2003 Legislation
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HOUSE BILL NO. 285 – School dists, county superintendent

HOUSE BILL NO. 285

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H0285.............................................................by EDUCATION
SCHOOL DISTRICTS - COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT - Amends existing law to provide that
it shall be the duty of each school district board of trustees, beginning with
the 2003-2004 school year, to work jointly with other school districts in the
county to employ a county superintendent; and to provide an exception for
school districts with more than ten thousand students; and to provide general
reference to a school superintendent.
                                                                        
02/20    House intro - 1st rdg - to printing
02/21    Rpt prt - to Educ

Bill Text


                                                                        
                                                                        
  ||||              LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF IDAHO             ||||
 Fifty-seventh Legislature                 First Regular Session - 2003
                                                                        
                                                                        
                              IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
                                                                        
                                     HOUSE BILL NO. 285
                                                                        
                                   BY EDUCATION COMMITTEE
                                                                        
  1                                        AN ACT
  2    RELATING TO PROFESSIONAL PERSONNEL OF PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICTS;  AMENDING  SEC-
  3        TION 33-205, IDAHO CODE, TO PROVIDE GENERAL REFERENCE TO A SCHOOL SUPERIN-
  4        TENDENT;  AMENDING SECTION 33-513, IDAHO CODE, TO PROVIDE THAT IT SHALL BE
  5        THE DUTY OF EACH SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF TRUSTEES TO  WORK  JOINTLY  WITH
  6        OTHER  SCHOOL  DISTRICT  BOARDS OF TRUSTEES IN THE SAME COUNTY TO EMPLOY A
  7        COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT FOR ALL THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN  THE  COUNTY  BY  NO
  8        LATER  THAN  THE  BEGINNING  OF THE 2003-2004 SCHOOL YEAR, TO PROVIDE THAT
  9        SCHOOL DISTRICTS WITH TEN THOUSAND OR MORE STUDENTS MAY  HIRE  A  SEPARATE
 10        SUPERINTENDENT  FOR  THAT  DISTRICT,  TO PROVIDE FOR REPRESENTATION OF THE
 11        DISTRICT OR COUNTY BY THE SUPERINTENDENT OF THE  ENTITY,  TO  PROVIDE  FOR
 12        EVALUATION  OF  SUPERINTENDENTS  BY  THE  APPROPRIATE  BOARD  OR BOARDS OF
 13        TRUSTEES AND TO MAKE A TECHNICAL  CORRECTION;  AMENDING  SECTIONS  33-517,
 14        33-1001, 33-1003, 33-5110 AND 33-5306, IDAHO CODE, TO PROVIDE GENERAL REF-
 15        ERENCE  TO  A SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT; AMENDING SECTION 39-8008, IDAHO CODE,
 16        TO PROVIDE A GENERAL REFERENCE TO A SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT AND  TO  MAKE  A
 17        TECHNICAL  CORRECTION;  AMENDING SECTIONS 39-8009 AND 39-8011, IDAHO CODE,
 18        TO PROVIDE GENERAL REFERENCE TO A SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT; AND DECLARING  AN
 19        EMERGENCY.
                                                                        
 20    Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Idaho:
                                                                        
 21        SECTION  1.  That  Section  33-205, Idaho Code, be, and the same is hereby
 22    amended to read as follows:
                                                                        
 23        33-205.  DENIAL OF SCHOOL ATTENDANCE.  The  board  of  trustees  may  deny
 24    enrollment,  or may deny attendance at any of its schools by expulsion, to any
 25    pupil who is an habitual truant, or who is incorrigible, or whose conduct,  in
 26    the  judgment of the board, is such as to be continuously disruptive of school
 27    discipline, or of the instructional effectiveness  of  the  school,  or  whose
 28    presence  in  a public school is detrimental to the health and safety of other
 29    pupils, or who has been expelled from another school district in this state or
 30    any other state. Any pupil having been denied enrollment or  expelled  may  be
 31    enrolled  or  readmitted to the school by the board of trustees upon such rea-
 32    sonable conditions as may be prescribed by the board; but such  enrollment  or
 33    readmission  shall  not  prevent the board from again expelling such pupil for
 34    cause.
 35        Provided however, the board shall expel from school for a  period  of  not
 36    less  than  one  (1) year, twelve (12) calendar months, or may deny enrollment
 37    to, a student who has been found to have carried a weapon or firearm on school
 38    property in this state or any other state, except that the  board  may  modify
 39    the  expulsion  or  denial of enrollment order on a case-by-case basis. Disci-
 40    pline of students with disabilities shall be in accordance with  the  require-
 41    ments of federal law part B of the individuals with disabilities education act
 42    and section 504 of the rehabilitation act. An authorized representative of the
 43    board  shall  report such student and incident to the appropriate law enforce-
                                                                        
