Bill Text: MS HB1 | 2016 | Regular Session | Comm Sub
Bill Title: School boards; revise certain provisions regarding continuing education for members.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Failed) 2016-03-01 - Died In Committee [HB1 Detail]
Download: Mississippi-2016-HB1-Comm_Sub.html
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2016 Regular Session
To: Education
By: Representative Frierson
House Bill 1
(COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE)
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTIONS 37-3-4 AND 37-7-306, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REQUIRE THAT THE CONTINUING EDUCATION COURSES PROVIDED TO MEMBERS OF LOCAL SCHOOL BOARDS BY THE MISSISSIPPI SCHOOL BOARDS ASSOCIATION SHALL NOW BE CONDUCTED AND ADMINISTERED BY THE SECRETARY OF STATE AND THE STENNIS INSTITUTE OF GOVERNMENT AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AT MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. Section 37-3-4, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
37-3-4. (1) There is established within the State Department of Education, the School Executive Management Institute. The director shall be appointed by the State Board of Education upon recommendation by the State Superintendent of Public Education. The State Superintendent of Public Education, with the approval of the State Board of Education, shall assign sufficient staff members from the State Department of Education to the institute.
(2) It shall be the purpose and duty of the institute to conduct thorough empirical studies and analyses of the school management needs of the local school districts throughout the state, to make recommendations to the State Board of Education regarding standards and programs of training that aid in the development of administrative and management skills of local school administrators, and to conduct such programs related to these purposes as they are implemented under guidelines established by the State Board of Education.
(3) The State Board of
Education shall develop and implement through the School Executive Management
Institute a program for the development of administrative and management skills
of local school administrators under which all local school administrators
employed by a school district shall be required to participate. Subject to the
extent of appropriations available for such purpose, the School Executive
Management Institute, Secretary of State or the * * * Stennis
Institute of Government and Community Development at Mississippi State
University shall be required to offer courses at least twice a year on the
uses of technology to school district principals, superintendents and other
administrative personnel. These courses shall relate to the application of
technology to learning, as well as administrative problems.
(4) (a) The institute shall have an advisory board composed of ten (10) qualified members appointed by the State Board of Education after consultation with the State Superintendent of Public Education. This advisory board will offer recommendations to the institute on the types of training to be instituted and supported. The membership of the advisory board shall be composed of the following members, two (2) to be appointed from each congressional district: three (3) school administrators; one (1) representative of public community/junior colleges within the state; one (1) representative of a school of education in an institution of higher learning within the state; two (2) local school board members; one (1) classroom teacher; and two (2) laypersons. In making the initial appointments, three (3) members shall be appointed for a term of one (1) year, three (3) members shall be appointed for a term of two (2) years, two (2) members shall be appointed for a term of three (3) years, and two (2) members shall be appointed for a term of four (4) years. Thereafter, all members shall be appointed for a term of four (4) years. The advisory board shall meet when called by the director, but in no event fewer than three (3) times per year. The members of the advisory board shall be compensated at the per diem rate authorized by Section 25-3-69 and reimbursed for actual and necessary expenses as authorized by Section 25-3-41.
(b) Board members of the Oxford-Lafayette Business and Industrial Complex shall be paid per diem and reimbursed for expenses and mileage from local funds in accordance with Section 37-6-13.
(5) (a) Basic Education
Course. The * * * Secretary of State and the Stennis
Institute of Government and Community Development at Mississippi State
University shall be responsible for preparing and conducting * * * courses of training for basic
education for the local school board members of this state, in order for board
members to carry out their duties more effectively and be exposed to new ideas
involving school restructuring. The basic course shall be known as the
"School Board Member Training Course" and shall consist of at least
twelve (12) hours of training. The * * * Secretary
of State and the Stennis Institute of Government and Community Development at
Mississippi State University shall issue certificates of completion to
those school board members who complete the basic education course conducted
by each respective entity.
(b) Continuing
Education Course. The * * * Stennis Institute of
Government and Community Development at Mississippi State University and the
Secretary of State shall be responsible for preparing and conducting * * * courses of training for continuing
education for the local school board members of this state, in order for board
members to carry out their duties more effectively and be exposed to new ideas
involving school restructuring. The continuing education course shall be known
as the "Continuing Education Course for School Board Members" and
shall consist of at least six (6) hours of training.
(c) Additional Required
Training. Effective July 1, 2009, local school board members and the local
superintendent that serve in a district with one or more failing schools as
determined by the Mississippi Board of Education accountability system as
provided for in Section 37-17-6, or serving in a school district that has a
serious financial condition as determined by the State Auditor as provided for
in Section 37-9-18, shall annually attend additional training provided by the * * * Secretary
of State or the Stennis Institute of Government and Community Development at
Mississippi State University.
