Bill Text: MS SB2229 | 2013 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Prekindergarten programs; to be implemented by the State Department of Education on a phased-in basis.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Failed) 2013-02-05 - Died In Committee [SB2229 Detail]
Download: Mississippi-2013-SB2229-Introduced.html
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2013 Regular Session
To: Education; Appropriations
By: Senator(s) Hopson
Senate Bill 2229
AN ACT TO AUTHORIZE AND DIRECT THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO IMPLEMENT A PREKINDERGARTEN PROGRAM IN THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI ON A PHASED-IN BASIS; TO AMEND SECTION 37-21-51, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO TRANSFER THE DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES RELATIVE TO THE "EARLY LEARNING COLLABORATIVE ACT" TO THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, TO REDESIGNATE THE PREKINDERGARTEN PROGRAM AS THE "EARLY LEARNING COLLABORATIVE ACT OF 2013," TO COMMIT FUNDING OF THE "EARLY LEARNING COLLABORATIVE ACT OF 2013" ON A PHASED-IN BASIS, AND TO PROVIDE THAT MANDATORY PREKINDERGARTEN PROGRAMS SHALL FIRST BE PROVIDED IN UNDER-PERFORMING SCHOOL DISTRICTS; TO AMEND SECTIONS 37-21-53 AND 37-21-55, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO AUTHORIZE THE EARLY CHILDHOOD SERVICES INTERAGENCY COORDINATING COUNCIL AND ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO ASSIST THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION IN IMPLEMENTING THE "EARLY LEARNING COLLABORATIVE ACT OF 2013"; TO AMEND SECTION 37-7-301, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO AUTHORIZE LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO IMPLEMENT THE "EARLY LEARNING COLLABORATIVE ACT OF 2013"; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. Section 37-21-51, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
37-21-51. (1) As used in Sections 37-21-51 through 37-21-55, the term "preschool or prekindergarten children" means any children who have not entered kindergarten.
(2) To ensure that all children have access to quality early childhood education and development services, the Legislature finds and declares the following:
(a) Parents have the primary duty to educate their young preschool children;
(b) The State of Mississippi can assist and educate parents in their role as the primary caregivers and educators of young preschool children; and
(c) There is a need to explore innovative approaches and strategies for aiding parents and families in the education and development of young preschool children.
(3) (a) This subsection
shall be known and may be cited as the "Early Learning Collaborative Act
of * * * 2013."
(b) Effective with
the 2013-2014 school year, the Mississippi State Department of * * * Education shall implement
a voluntary early care and education grant program, which shall be a
collaboration among the entities providing prekindergarten programs including
Head Start, licensed child care facilities and licensed public, parochial and
private school prekindergarten programs. Enrollment in the preschool or
prekindergarten program shall be coordinated with the Head Start agencies in
the local areas and shall not be permitted to cause a reduction in children
served by the Head Start program. Under this program, eligible entities may
submit an application for funds to (i) defray the cost of additional teaching
staff, appropriate educational materials and equipment and to improve the
quality of educational experiences offered to four-year-old children in
existing licensed early care and education programs, and/or to (ii) extend developmentally
appropriate education services at such existing licensed programs currently
serving four-year-old children to include practices of high quality
instruction, and to (iii) administer, implement, monitor and evaluate the
programs. Grant funds shall be provided on a local entity matching fund basis
to be determined by the State Department of * * * Education, and shall be
phased-in pursuant to the appropriation of funds by the Legislature as provided
in paragraph (g) of this subsection.
(c) The State
Department of * * * Education shall serve as fiscal agent for the program or
shall contract with an appropriate early care and education program entity to
serve as the fiscal agent for the program. All grant applicants shall be
required to collaborate with other early care and education programs, provide a
local community match to the grant award, designate one (1) entity as fiscal
agent for the grant, and meet teacher qualifications.
(d) The early care and
education program grants shall be awarded to successful applicants who meet the
criteria developed by * * * the Interagency Advisory Committee for Early Childhood
Services established in Section 37-21-55. The * * * Interagency Advisory Committee for
Early Childhood Services shall establish grant application criteria, procedures
and deadlines. The criteria must include all conditions prescribed in
paragraph (c), and shall include, but not be limited to: voluntary enrollment
of children, qualifications for teachers and assistant teachers, allowed
expenses, children with special needs, use of a research-based curriculum
aligned with the learning objectives/milestones in the Mississippi Early
Learning Guidelines for Four-Year-Old Children, teacher/child ratios, child
care facility licensure requirements, and collaboration with other early
childhood programs.
