SB1180 - 452R - House Bill Summary

House of Representatives

SB 1180

~~small schools; textbooks; technical correction~~

NOW: school district governing board omnibus

Sponsors: Senators Hellon, Hartley

dpas/e	Committee on Education
dpa	Caucus and COW
dpa	Third Read
dpa	As Passed the House
x	As Transmitted to the Governor

SB 1180 requires a school district intending to close a school to provide written notice to parents or guardians of pupils affected by the closure at least 30 days before a public meeting to discuss the closure. At least 30 days after the first public hearing, the school district may vote at a public meeting for the closure. Additionally, SB 1180 allows a school district governing board to expend monies from the Civic Center School Fund and the Community School Program Fund for maintenance and operations or unrestricted capital outlay purposes if the monies in those funds are sufficient to cover the needs of those programs. Finally, SB 1180 establishes the 19-member School District Unification and Consolidation Commission (Commission).

Provisions

· Requires a school district intending to close a school to provide written notice to all parents or guardians of pupils affected by the closure at least 30 days prior to a public meeting to discuss the reasons for the proposed closure, as well as the time and date of the public meeting. Additionally, the governing board must establish a time for the public meeting on the proposed closure of a school no less than 30 days before voting on the issue in another public meeting.

· Allows a school district to close a school if there is a danger to the health or safety of the pupils or employees.

· Allows a school district governing board to expend monies from the Civic Center School Fund and the Community School Program Fund for maintenance and operations or unrestricted capital outlay purposes if the monies in those funds are sufficient to cover the needs of those programs.

· Establishes the 19-member Commission to study the following:

· Costs and benefits of unification or consolidation.

· Various models for unification or consolidation taking into consideration demographics and academic research regarding optimal school size.

· The impact on:

· School district taxes and indebtedness.

· Academic curricula.

· Special services.

· School facilities.

· School personnel.

· Transportation of pupils.

· School district governance and elections.

· Desegregation orders and agreements.

· Extracurricular activities.

· Requires the Commission to submit a report of its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the Legislature by November 15, 2003.

· Repeals the Commission on December 31, 2003.

· ---------- DOCUMENT FOOTER ---------

· 45th Legislature