                                           2
                                                                        
  1    ment agency.
  2        No pupil shall be expelled nor denied  enrollment  without  the  board  of
  3    trustees  having  first  given written notice to the parent or guardian of the
  4    pupil, which notice shall state the grounds  for  the  proposed  expulsion  or
  5    denial  of enrollment and the time and place where such parent or guardian may
  6    appear to contest the action of the board to deny school attendance, and which
  7    notice shall also state the rights of the pupil to be represented by  counsel,
  8    to produce witnesses and submit evidence on his own behalf, and to cross-exam-
  9    ine any adult witnesses who may appear against him. Within a reasonable period
 10    of  time  following  such  notification, the board of trustees shall grant the
 11    pupil and his parents or guardian a full  and fair  hearing  on  the  proposed
 12    expulsion or denial of enrollment. However, the board shall allow a reasonable
 13    period  of  time  between such notification and the holding of such hearing to
 14    allow the pupil and his parents or guardian to prepare their response  to  the
 15    charge.  Any  pupil  who  is  within  the age of compulsory attendance, who is
 16    expelled or denied enrollment as herein provided, shall come under the purview
 17    of the juvenile corrections act, and an authorized representative of the board
 18    shall, within five (5) days, give written notice of the pupil's  expulsion  to
 19    the prosecuting attorney of the county of the pupil's residence.
 20        The superintendent of any district or the principal of any school may tem-
 21    porarily  suspend any pupil for disciplinary reasons or for other conduct dis-
 22    ruptive of good order or of the instructional effectiveness of the  school.  A
 23    temporary suspension by the principal shall not exceed five (5) school days in
 24    length;  and  the school superintendent may extend the temporary suspension an
 25    additional ten (10) school days. Provided, that on a finding by the  board  of
 26    trustees  that  immediate  return to school attendance by the temporarily sus-
 27    pended student would be  detrimental  to  other  pupils'  health,  welfare  or
 28    safety, the board of trustees may extend the temporary suspension for an addi-
 29    tional five (5) school days. Prior to suspending any student, the superintend-
 30    ent  or  principal shall grant an informal hearing on the reasons for the sus-
 31    pension and the opportunity to challenge those reasons. Any pupil who has been
 32    suspended may be readmitted to the school by the superintendent  or  principal
 33    who  suspended  him  upon such reasonable conditions as said superintendent or
 34    principal may prescribe. The board of trustees shall be notified of any tempo-
 35    rary suspensions, the reasons therefor, and the response, if any, thereto.
 36        The board of trustees of each school district shall establish  the  proce-
 37    dure  to  be followed by the superintendent and principals under its jurisdic-
 38    tion for the purpose of effecting a temporary suspension, which procedure must
 39    conform to the minimal requirements of due process.
                                                                        
 40        SECTION 2.  That Section 33-513, Idaho Code, be, and the  same  is  hereby
 41    amended to read as follows:
                                                                        
 42        33-513.  PROFESSIONAL PERSONNEL. The board of trustees of each school dis-
 43    trict  including  any  specially  chartered district, shall have the following
 44    powers and duties:
 45        1.  To employ professional personnel, on written contract in form approved
 46    by the state superintendent of public instruction, conditioned  upon  a  valid
 47    certificate  being held by such professional personnel at the time of entering
 48    upon the duties thereunder. Should the board of trustees fail  to  enter  into
 49    written contract for the employment of any such person, the state superintend-
 50    ent  of  public  instruction  shall withhold ensuing apportionments until such
 51    written contract be entered into. When the board of trustees has  delivered  a
 52    proposed  contract  for  the next ensuing year to any such person, such person
 53    shall have a period of time to be determined by the board of trustees  in  its
                                                                        
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  1    discretion, but in no event less than ten (10) days from the date the contract
  2    is delivered, in which to sign the contract and return it to the board. Deliv-
  3    ery  of  a  contract  may  be made only in person or by certified mail, return
  4    receipt requested. When delivery is made in person, delivery of  the  contract
  5    must  be  acknowledged by a signed receipt. When delivery is made by certified
  6    mail, delivery must be acknowledged  by  the  return  of  the  certified  mail
  7    receipt from the person to whom the contract was sent. Should the person will-
  8    fully  refuse  to  acknowledge  receipt of the contract or the contract is not
  9    signed and returned  to the board in the designated period of time, the  board
 10    may declare the position vacant.
 11        The  board  of  trustees shall withhold the salary of any teacher who does
 12    not hold a teaching certificate valid in this state. It shall not contract  to
 13    require  any  teacher to make up time spent in attending any meeting called by
 14    the state board of education or by the state superintendent of public instruc-
 15    tion; nor while attending regularly scheduled official meetings of  the  state
 16    teachers' association.
 17        2.  In  the  case  of  school  districts other than elementary school dis-
 18    tricts, To work jointly with other school districts  in  the  same  county  to
 19    employ, by not later than the beginning of the 2003-2004 school year, a county
 20    superintendent  of for all schools districts in that county, for a term not to
 21    exceed three (3) years, who shall be the executive officer of all  the  boards
 22    of  trustees  in the county with such powers and duties as the boards may pre-
 23    scribe. The School districts with ten thousand (10,000) or more  students  may
 24    hire a superintendent for that district who shall serve independently from the
 25    county superintendent. Each county superintendent shall also act as the autho-
 26    rized  representative of the school districts in the county, and each district
 27    superintendent shall also act as the authorized representative of his district
 28    whenever such is required, unless some other person  shall  be  named  by  the
 29    board  of  trustees  to  act  as  its  authorized representative. The board of
 30    trustees shall conduct an annual, written formal evaluation of the work of the
 31    superintendent of the district, and collectively the boards of trustees  shall
 32    conduct an annual, written formal evaluation of the work of the superintendent
 33    of  the  county. The evaluation shall indicate the strengths and weaknesses of
 34    the superintendent's job performance in the  year  immediately  preceding  the
 35    evaluation  and  areas  where  improvement in the superintendent's job perfor-
 36    mance, in the view of the board of trustees, is called for.
 37        3.  To employ through written contract principals who shall hold  a  valid
 38    certificate appropriate to the position for which they are employed, who shall
 39    supervise  the  operation  and management of the school in accordance with the
 40    policies established by the board of trustees  and  who  shall  be  under  the
 41    supervision of the superintendent.
 42        4.  To  employ  assistant superintendents and principals for a term not to
 43    exceed two (2) years. Service performed under such contract shall be  included
 44    in meeting the provisions of section 33-515, Idaho Code, as a teacher and per-
 45    sons  eligible  for a renewable contract as a teacher shall retain such eligi-
 46    bility.
 47        5.  To suspend, grant leave of absence, place on  probation  or  discharge
 48    certificated  professional  personnel  for  a material violation of any lawful
 49    rules or regulations of the board of trustees or of the state board of  educa-
 50    tion,  or  for  any conduct which could constitute grounds for revocation of a
 51    teaching certificate.  Any  certificated  professional  employee,  except  the
 52    superintendent,  may  be discharged during a contract term under the following
 53    procedures:
 54        (a)  The superintendent or any other duly authorized administrative  offi-
 55        cer of the school district may recommend the discharge of any certificated
                                                                        