(e) Any teacher, assistant teacher or other employee whose salary and fringe benefits are paid from early care and education grants under this act shall not be deemed to be classified as state or local school district employees and shall not be eligible for state health insurance benefits or membership in the Public Employees' Retirement System.
(f) Subject to the
availability of funds appropriated therefor, the State Department of * * * Education shall administer
the implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the early care and education
grant program including the awards and the application process. The State
Department of Education, Office of Reading, Early Childhood and Language Arts,
in partnership with the Mississippi Department of Human Services, Office for
Children and Youth, shall develop educational criteria regarding research-based
curriculum, the state's early learning guidelines and developmentally
appropriate educational services. Funding shall be provided * * * for this program
beginning with the * * *
2013 fiscal year subject to appropriation by the Legislature as
provided in paragraph (g) of this subsection. The department shall make an
annual report to the Legislature and the Governor regarding the effectiveness
of the program.
(g) (i) The Legislature shall appropriate funds to implement the Early Education Collaborative Act of 2013 on a phased-in basis as follows: not less than Ten Million Dollars ($10,000,000) in fiscal year 2014, Twenty Million Dollars ($20,000,000) in fiscal year 2015, Thirty Million Dollars ($30,000,000) in fiscal year 2016 and Forty Million Dollars ($40,000,000) in fiscal year 2017.
(ii) In the 2013-2014 and the 2014-2015 school year, the State Department of Education shall give priority to making grants under the Early Learning Collaborative Act to school districts having a school with a "D" or "F" rating for the immediately preceding two (2) years, as certified by the Deputy Superintendent for Educational Accountability.
SECTION 2. Section 37-21-53, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
37-21-53. (1) The Early Childhood Services Interagency Coordinating Council is created to assist the State Department of Education with the implementation of the Early Learning Collaborative Act of 2013 and to ensure coordination among the various agencies and programs serving preschool children in order to support school district's efforts to achieve the goal of readiness to start school, to facilitate communication, cooperation and maximum use of resources and to promote high standards for all programs serving preschool children and their families in Mississippi.
(2) The membership of the Early Childhood Services Interagency Coordinating Council shall be as follows:
(a) The State Superintendent of Public Education;
(b) The Executive Director of the State Department of Health;
(c) The Executive Director of the Department of Human Services;
(d) The Executive Director of the State Department of Mental Health;
(e) The Executive Director of the Division of Medicaid, Office of the Governor;
(f) The Executive Director of the State Department of Rehabilitation Services;
(g) The Commissioner of Higher Education;
(h) The Executive Director of the State Board for Community and Junior Colleges; and
(i) The Executive Director of Mississippi Educational Television.
(3) The council shall meet upon call of the Governor before August 1, 2000, and shall organize for business by selecting a chairman, who shall serve for a one-year term and may be selected for subsequent terms. The council shall adopt internal organizational procedures necessary for efficient operation of the council. Council procedures must include duties of officers, a process for selecting officers, quorum requirements for conducting business and policies for any council staff. Each member of the council shall designate necessary staff of their departments to assist the council in performing its duties and responsibilities. The council shall meet and conduct business at least twice annually. Meetings of the council must be open to the public, and opportunity for public comment must be made available at each meeting. The chairman of the council shall notify all persons who request such notice as to the date, time and place of each meeting.
(4) The Early Childhood Services Interagency Coordinating Council shall perform each of the following duties:
(a) Advise and assist the State Department of Education and the Interagency Advisory Committee for Early Childhood Services in the implementation and awarding of grants under the Early Learning Collaborative Act of 2013;
( * * *b) Serve as interagency coordinating
council for the various agencies and public and private programs serving
preschool children and their families in the State of Mississippi;
( * * *c) Advise the State Board of Health,
State Board of Education, Department of Human Services, State Department of
Mental Health, Division of Medicaid, State Department of Rehabilitation
Services and any other appropriate agency of standards, rules, rule revisions,
agency guidelines and administration affecting child care facilities,
prekindergarten programs, family training programs and other programs and
services for preschool children and families;
( * * *d) Collect, compile and distribute
data relating to all programs and services for preschool children and families,
including, but not limited to, an inventory of the programs and services available
in each county of the state, and identify and make recommendations with regard
to program areas for which an unfulfilled need exists within the state for
accurate and accessible information;
( * * *e) Review and analyze spending
priorities for each state agency that utilizes state or federal funds in the
administration or provision of programs and services for preschool children and
make recommendations thereon to the Legislative Budget Committee and the
Governor;
( * * *f) Publish annually, before November
1, a comprehensive report on the status of all programs and services for
preschool children in Mississippi and distribute the report to the Governor,
the Legislature and local school districts and make the report available to the
general public, using the following criteria:
(i) Program name and location;
(ii) Dates of operation;
(iii) Services provided;
(iv) Target population and number served;
(v) Eligibility requirements;
(vi) Funding sources;
(vii) Amount of funding per unit;
(viii) Annual cost;
(ix) Evaluation type and results; and
(x) The state agency administering the program.
