Executive Officer, the County Executive shall select and the county board shall appoint an interim Chief Executive Officer to serve until July 1 after the appointment.

(g) On notification of pending criminal charges against the Chief Executive Officer as provided under § 4-206 of this subtitle, the county board may suspend the Chief Executive Officer with pay until the final disposition of the criminal charges.