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  1        employee  by  filing  with the board of trustees written notice specifying
  2        the alleged reasons for discharge.
  3        (b)  Upon receipt of such notice  the  board  acting  through  their  duly
  4        authorized administrative official, shall give the affected employee writ-
  5        ten  notice  of the allegations and the recommendation of discharge, along
  6        with written notice of a hearing before the board prior to any  determina-
  7        tion by the board of the truth of the allegations.
  8        (c)  The  hearing  shall  be scheduled to take place not less than six (6)
  9        days nor more than twenty-one (21) days after receipt of the notice by the
 10        employee. The date provided for the hearing may be changed by mutual  con-
 11        sent.
 12        (d)  The  hearing  shall be public unless the employee requests in writing
 13        that it be in executive session.
 14        (e)  All testimony at the hearing shall be given under  oath  or  affirma-
 15        tion.  Any  member of the board, or the clerk of the board, may administer
 16        oaths to witnesses or affirmations by witnesses.
 17        (f)  The employee may be represented by legal counsel and/or by  a  repre-
 18        sentative of a local or state teachers' association.
 19        (g)  The  chairman of the board or the designee of the chairman shall con-
 20        duct the hearing.
 21        (h)  The board shall cause an electronic record of the hearing to be  made
 22        or  shall  employ  a  competent reporter to take stenographic or stenotype
 23        notes of all the testimony at the hearing. A  transcript  of  the  hearing
 24        shall be provided at cost by the board upon request of the employee.
 25        (i)  At  the  hearing the superintendent or other duly authorized adminis-
 26        trative officer shall present evidence  to  substantiate  the  allegations
 27        contained in such notice.
 28        (j)  The employee may produce evidence to refute the allegations. Any wit-
 29        ness  presented  by the superintendent or by the employee shall be subject
 30        to cross-examination. The board may also examine witnesses and  be  repre-
 31        sented by counsel.
 32        (k)  The  affected employee may file written briefs and arguments with the
 33        board within three (3) days after the close of the hearing or  such  other
 34        time as may be agreed upon by the affected employee and the board.
 35        (l)  Within  fifteen  (15)  days  following  the close of the hearing, the
 36        board shall determine and, acting through their duly  authorized  adminis-
 37        trative  official,  shall  notify the employee in writing whether the evi-
 38        dence presented at the hearing established the truth  of  the  allegations
 39        and  whether  the  employee  is to be retained, immediately discharged, or
 40        discharged upon termination of the current contract.
                                                                        
 41        SECTION 3.  That Section 33-517, Idaho Code, be, and the  same  is  hereby
 42    amended to read as follows:
                                                                        
 43        33-517.  NONCERTIFICATED  PERSONNEL.  The board of trustees of each school
 44    district including any specially chartered district, shall have the  following
 45    powers and duties:
 46        (1)  To  provide that hiring and evaluation procedures for noncertificated
 47    personnel shall be in writing and shall be available for  any  noncertificated
 48    employee's review at anytime. Job descriptions for all noncertificated employ-
 49    ees  shall be written and shall be made available to employees of the district
 50    or other people seeking employment.
 51        (2)  To provide a grievance procedure for noncertificated employees of the
 52    district which meets the minimum standards of paragraphs (a)  through  (i)  of
 53    this  subsection. In the event a grievance procedure is not provided, the fol-
                                                                        