The * * * Secretary
of State and the Stennis Institute of Government and Community Development at
Mississippi State University shall, subject to appropriation, develop and
conduct training specific to the local boards' role in improving learning
outcomes and effective financial management. Such training shall be known as
"Improving Student Outcomes and Academic Success" which shall consist
of not less than six (6) hours of training and "Effective Financial
Management In Local School Districts" which shall consist of not less than
six (6) hours of training. Any local board members and the local
superintendent that serve in a school district that meets the criteria for both
of the training modules shall annually attend both training sessions for a
total of not less than twelve (12) hours of training. At such time the school
district is determined to no longer have failing schools; or no longer has a
serious financial condition, such board member and the local superintendent
shall no longer be required to attend the training as provided herein. The
training as required under subsection (c) shall not replace, but is in addition
to, the training required for new school board members and continuing board
members as required under Section 37-7-306.
The * * * Secretary
of State and the Stennis Institute of Government and Community Development at
Mississippi State University shall issue certificates of completion to
those school board members who complete the continuing education course. All
costs and expenses for preparing and conducting the basic education course and
the continuing education course provided for in this paragraph shall be paid
out of any funds which are made available to the * * * Secretary
of State or the Stennis Institute of Government and Community Development at
Mississippi State University upon authorization and appropriation by the
Legislature to the State Department of Education.
(6) The * * * Secretary
of State and the Stennis Institute of Government and Community Development at
Mississippi State University shall prepare and submit a report each year to
the State Board of Education and to the respective Chairs of the House and
Senate Education Committees describing the activities and providing an
evaluation of the continuing education programs offered by the association each
year.
(7) The School Executive
Management Institute of the State Department of Education, the Secretary of
State or the * * * Stennis Institute of Government and
Community Development at Mississippi State University with the oversight of
the State Board of Education, at least twice a year, shall prepare and conduct
required courses of training for continuing education for the elementary and
secondary school principals employed by the school districts of this state, in
order for those principals to carry out their duties more effectively and be
exposed to new ideas involving school management. The continuing education
course shall be known as the "Continuing Education Course for
Principals" and shall consist of at least six (6) hours of training. The
content of the continuing education courses and the time and place such courses
are to be conducted shall be determined by the School Executive Management
Institute, the Secretary of State or the * * * Stennis
Institute of Government and Community Development at Mississippi State
University; however, to the extent practicable, such training sessions
shall be held within geographical proximity of local districts in order that
travel times and costs shall not be prohibitive.
The institute shall issue certificates of completion to those principals who complete such courses. All costs and expenses for preparing and conducting the basic and continuing education courses provided for in this subsection shall be paid out of any funds which are made available to the institute upon authorization and appropriation by the Legislature.
(8) School district principals and other administrators with career level certifications at schools meeting the highest levels of accreditation standards, as defined by the State Board of Education, are exempt from the requirements of this section, subject to approval of the local school district superintendent.
SECTION 2. Section 37-7-306, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
37-7-306. (1) Every school board member selected after July 1, 2002, shall have a high school diploma or its equivalent.
(2) Every school board
member selected after July 1, 1993, shall be required to complete a basic
course of training and education for local school board members, in order for
board members to carry out their duties more effectively and be exposed to new
ideas involving school restructuring. Such basic course of training shall be
conducted by the * * * Secretary of State or the Stennis
Institute of Government and Community Development at Mississippi State
University. Upon completion of the basic course of training, the * * * Secretary
of State and the Stennis Institute of Government and Community Development at
Mississippi State University shall file a certificate of completion for the
school board member with the office of the local school board. In the event
that a board member fails to complete such training within six (6) months of
his selection, such board member shall no longer be qualified to serve and
shall be removed from office.
(3) In addition to meeting
the requirements of subsection (2) of this section, after taking office, each
school board member shall be required to file annually in the office of the
school board a certificate of completion of a course of continuing education
conducted by the * * * Secretary of State or the Stennis
Institute of Government and Community Development at Mississippi State
University. In addition, those board members required to attend the
additional training as provided in Section 37-3-4(5)(c) shall be required to
comply with the annual certification provided herein for such additional
training.
(4) Every school board member selected after July 1, 2002, shall spend at least one (1) full day in a school in the district they represent, without compensation.
(5) Upon the failure of any
local school board member to file with the school board the certificate of
completion of the basic or continuing course of training as provided in
subsection (2) or (3) of this section, or the additional training as required
in Section 37-3-4(5)(c), the school board member shall be removed from office
by the Attorney General. In the event of a medical or other catastrophic
hardship that prevents such school board member from obtaining the required
training or filing such certificate, as may be defined by the * * * Secretary of State and the Stennis Institute of
Government and Community Development at Mississippi State University by
rule and regulation, an additional period of three (3) months may be allowed to
satisfy the requirements of subsection (2) or (3).
SECTION 3. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2016.
