State of New Jersey
Executive Order #35
Governor Jon S. Corzine

WHEREAS, Executive Order No. 129 (1986) established the New Jersey Governor’s School Board of Overseers (Governor’s Board) to advise the Governor regarding the Governor’s School Program (Program), oversee the Program, coordinate its activities, enhance its educational programs, supervise fundraising, and monitor its expenditure of funds; and

WHEREAS, Executive Order No. 42 (1991) continued the mission of the Governor’s Board and Program but reconstituted the membership of the Governor’s Board to include more members, including cabinet officials; and

WHEREAS, the Governor’s School Program identifies high school students with high scholastic promise and matches them with intensive summer programs at New Jersey institutions of higher education where they are challenged to grow and learn in a focused, college-level, academic environment; and

WHEREAS, I fully support the continuation of this worthy program; and

WHEREAS, significant recurring shortfalls in State revenue have required the Program to become self-sustaining, operating without the benefit of State funding; and

WHEREAS, the change from a State funded entity to one that will be self-funded requires that the Program be placed within an agency that will best enhance the Governor’s Board’s capacity to raise funds; and

WHEREAS, the Governor’s Board must have the capacity not only to explore new funding options but also to ensure that the Program’s student body reflects New Jersey’s diversity;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, JON S. CORZINE, Governor of the State of New Jersey, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and by the Statutes of this State, do hereby ORDER and DIRECT:

The Governor’s School Board of Overseers established pursuant to Executive Order No. 129 (1986) and Executive Order No. 42 (1991) shall continue to perform the duties and functions of the prior Board of Overseers, as modified by this Order. The Governor’s Board, as previously constituted, is hereby abolished and its membership is reconstituted pursuant to paragraph 4.

The Governor’s School Program shall be located in the Commission on Higher Education. The Governor’s Board shall have general supervisory authority over the conduct of the Program, including fundraising and the recruiting of students to reflect New Jersey’s diversity. The Governor’s Board shall work closely with the Executive Director of the Commission on Higher Education, the Commissioner of the Department of Education and each host institution to ensure the Program continues to attain the highest academic standards.

The Governor’s Board shall be authorized to call upon any department, office, division or agency of this State to supply it with any information, personnel or other assistance available to such agency as is necessary to assist the Governor’s School Program and the Governor’s School Board under this Order and its predecessor Orders. Each department, office, division or agency of this State is hereby required, to the extent not inconsistent with law, to cooperate fully with the Governor’s School Program and the Governor’s School Board within the limits of its statutory authority and to furnish them with such assistance on as timely a basis as is necessary to accomplish the purpose of this Order. The Governor’s School Program, the Governor’s School Board of Overseers and the Commission on Higher Education may consult with experts or other knowledgeable individuals in the public or private sector on any aspect of their missions pursuant to this Order.

The Governor’s Board shall be composed of: The Executive Director of the Commission on Higher Education, or his or her designee; the Commissioner of Education, or his or her designee; a representative of the Governor’s Office; and 10 public members to be appointed by the Governor, with expertise and knowledge of the Program, education, fundraising and recruiting, including, to the extent possible, past participants in the Governor’s School Program. Of the 10 public members, one each shall be appointed by the Governor upon the recommendation of the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the General Assembly. Three non-voting members shall also be appointed by the Governor on a revolving basis from among the executive directors of individual Governor’s School programs. In the case of the initial appointments of the public members, the two members appointed respectively pursuant to the recommendations of the Senate President and the Assembly Speaker shall each serve for terms expiring two years from the date of appointment, four public members shall serve for terms expiring three years from the date of appointment and four public members shall serve for terms expiring four years from the date of appointment. Of the the three non-voting executive director members, each shall serve for a term expiring two years from the date of appointment. The Governor shall select the Chair from among the members, and the members shall elect by majority vote a vice-chair. All vacancies shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointments but for the unexpired term only.

Except as expressly provided herein, Executive Order No. 129 (1986) and Executive Order No. 42 (1991) shall remain in full force and effect.

This Order shall take effect immediately.

GIVEN, under my hand and seal this 22nd day
of September, Two Thousand and Six, and of the
Independence of the United States, the Two
Hundred and Thirty-First.
/s/ Jon S. Corzine

Governor

[seal]

Attest:

/s/ Stuart Rabner
Chief Counsel to the Governor