                                           5
                                                                        
  1    lowing grievance procedure shall apply.
  2        (a)  A grievance shall be defined as a written allegation of unfair treat-
  3        ment or a violation of school district policy. A noncertificated  employee
  4        of  the  district  may  file  a  grievance about any matter related to his
  5        employment, provided that neither the  rate  of  salary  or  wage  of  the
  6        employee  nor  the  decision to terminate an employee for cause during the
  7        initial one hundred eighty (180) days of employment shall be a proper sub-
  8        ject for consideration under the grievance procedure provided in this sec-
  9        tion.
 10        (b)  If a noncertificated employee files a grievance, the  employee  shall
 11        submit  the grievance in writing to his or her immediate supervisor within
 12        six  (6)  working  days  of the incident giving rise to the grievance. The
 13        grievance shall state the nature of the grievance and the  remedy  sought.
 14        Within  six  (6)  working  days of receipt of the grievance, the immediate
 15        supervisor shall provide a written response to the employee.
 16        (c)  If the noncertificated employee is not satisfied with the response of
 17        the immediate supervisor or if there is no response within the time lines,
 18        the employee may appeal the grievance to the superintendent  of  the  dis-
 19        trict or the superintendent's designee within five (5) working days of the
 20        receipt of the response as set out in subsection (2)(b) of this section or
 21        within  five  (5)  working  days  from the date the supervisor last had to
 22        respond if the noncertificated  employee  received  no  written  response.
 23        Within six (6) working days of an appeal, the superintendent or his desig-
 24        nee  shall  communicate  with the noncertificated employee in an effort to
 25        resolve the appeal. Within five (5) working days of the communication, the
 26        superintendent or his designee shall provide a  written  response  to  the
 27        noncertificated employee.
 28        (d)  If the noncertificated employee is not satisfied with the response of
 29        the  superintendent  or  his  designee,  or if there is no response by the
 30        superintendent or his designee within the time frame provided  in  subsec-
 31        tion  (2)(c)  of  this section, the noncertificated employee may request a
 32        review of the grievance by a hearing panel within five  (5)  working  days
 33        from receipt of the response provided in subsection (2)(c) of this section
 34        if the employee received a written response, or five (5) working days from
 35        the  date  the  superintendent  last had to respond if the noncertificated
 36        employee received no written response. Within ten  (10)  working  days  of
 37        receipt of an appeal, the board of trustees shall convene a panel consist-
 38        ing of three (3) persons; one (1) designated by the board of trustees, one
 39        (1)  designated  by  the  employee, and one (1) agreed upon by the two (2)
 40        appointed members for the purpose of reviewing the appeal. Within five (5)
 41        working days following completion of the review, the  panel  shall  submit
 42        its  decision in writing to the noncertificated employee, the superintend-
 43        ent, and the board of trustees.
 44        (e)  The panel's decision shall be the final and conclusive resolution  of
 45        the  grievance unless the board of trustees overturns the panel's decision
 46        by resolution at the board of trustees' next  regularly  scheduled  public
 47        meeting or unless within forty-two (42) calendar days of the filing of the
 48        board's decision, either party appeals to the district court in the county
 49        where  the  school  district  is located. Upon appeal of a decision of the
 50        board of trustees, the district court may affirm or set aside  and  remand
 51        the  matter to the board of trustees upon the following grounds, and shall
 52        not set the same aside on any other grounds:
 53             (i)   That the findings of fact are not  based  on  any  substantial,
 54             competent evidence;
 55             (ii)  That the board of trustees has acted without jurisdiction or in
                                                                        
                                           6
                                                                        
  1             excess of its powers;
  2             (iii) That  the  findings by the board of trustees as a matter of law
  3             do not support the decision.
  4        (f)  A noncertificated employee filing a grievance pursuant to  this  sec-
  5        tion  shall  be  entitled  to a representative of the employee's choice at
  6        each step of the grievance procedure provided in this section. The  super-
  7        visor,  superintendent, or the superintendent's designee shall be entitled
  8        to a representative at each step of the grievance procedure.
  9        (g)  The time lines of the grievance procedure established in this section
 10        may be waived or modified by mutual agreement.
 11        (h)  Utilization of the grievance procedure established pursuant  to  this
 12        section  shall  not  constitute  a waiver of any right of appeal available
 13        pursuant to law or regulation.
 14        (i)  Neither the board nor any member of  the  administration  shall  take
 15        reprisals affecting the employment status of any party in interest.
 16        (j)  A  noncertificated employee of a school district shall be required to
 17        review and sign any entries made to  his  personnel  file.  At  reasonable
 18        times  and  places, in the presence of an appropriate district official, a
 19        noncertificated employee may inspect documents contained in  his  official
 20        personnel file.
                                                                        
 21        SECTION  4.  That  Section 33-1001, Idaho Code, be, and the same is hereby
 22    amended to read as follows:
                                                                        
 23        33-1001.  DEFINITIONS. The following words and phrases used in this  chap-
 24    ter are defined as follows:
 25        1.  "Administrative  schools"  means and applies to all elementary schools
 26    and kindergartens within a district that are situated ten (10) miles  or  less
 27    from both the other elementary schools and the principal administrative office
 28    of  the district and all secondary schools within a district that are situated
 29    fifteen (15) miles or less from other secondary schools of the district.
 30        2.  "Average daily attendance" or "pupils  in  average  daily  attendance"
 31    means  the  aggregate number of days enrolled students are present, divided by
 32    the number of days of school in the reporting period; provided, however,  that
 33    students  for  whom  no  Idaho school district is a home district shall not be
 34    considered in such computation.
 35        3.  "Elementary grades" or "elementary average daily attendance" means and
 36    applies to students enrolled in grades one (1) through six (6)  inclusive,  or
 37    any combination thereof.
 38        4.  "Elementary schools" are schools that serve grades one (1) through six
 39    (6) inclusive, or any combination thereof.
 40        5.  "Elementary/secondary  schools"  are schools that serve grades one (1)
 41    through twelve (12) inclusive, or any combination thereof.
 42        6.  "Homebound student" means any student who would normally and regularly
 43    attend school, but is confined to home or hospital because of  an  illness  or
 44    accident for a period of ten (10) or more consecutive days.
 45        7.  "Kindergarten"  or  "kindergarten  average daily attendance" means and
 46    applies to all students enrolled in a school year, less than school  year,  or
 47    summer kindergarten program.
 48        8.  "Public  school district" or "school district" or "district" means any
 49    public school district organized under the laws of this state, including  spe-
 50    cially chartered school districts.
 51        9.  "Secondary  grades"  or "secondary average daily attendance" means and
 52    applies to students enrolled in grades seven (7) through  twelve  (12)  inclu-
 53    sive, or any combination thereof.
                                                                        
