(a) Purpose. – Each local board of education shall be assisted by a business advisory council in the performance of its duties to provide career and technical education instruction, activities, and services in accordance with this Article. The business advisory council shall serve local boards of education by identifying economic and workforce development trends related to the training and educational needs of the local community and advocating for strong, local career and technical education programs, including career pathway development that provides work-based learning opportunities for students and prepares students for post-secondary educational certifications and credentialing for high-demand careers. A business advisory council established under this Part may serve more than one local board of education in a region of the State upon the agreement of the members of the council and all of the local boards of education to be served by that council.

(b) Workforce Production Subcommittees. – A business advisory council may form a subcommittee of the council for the purposes of advising a local board of education on workforce production activities under Part 2 of this Article.

(c) Membership. – Each business advisory council shall have at least nine members. The council shall be composed of members who reasonably reflect the education, business, and community makeup of the local school administrative unit that it serves. A majority of the membership of the council shall be composed of business, industry, and community members appointed in accordance with subdivision (2) of this subsection, and the remaining members shall consist of education representatives as follows:

(1) Education representatives. – The following members shall serve ex officio on the council to represent each local school administrative unit that the council serves:

a. The superintendent of the local school administrative unit or his or her designee.

b. The career and technical education program director of the local school administrative unit as a nonvoting member.

c. The president of the community college that serves the area in which the local school administrative unit is located, in whole or in part, or his or her designee.

d. A principal of a school located within the local school administrative unit, as assigned by the superintendent.

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(2) Business, industry, and community representatives. – At least five other members shall serve on the council to represent business and industry located within each local school administrative unit that the council serves and the community. Members shall be business, industry, and workforce and economic development stakeholders in the community, and community members, including any of the following:

a. Local business and industry owners.

b. Representatives from local manufacturing centers and factories.

c. Human resource directors employed at businesses and industries in the community.

d. Representatives from community-based organizations.

e. Representatives from economic and workforce development organizations.

f. Parents of students enrolled in career and technical education courses.

g. Representative or manager of the local apprenticeship coalition.

(d) Initial Terms and Appointments. – Each local board of education shall make the initial appointment of members of the business advisory council under subdivision (2) of subsection (c) of this section for terms beginning January 1, 2018. The local board of education shall divide the initial appointments into three groups if there are only three appointments, and into four groups as equal in size as practicable if there are more than three appointments, and shall designate appointments in group one to serve four-year terms, in group two to serve three-year terms, in group three to serve two-year terms, and in group four to serve one-year terms.

(e) Subsequent Terms and Appointments. – As terms expire for members appointed as provided in subsection (d) of this section, the business advisory council shall appoint subsequent members of the business advisory council under subdivision (2) of subsection (c) of this section for four-year terms. The local board of education shall establish a policy on the appointment of subsequent members to the council, including procedures for increasing the number of members serving on the council. Any vacancies in seats appointed to the council shall be filled by the remaining members of the council.

(f) Council Secretary. – The career and technical education program director shall serve as secretary to the council. If the council serves more than one local board of education, the program director of each local school administrative unit shall serve as secretary for a period of time as determined by the members of the council.

(g) Bylaws. – Each business advisory council shall adopt bylaws establishing procedures for conducting the business of the council, which shall include at least the following:

(1) A chair of the business advisory council shall be elected annually by the members of the council from among the business and industry representative members of the council.

(2) A majority of the members shall constitute a quorum.

(3) The business advisory council shall meet at least biannually.

(4) The chair or three of the members may call a special meeting of the council.

(5) Procedures for appointing members to the council that are consistent with the policy adopted by the local board of education under subsection (e) of this section.

(h) Public Records. – A business advisory council is subject to the Public Records Act, Chapter 132 of the N.C. Gen. Stat., and the Open Meetings Law, Article 33C of Chapter 143 of the N.C. Gen. Stat..

(i) Expenses. – The local board of education shall provide for meeting space and assignment of necessary administrative staff to the business advisory council. (2017-57, s. 7.23H(e).)