If the potential ground for removal involves the president, who must be notified by the next highest ranking officer after the executive director's initial notification?

• A. The governor and the attorney general
• B. The public
• C. The board
• D. The media

Answer: (A)

When someone in an agency is facing removal and that person is the president, the notification must rise to the highest executive level for proper oversight. After the executive director gives the initial notice, the next highest ranking officer has a duty to escalate this and inform the governor and the attorney general. The governor oversees state agencies and has ultimate executive authority, while the attorney general provides the state's legal counsel and ensures the action complies with law. This combination helps protect due process and state-level accountability in actions affecting the top board official. The public, the media, or the board itself are not appropriate recipients for these formal, legally significant notifications.