                                           7
                                                                        
  1        10. "Secondary  schools"  are  schools that serve grades seven (7) through
  2    twelve (12) inclusive, or any combination thereof.
  3        11. "Separate elementary school" means an elementary school which measured
  4    from itself, traveling on an all-weather road, is situated more than ten  (10)
  5    miles    distance    from    both    the   nearest   elementary   school   and
  6    elementary/secondary school serving like grades within the  same  school  dis-
  7    trict and from the location of the office of the superintendent of schools, of
  8    such  district, or from the office of the chief administrative officer of such
  9    district if the district employs no superintendent of schools.
 10        12. "Separate kindergarten"  means  a  kindergarten  which  measured  from
 11    itself, traveling on an all-weather road, is situated more than ten (10) miles
 12    distance from both the nearest kindergarten school within the same school dis-
 13    trict and from the location of the office of the superintendent of schools, of
 14    such  district, or from the office of the chief administrative officer of such
 15    district if the district employs no superintendent of schools.
 16        13. "Separate secondary  school"  means  any  secondary  school  which  is
 17    located  more  than  fifteen  (15) miles by an all-weather road from any other
 18    secondary school and elementary/secondary school serving like grades  operated
 19    by the district.
 20        14. "Support  program"  means the educational support program as described
 21    in section 33-1002, Idaho Code, the transportation support  program  described
 22    in  section 33-1006, Idaho Code, and the exceptional education support program
 23    as provided in section 33-1007, Idaho Code.
 24        15. "Support unit" means a function of average daily  attendance  used  in
 25    the  calculations  to  determine  financial support provided the public school
 26    districts.
 27        16. "Teacher" means any person  employed  in  a  teaching,  instructional,
 28    supervisory, educational administrative or educational and scientific capacity
 29    in  any  school  district. In case of doubt the state board of education shall
 30    determine whether any person employed requires certification as a teacher.
                                                                        
 31        SECTION 5.  That Section 33-1003, Idaho Code, be, and the same  is  hereby
 32    amended to read as follows:
                                                                        
 33        33-1003.  SPECIAL APPLICATIONS OF EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT PROGRAM. 1. Decrease
 34    in  Average  Daily  Attendance. -- Any school district which has a decrease in
 35    total average daily attendance of one percent (1%) of its average daily atten-
 36    dance in the then current school year from the total average daily  attendance
 37    used  for determining the allowance in the educational support program for the
 38    school year immediately preceding, the allowance of funds from the educational
 39    support program may be based on the average daily  attendance  of  the  school
 40    year  immediately  preceding,  less  one  percent (1%). When this provision is
 41    applied, the decrease in average daily  attendance  shall  be  proportionately
 42    distributed among the various categories of support units that are appropriate
 43    for the district.
 44        2.  Application of Support Program to Separate Schools/Attendance Units in
 45    District.
 46        a.  Separate Elementary School. -- Any separate elementary school shall be
 47        allowed  to  participate in the educational support program as  though the
 48        school were the only elementary school operated by the district.
 49        b.  Hardship Elementary School.  --  Upon  application  of  the  board  of
 50        trustees  of  a school district, the state board of education is empowered
 51        to determine that a given elementary school or elementary  schools  within
 52        the school district, not  otherwise qualifying, are entitled to be counted
 53        as a separate elementary school as defined in section 33-1001, Idaho Code,
                                                                        
                                           8
                                                                        
  1        when,  in  the  discretion of the state board of education, special condi-
  2        tions exist warranting the retention of the school as  a  separate  atten-
  3        dance unit and the retention results in a substantial increase in cost per
  4        pupil  in  average  daily  attendance  above the average cost per pupil in
  5        average daily attendance of the remainder  of  the  district's  elementary
  6        grade  school  pupils.  An  elementary  school  operating  as a previously
  7        approved hardship elementary school shall continue to be considered  as  a
  8        separate  attendance  unit,  unless  the hardship status of the elementary
  9        school is rescinded by the state board of education.
 10        c.  Separate Secondary School. -- Any separate secondary school  shall  be
 11        allowed  to  participate  in the educational support program as though the
 12        school were the only secondary school operated by the district.
 13        d.  Elementary/Secondary School Attendance Units. -- Elementary grades  in
 14        an  elementary/secondary  school  will  be funded as a separate attendance
 15        unit if all elementary grades served are situated more than ten (10) miles
 16        distance from both the nearest like  elementary  grades  within  the  same
 17        school  district and from the location of the office of the superintendent
 18        of schools, of such district, or from the office of the chief  administra-
 19        tive officer of such district if the district employs no superintendent of
 20        schools. Secondary grades in an elementary/secondary school will be funded
 21        as  a  separate attendance unit if all secondary grades served are located
 22        more than fifteen (15) miles by an all-weather road from the nearest  like
 23        secondary grades operated by the district.
 24        e.  Hardship Secondary School. -- Any district which operated two (2) sec-
 25        ondary  schools  separated by less than fifteen (15) miles, but which dis-
 26        trict was created through consolidation subsequent to  legislative  action
 27        pursuant  to  chapter  111,  laws of 1947, and which school buildings were
 28        constructed prior to 1935, shall be entitled to count the schools as sepa-
 29        rate attendance units.
 30        f.  Minimum Pupils Required. -- Any elementary school having less than ten
 31        (10) pupils in average daily attendance shall not be allowed  to  partici-
 32        pate  in  the  state  or county support program unless the school has been
 33        approved for operation by the state board of education.
 34        3.  Remote Schools. -- The board of trustees of any Idaho school  district
 35    which  operates  and  maintains a school which is remote and isolated from the
 36    other schools of the state because of geographical or topographical conditions
 37    may petition the state board of education to recognize and approve the  school
 38    as  a  remote  and necessary school. The petition shall be in form and content
 39    approved by the state board of education and shall provide such information as
 40    the state board of education may require. Petitions for the recognition  of  a
 41    school  as  a  remote  and  necessary  school shall be filed annually at least
 42    ninety (90) days prior to the date of the  annual  meeting  of  the  board  of
 43    trustees as established in section 33-510, Idaho Code.
 44        Within forty-five (45) days after the receipt of a petition for the recog-
 45    nition  of  a  remote and necessary school, the state board of education shall
 46    either approve or disapprove the petition and notify the board of trustees  of
 47    its  decision.  Schools  which  the state board of education approves as being
 48    necessary and remote shall be allowed adequate funding within the support pro-
 49    gram for an acceptable educational program for the students of the school.  In
 50    the  case  of a remote and necessary secondary school, grades 7-12, the educa-
 51    tional program shall be deemed acceptable when, in the opinion  of  the  state
 52    board  of education, the accreditation standard relating to staff size, estab-
 53    lished in accordance with section 33-119, Idaho Code, has been met. The  final
 54    determination  of  an acceptable program and adequate funding in the case of a
 55    remote and necessary elementary school shall be made by  the  state  board  of
                                                                        
