ARIZONA STATE SENATE

RESEARCH STAFF

KIMBERLY YEE

LEGISLATIVE  RESEARCH ANALYST

EDUCATION COMMITTEE

Telephone: (602) 542-3171

Facsimile: (602) 542-7833

 

 

TO:                  MEMBERS OF THE SENATE

                        COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION     

 

DATE:             February 28, 2001

 

SUBJECT:       Strike Everything Amendment to S.C.R. 1007, relating to school district consolidation

                                                                                                                                                          

 

Purpose:

 

Submits to the State’s general electorate the establishment of an Independent School District Consolidation Commission for the purpose of consolidating existing school districts in the state to no more than 90 school districts by June 30, 2004.

 

Background:

 

There are 231 school districts receiving state aid in Arizona.  Currently, two school districts are in the process of unifying which brings the total number of school districts in Arizona down to 229.

 

                   State Summary of School Districts in Arizona in FY 1999-2000*

          Elementary

           High School

                Unified

                113

                  18

                   91

                   * Summary does not include transporting districts or non-operating school districts.

 

The strike-everything amendment to S.C.R. 1007 conditionally enacts upon voter approval, the establishment of an Independent School District Consolidation Commission charged with decreasing the total number of school districts in Arizona to no more than 90 unified school districts by June 30, 2004.

 

The fiscal impact associated with this strike-everything amendment, if any, is unknown at this time. 

 

Provisions:

Proposition

 

1.      Requires the Secretary of State to submit the provisions of this measure to voters at the next general election, and conditionally enacts the proposition upon approval of the State’s general electorate.

 

School District Consolidation

 

2.      Establishes a 5-member Independent School District Consolidation Commission beginning in 2003 for the purpose of consolidating school districts in the State to no more than 90 unified school districts by June 30, 2004.

3.      Requires the Commission to strive to provide for maximum efficiency and a minimum of administrative and bureaucratic duplication of services in considering which school districts to consolidate. 

 

4.      Requires the Commission to consider the following in the consolidation of school districts:

 

(a)    Require consolidated districts to comply with the U.S. Constitution and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

(b)    Require consolidated districts to be geographically compact and contiguous.

(c)    Require the boundaries of consolidated districts to respect communities of interest.

(d)    Require consolidated district lines to use visible geographic features, boundaries and undivided census tracts.

 

5.      Allows the Commission to consider in the consolidation of school districts: (a) travel distances and times, (b) the number of pupils involved, (c) budget issues such as outstanding general obligation bonds, capital overrides, effect on tax rates and other associated operational costs.

 

6.      Requires the Commission to publish a draft map of consolidated school districts for purposes of public scrutiny.  Requires the Commission to accept public comments and allows the Legislature to submit any recommendations regarding the consolidation proposal. 

 

7.      Requires the Commission to certify establishment of the consolidated school districts to the Department of Education, and requires affected school districts to consolidate within one year after being certified. 

 

8.      Allows an affected school district to request from the Commission an extension to consolidate, and requires the Commission to grant such extension to consolidate at a later date, if the Commission determines that good cause exists.

 

9.      Requires the Commission to notify the State Board of Education when each consolidation becomes final, and prohibits the State Board of Education from providing any monies to the former school districts that have been consolidated after consolidation is final. 

 

10.  Prohibits the State Board of Education from providing any monies to any consolidated school districts until consolidation is finalized. 

 

Commission Membership

 

11.  Establishes requirements for membership eligibility, and directs the following appointments:

·        1 member appointed by the highest ranking officer in the House of Representatives

·        1 member appointed by the leader of the opposite party of the highest ranking member of the House of Representatives

·        1 member appointed by the highest ranking officer elected by the Senate

·        1 member appointed by the leader of the opposite party of the highest ranking officer of the Senate

·        1 member appointed by the Governor  


12.  Requires the chairman and vice-chairman of the Commission to be determined by a majority vote of the Commission members.

 

13.  Establishes guidelines for the (a) removal of members, (b) the appointment of new members to serve the remainder of vacated terms, (c) meeting requirements, including quorum and public notice. 

 

14.  Prohibits a member of the Commission from being eligible for holding a public office or being employed as a paid lobbyist with three years of completing the term of office on the Commission.

 

15.  Allows the Commission to (a) adopt a corporate seal, (b) sue and be sued, (c) contract, (d) hire staff, consultants and legal representatives, and (e) be reimbursed for expenses.

 

Miscellaneous

 

16.  Prohibits employees of the Department of Education from influencing or attempting to influence the Commission’s decisions to consolidate districts. 

 

17.  Specifies that the Commission has standing in legal actions regarding the consolidation plan and the adequacy of resources provided for the operation of the Commission, and has sole authority to determine legal representation on matters relating to legal defense of the consolidation plan.

 

18.  Prohibits the Commission from meeting or incurring expenses after the final consolidation plan is completed, unless there is pending litigation, pending government approval of the plan, or revisions to school district boundaries are required by court decisions.

 

19.  Allows the Commission to use databases and information provided by the School Facilities Board and the Department of Education.

 

20.  Defines “consolidation” as the combination of two or more school districts, or the combination of two or more school districts into a single school district that serves pupils in kindergarten though grade 12. 

 

21.  Repeals the Independent School District Consolidation Commission on July 1, 2007.

 

22.  Conditionally enacts the measure upon voter approval at the next general election.

 

 

KY/ac