The "Dual-Reporting" Conflict:
The statute creates a hybrid employee class: "state employees" for benefits purposes (administered by TEA) but "directly accountable" to the SBOE Chair for duties.
- Risk: A "chain of command" conflict is highly probable. If TEA Legal Counsel advises against a course of action, but the SBOE Chair directs their independent staff to proceed, regulatory uncertainty will follow.
- Business Logic: In instances of conflicting guidance between TEA career staff and new SBOE staff, prioritize the SBOE staff for matters of discretionary policy (e.g., curriculum content, charter vetoes), as the statute explicitly grants the Chair control over these personnel.
Scope of "Necessary" Duties:
The text allows the Chair to employ personnel "as necessary" without defining specific roles (e.g., legal, policy, PR).
- Watch Item: The specific backgrounds of the first 5 hires will signal the Board's aggressive intent. If they hire auditors, expect scrutiny on PSF management. If they hire policy ideologues, expect aggressive curriculum revisions.
