Bill Text: HI SB977 | 2013 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: DOE; School Community Councils; Weighted Student Formula

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 4-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2013-01-24 - Referred to EDU/HTH. [SB977 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2013-SB977-Introduced.html

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THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	977
TWENTY-SEVENTH LEGISLATURE, 2013
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

relating to education.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 

     SECTION 1.  Section 302A-1124, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

     "§302A-1124  Mandate to initiate school community councils.  (a)  The department, through the board and its superintendent, shall establish a school community council system under which each public school, excluding charter schools, shall create and maintain a school community council.  Each school community council shall:

     (1)  Review and evaluate the school's academic plan and financial plan, and either recommend revisions of the plans to the principal, or recommend the plans for approval by the complex area superintendent;

     (2)  Ensure that the school's academic and financial plans are consistent with the educational accountability system under section 302A-1004;

     (3)  Participate in principal selection and evaluation, and transmit any such evaluations to the complex area superintendent; and

     (4)  Provide collaborative opportunities for input and consultation.

     (b)  School community councils shall be exempt from the requirements of chapters 91 and 92.  The school community councils shall:

     (1)  Make available the notices and agendas of public meetings:

         (A)  At a publicly accessible area in the school's administrative office so as to be available for review during regular business hours; and

         (B)  On the school's internet web site,

          not less than six calendar days prior to the public meeting, unless a waiver is granted by the superintendent in the case of an emergency; and

     (2)  Make available the minutes from public meetings on a timely basis in:

         (A)  The school's administrative office so as to be available for review during regular business hours; and

         (B)  On the school's internet web site.

     (c)  Complex area superintendents may require revisions to a school's academic and financial plans if the plans are in violation of law or conflict with statewide educational policies and standards, or are otherwise in the best interests of the school.

     (d)  The superintendent of education may recommend to the board of education dissolution of a school community council and establish an interim school community council if the school community council engages in any act or omission that would constitute gross negligence, wilful and wanton misconduct, or intentional misconduct.  The superintendent may recommend to the board the removal of any member of a school community council.  The superintendent shall appoint or facilitate the creation of an interim school community council at any school that has not established a council or has had its council dissolved.  In appointing or facilitating the creation of an interim school community council at any school that has had its council dissolved, the superintendent may appoint individuals who were previously members of the council.

     (e)  Unless otherwise specified, each school community council shall establish policies governing the council's composition, election, staggered terms of office for members, operation, and vacancies; provided that:

     (1)  The number of school personnel [on] any school community council shall be equal to the number of primary stakeholders on the school community council;

     (2)  At the elementary and middle school levels, each school community council shall be composed of the principal and at least one member representing each of the following groups:

         (A)  Parents elected by ballots distributed among and collected from the parents of the school's students;

         (B)  Teachers elected by ballots distributed among and collected from teachers of the school;

         (C)  Noncertificated school personnel elected by ballots distributed among and collected from noncertificated personnel of the school;

         (D)  Community representatives elected by ballots distributed among and collected from parents of the school's students; and

         (E)  Student representatives selected by the student council of the school; and

     (3)  At the high school level, each school community council shall be composed of the principal and at least one member representing each of the following groups:

         (A)  Parents elected by ballots distributed among and collected from parents of the school's students;

         (B)  Teachers elected by ballots distributed among and collected from teachers of the school;

         (C)  Noncertificated school personnel elected by ballots distributed among and collected from noncertificated personnel of the school;

         (D)  Community representatives elected by ballots distributed among and collected from the parents of the school's students; and

         (E)  Student representatives selected by the student council of the school.

     For the purposes of this subsection, "primary stakeholders" means students, parents, and community members.

     (f)  School community councils shall elect officers, including:

     (1)  A chairperson;

     (2)  A vice-chairperson;

     (3)  A secretary; and

     (4)  Other officers as needed to perform stated duties in support of the work of the council.

     (g)  The principal shall have the authority to set aside any decision made by the school community council if the principal determines it to be in the best interests of the school; provided that the principal notifies the school community council.  If the school community council opposes a decision of the principal, an appeal shall first be brought to the complex area superintendent for resolution and, if necessary, to the superintendent and, finally, to the board of education.

     (h)  Complex area superintendents shall assist the school community councils and principals within their respective complex areas in:

     (1)  Obtaining the support and services of the department; and

     (2)  Ensuring the progress and success of the school's academic and financial plan.

(i)  The department shall submit monthly reports to the board on the status of the school community councils in maintaining an open, democratic, and collaborative environment with teachers and community members when recommending revisions to, or adoptions of, a school's academic and financial plans."

     SECTION 2.  Section 302A-1303.5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:

     "(a)  There is established within the department of education the committee on weights to develop a weighted student formula pursuant to section 302A-1303.6.  The committee may:

     (1)  Create a list of student characteristics that will be weighted;

     (2)  Create a system of weights based upon the student characteristics that may be applied to determine the relative cost of educating any student;

     (3)  Determine specific student weights, including their unit value;

     (4)  Determine which moneys shall be included in the amount of funds to be allocated through the weighted student formula;

     (5)  Recommend a weighted student formula to the board of education;

     (6)  Perform any other function that may facilitate the implementation of the weighted student formula; [and]

     (7)  Meet not less than once every odd-numbered year, to review the weighted student formula and, if the committee deems it necessary, recommend a new weighted student formula for adoption by the board of education[.]; and

     (8)  Seek input from the schools in establishing equitable and appropriate weights for students with special education needs."

     SECTION 3.  Section 302A-1303.6, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

     "§302A-1303.6  Weighted student formula.  Based upon recommendations from the committee on weights, with input from the schools, the board of education may adopt a weighted student formula for the allocation of moneys to public schools that takes into account the educational needs of each student[.], including a student with special education needs.  The department, upon the receipt of appropriated moneys, shall use the weighted student formula to allocate funds to public schools.  Principals shall expend moneys provided to the principals' schools.  This section shall only apply to charter schools for fiscal years in which the charter schools elect pursuant to section 302D-29 to receive allocations according to the procedures and methodology used to calculate the weighted student formula allocation."

     SECTION 4.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 5.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

 

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________

 

 

Report Title:

DOE; School Community Councils; Weighted Student Formula

 

Description:

Requires the DOE to submit monthly reports to the BOE on the status of school community councils with regard to the process of revising or adopting a school's academic and financial plans.  Requires the committee on weights to seek input from the schools in establishing equitable and appropriate weights for students with special education needs.

 

 

 

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