                                           9
                                                                        
  1    education.
  2        4.  Support Program When District Boundaries are Changed.
  3        a.  In  new  districts  formed  by the division of a district, the support
  4        program computed for the district divided in its last year  of  operation,
  5        shall be apportioned to  the new districts created by the division, in the
  6        proportion  that  the  average  daily attendance of pupils, elementary and
  7        secondary combined, residing in the area of each new district so  created,
  8        is to the average daily attendance of all pupils, elementary and secondary
  9        combined, in the district divided in its last year of operation before the
 10        division.
 11        b.  When  boundaries of districts are changed by excision or annexation of
 12        territory, the support program of any district  from  which  territory  is
 13        excised  for  the  last  year  of  operation before such excision shall be
 14        divided, and apportioned among the districts involved,  as  prescribed  in
 15        subsection 4a. of this section.
 16        c.  In new districts formed by consolidation of former districts, the sup-
 17        port program allowance for a seven (7) year period following the formation
 18        of  the  new district, shall not be less than the combined support program
 19        allowances of  the component districts  in  the  last  year  of  operation
 20        before consolidation.
 21        5.  For the fiscal year which commences on July 1, 1986, and for each suc-
 22    ceeding  fiscal  year,  any  school  district  whose adjusted market value for
 23    assessment purposes decreases forty percent (40%) or more  from  the  previous
 24    year's adjusted market value for assessment purposes as such valuation existed
 25    on  December  31, is eligible to receive an adjustment to its educational sup-
 26    port program entitlement, subject to qualifications as follows:
 27        a.  The adjusted market value for assessment purposes has decreased  forty
 28        percent  (40%)  or more from the previous year's adjusted market value for
 29        assessment purposes as such valuation existed on December 31; and
 30        b.  The school levy to be certified for the general maintenance and opera-
 31        tion fund shall be no less than four-tenths of one percent (.4%); and
 32        c.  An eligible school district has made application to the state  depart-
 33        ment  of  education for an adjustment to entitlement from the state educa-
 34        tional support program on or before June 1 of the fiscal year. Such appli-
 35        cation must document the need for additional funds and must include a dis-
 36        trict plan to minimize impact of a reduced local tax base.
                                                                        
 37        SECTION 6.  That Section 33-5110, Idaho Code, be, and the same  is  hereby
 38    amended to read as follows:
                                                                        
 39        33-5110.  FINANCIAL  ARRANGEMENTS.  (1)  For  a pupil enrolled in a course
 40    under the provisions of this chapter, the school district may make payments or
 41    partial payments according to the provisions of this section for courses  that
 42    were taken for secondary credit.
 43        (2)  The school district superintendent shall not make payments to a post-
 44    secondary  institution  for  a course taken for postsecondary credit only. The
 45    district superintendent shall not make payments to a postsecondary institution
 46    for a course from which a student officially withdraws during the first  four-
 47    teen (14) days of the semester or for courses for audit.
                                                                        
 48        SECTION  7.  That  Section 33-5306, Idaho Code, be, and the same is hereby
 49    amended to read as follows:
                                                                        
                                           10
                                                                        
  1        33-5306.  PAYING AGENT TO PROVIDE NOTICE --  STATE  TREASURER  TO  EXECUTE
  2    TRANSFER TO PAYING AGENTS -- EFFECT OF TRANSFER.
  3        (1)  (a) The  superintendent  of responsible for each school district with
  4        outstanding, unpaid bonds shall transfer moneys sufficient for the  sched-
  5        uled  debt  service payment to its paying agent at least fifteen (15) days
  6        before any principal or interest payment date for the bonds.
  7        (b)  The paying agent may, if instructed to do so by  the  superintendent,
  8        invest  the  moneys at the risk and for the benefit of the board until the
  9        payment date.
 10        (c)  A superintendent who is unable to transfer the scheduled debt service
 11        payment to the paying agent fifteen (15)  days  before  the  payment  date
 12        shall immediately notify the paying agent and the state treasurer by:
 13             (i)   Telephone;
 14             (ii)  A writing sent by facsimile transmission; and
 15             (iii) A writing sent by first-class United States mail.
 16        (2)  If  sufficient  funds  are  not  transferred  to  the paying agent as
 17    required by subsection (1) of this section, the paying agent shall notify  the
 18    state  treasurer  of that failure in writing at least ten (10) days before the
 19    scheduled debt service payment date by:
 20        (a)  Telephone;
 21        (b)  A writing sent by facsimile transmission; and
 22        (c)  A writing sent by first-class United States mail.
 23        (3)  (a) If sufficient moneys to pay the scheduled  debt  service  payment
 24        have  not been transferred to the paying agent, the state treasurer shall,
 25        on or before the scheduled payment date, transfer sufficient moneys to the
 26        paying agent to make the scheduled debt service payment.
 27        (b)  The payment by the treasurer:
 28             (i)  Discharges the obligation of the issuing board to its  bondhold-
 29             ers for the payment; and
 30             (ii) Transfers  the  rights  represented by the general obligation of
 31             the board from the bondholders to the state.
 32        (c)  The board shall pay the transferred obligation to the state  as  pro-
 33        vided in this chapter.
                                                                        
 34        SECTION  8.  That  Section 39-8008, Idaho Code, be, and the same is hereby
 35    amended to read as follows:
                                                                        
 36        39-8008.  ADDITIONAL DUTIES OF ADMINISTRATOR --  RIGHT  OF  INSPECTION  --
 37    POSTING.  (1)  The  administrator  shall  have authority under this section to
 38    enter all public school facilities covered by this chapter at reasonable times
 39    to inspect, on an annual basis, such facilities for compliance with the  Idaho
 40    uniform  school building safety code; provided however, that inspections shall
 41    take into account the age of the school facilities and the  appropriate  codes
 42    that would have been in effect at the time of the construction of such facili-
 43    ties;  provided further, that regardless of the codes in effect at the time of
 44    construction, imminent safety hazards found in public school facilities  shall
 45    be  identified  and  the  provisions of this chapter relating to such imminent
 46    safety hazards shall apply.
 47        (2)  If the administrator finds a violation of the  Idaho  uniform  school
 48    building  safety code that he concludes does not constitute an imminent safety
 49    hazard or serious safety hazard, he shall notify in writing  the  school  dis-
 50    trict superintendent, principal, board member, or other person in charge. Such
 51    notification  shall state, in bold print, that the citations for violations or
 52    nonconformances constitute recommendations only.
 53        (3)  If the administrator finds a violation of the  Idaho  uniform  school
                                                                        
                                           11
                                                                        
  1    building safety code that he concludes constitutes a serious safety hazard, he
  2    shall immediately  issue a written order or notice requiring the school super-
  3    intendent, principal, board of trustees or other person in charge to eliminate
  4    the condition without delay and within the time specified by the administrator
  5    in the notice or order, but not exceeding one (1) year.
  6        (4)  If  the  administrator  finds a violation of the Idaho uniform school
  7    building safety code that he concludes constitutes an imminent safety  hazard,
  8    he  shall immediately notify the department of administration and request that
  9    the department of administration designate a licensed professional   to  inde-
 10    pendently  evaluate the condition prior to issuing any report under this chap-
 11    ter. The department of administration shall, within two (2) working days, des-
 12    ignate a licensed professional to independently evaluate the condition identi-
 13    fied. That licensed professional shall, within fourteen  (14)  days,  complete
 14    its  independent  evaluation  of the condition identified by the administrator
 15    and notify the director of the department of  administration  of  its  conclu-
 16    sions.  If  the  administrator  determines  that the condition constituting an
 17    imminent safety hazard could reasonably be expected to cause death or  serious
 18    physical harm before the evaluation of the department of administration can be
 19    completed  and  before the condition can be eliminated, he shall determine the
 20    extent of the area where such condition exists and  thereupon  shall  issue  a
 21    written  order or notice requiring the school district superintendent, princi-
 22    pal, board of trustees or other person in charge to cause all persons,  except
 23    those  necessary  to  eliminate the condition, to be withdrawn from, and to be
 24    restrained from entering, such area pending the evaluation of  the  department
 25    of  administration.  This  order  shall  be withdrawn if the evaluation of the
 26    department of administration does not concur with the administrator  that  the
 27    condition  constitutes  an  imminent  safety  hazard  as  could  reasonably be
 28    expected to cause death or serious physical harm before the condition  can  be
 29    eliminated.
 30        (5)  If  the department of administration agrees with the determination of
 31    the administrator that a condition identified constitutes an  imminent  safety
 32    hazard, the department of administration shall, within three (3) working days,
 33    so notify the administrator in writing.
 34        (6)  Upon receipt of such notification in writing, the administrator shall
 35    immediately  serve,  or  cause  to be served, written notice or order upon the
 36    school district superintendent, principal, board of trustees or  other  person
 37    in  charge describing the imminent safety hazard. The administrator shall also
 38    notify in writing the state superintendent of public instruction of such immi-
 39    nent safety hazard. Upon receipt of such written notice or order,  the  school
 40    district  superintendent,  principal,  board  of  trustees, or other person in
 41    charge shall require all changes necessary to eliminate  the  imminent  safety
 42    hazard be made, without delay and within the time specified by the administra-
 43    tor  in  the  notice  or order. If the condition presenting an imminent safety
 44    hazard is not corrected within the specified time,  or  if  the  administrator
 45    determines  that  the condition constituting such imminent safety hazard could
 46    reasonably be expected to cause death or serious physical harm before the con-
 47    dition can be eliminated, if he has not previously done so he shall  determine
 48    the  extent  of the area where such condition exists and thereupon shall issue
 49    an order or notice requiring the school  district  superintendent,  principal,
 50    board  member,  or  other  person in charge to cause all persons, except those
 51    necessary to eliminate  the  condition,  to  be  withdrawn  from,  and  to  be
 52    restrained from entering, such area. The school district superintendent, prin-
 53    cipal,  board member, or other person in charge shall assist the administrator
 54    as necessary to post such areas to prevent injury.
 55        (7)  If the administrator finds a violation of the  Idaho  uniform  school
                                                                        
                                           12
                                                                        
  1    building safety code that he concludes constitutes a serious safety hazard and
  2    issues  a written order or notice requiring the conditions to be eliminated in
  3    not more than one (1) year, and the school  superintendent,  principal,  board
  4    of  trustees,  or  other person in charge contests the administrator's finding
  5    that the condition is a serious safety hazard, then the school superintendent,
  6    principal, board of trustees, or other person in charge  shall  have  fourteen
  7    (14)  days  from the date of the issuance of the administrator's written order
  8    or notice to request a hearing to initiate a contested case under chapter  52,
  9    title  67, Idaho Code. If a hearing is requested, the superintendent of public
 10    instruction shall appoint a hearing officer to consider  the  contested  case.
 11    All  administrative  proceedings  under  this subsection shall be expedited as
 12    necessary to assure that serious safety hazards are eliminated as required  by
 13    this  section  if  the  administrator's initial determination that there was a
 14    serious safety hazard is confirmed in the contested case proceedings.
 15        (8)  The administrator shall monitor the  school  district's  progress  in
 16    addressing  any  identified imminent safety hazard or serious safety hazard to
 17    ensure that appropriate corrective action was  taken.  The  administrator  may
 18    extend the time for completing corrective action if he deems necessary.
 19        (9)  Upon completion of corrective action and verification of such comple-
 20    tion  by the division of building safety and the department of administration,
 21    the administrator shall provide a report to the state superintendent of public
 22    instruction, the local superintendent of schools and the chair  of  the  local
 23    school board.
 24        (810) Annual  inspections  of  public  school  facilities conducted by the
 25    administrator under the provisions of this section shall be funded pursuant to
 26    legislative appropriation.
                                                                        
 27        SECTION 9.  That Section 39-8009, Idaho Code, be, and the same  is  hereby
 28    amended to read as follows:
                                                                        
 29        39-8009.  INJUNCTION. Upon failure of the district superintendent, princi-
 30    pal,  board of trustees, or other person in charge to comply with the require-
 31    ments stated in any notice or order relating to an imminent safety  hazard  or
 32    serious safety hazard, the administrator may maintain an action in the name of
 33    the  state of Idaho to enjoin the district superintendent, principal, board of
 34    trustees or other person in charge from acting in violation of such notice  or
 35    order or from doing any action that interferes with the administrator carrying
 36    out  his  statutory duties. Such action shall be brought in the district court
 37    in which said acts are claimed to have been committed  by  filing  a  verified
 38    complaint  setting forth said act. The court, if satisfied from such complaint
 39    or affidavits that the act complained of has been or is  being  committed  and
 40    will  persist, may issue a temporary writ without notice or bond enjoining the
 41    defendant from the commission of such act pending  final  disposition  of  the
 42    cause.  The  cause shall proceed as in other causes for injunction. If, at the
 43    trial, the commission of said act by the  defendant  be  established  and  the
 44    court  further  finds it probable that the defendant will continue in such act
 45    or similar acts, the court shall enter a decree enjoining said defendant  from
 46    committing said or similar acts.
                                                                        
 47        SECTION  10.  That Section 39-8011, Idaho Code, be, and the same is hereby
 48    amended to read as follows:
                                                                        
 49        39-8011.  VIOLATIONS. (1) If a school district, the district  superintend-
 50    ent,  principal,  board  of trustees, or other person in charge willfully vio-
 51    lates the provisions of this  chapter,  the  state  superintendent  of  public
                                                                        
                                           13
                                                                        
  1    instruction  shall  withhold  such  ensuing apportionments as are necessary to
  2    make repairs to abate the identified imminent safety hazard or serious  safety
  3    hazard. Withheld funds, not to exceed one and one-half percent (1 1/2%) of the
  4    district's appropriation, shall be disbursed only to pay for such repairs.
  5        (2)  It  is a misdemeanor to remove, without permission of the administra-
  6    tor, a notice or order posted pursuant to this chapter.
                                                                        
  7        SECTION 11.  An emergency existing therefor,  which  emergency  is  hereby
  8    declared to exist, this act shall be in full force and effect on and after its
  9    passage and approval.

Statement of Purpose / Fiscal Impact



                       STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
                            RS 12782C2
The purpose of this legislation is to require School Board 
Trustees in the same county to work jointly to employ a County
Superintendent for all school districts in the county.
                          FISCAL IMPACT
Estimated to save school districts 4-5 million each year in
administrative salaries.


Contact
Name: Representative Fred Tilman 
Phone: 332-1000




STATEMENT OF PURPOSE/FISCAL NOTE     H 285