( * * *g) Receive and consider
recommendations of the Interagency Advisory Committee for Early Childhood
Services established in Section 37-21-55; and
( * * *h) Apply for, receive and administer
funds for administration, research, pilot, planning and evaluation of all
programs serving preschool children and their families.
(5) * * * [Deleted]
SECTION 3. Section 37-21-55, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
37-21-55. (1) The Interagency Advisory Committee for Early Childhood Services is created to develop and make recommendations to the State Department of Education regarding early care and education program grants under the Early Learning Collaborative Act of 2013 as provided in Section 37-21-51(1)(d), and to the Early Childhood Services Interagency Coordinating Council established under Section 37-21-53 as deemed necessary to implement the council's responsibilities relating to all programs serving preschool children and their families in Mississippi.
(2) The membership of the Interagency Advisory Committee for Early Childhood Services shall be as follows:
(a) The Chairmen of the Senate Education, Public Health and Welfare and Appropriations Committees, or their Senate designees, who shall serve on an ex officio nonvoting basis;
(b) The Chairmen of the House Education, Public Health and Welfare and Appropriations Committees, or their House designees, who shall serve on an ex officio nonvoting basis;
(c) A representative of the Governor;
(d) A representative of the State Department of Education;
(e) A representative of the State Department of Health;
(f) A representative of the Department of Human Services;
(g) A representative of the State Department of Mental Health;
(h) A representative of the State Department of Rehabilitation Services;
(i) The following representatives of the early childhood profession:
(i) The President of the Mississippi Head Start Association;
(ii) A representative from a regulated family child care home network appointed by the Governor;
(iii) A representative from a licensed child care center appointed by the President of the Senate;
(iv) A
representative from a public school prekindergarten program appointed by the * * * Governor;
(v) A representative from a private school prekindergarten program appointed by the Governor;
(vi) A
representative from a half-day church sponsored prekindergarten program
appointed by the * * * Governor;
(vii) A representative from a university or college early childhood program appointed by the President of the Senate;
(viii) A representative of a tribal early childhood program appointed by the Governor;
(ix) A representative of an early childhood professional organization appointed by the President of the Senate;
(x) A
representative of an advocacy organization appointed by the * * * Governor; and
(xi) A representative of a community or junior college early childhood program appointed by the Governor;
(j) A parent of a preschool-age child appointed by the Governor;
(k) A parent of a
preschool-age child with special needs appointed by the * * * Governor;
(l) A representative of the cooperative extension services appointed by the President of the Senate;
(m) A physician who is a member of the Mississippi Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, appointed by the Director of the University Medical Center;
(n) The Director of the Mississippi Public Education Forum, or his designee; and
(o) The Executive Director of the Mississippi Economic Council, or his designee.
To the extent possible, any representative of a state agency designated to serve on the Interagency Advisory Committee shall be the same individual designated to assist the Interagency Coordinating Council in performing its duties and responsibilities.
(3) The advisory committee
shall meet upon call of the * * *
State Superintendent of Education before August 1, * * * 2013, and the * * * State Superintendent of Education
shall appoint a chairman from among the membership of the advisory committee.
The chairman shall serve for a one-year term and may be reappointed for subsequent
terms. The advisory committee shall adopt internal organizational procedures
necessary for efficient operation of the advisory committee and may establish
subcommittees for conducting specific programs and activities. Advisory
committee procedures must include duties of officers, a process for selecting
officers, duties of subcommittees, quorum requirements for conducting business
and policies for any staff. The * * * State Superintendent of Education shall
designate necessary staff of * * * State Superintendent of
Education to assist the advisory committee in performing its duties and
responsibilities. The advisory committee shall meet and conduct business at least
quarterly. Quarterly meetings of the advisory committee shall be open to the
public, and opportunity for public comment must be made available at each
meeting. The staff of the advisory committee shall notify all persons who
request such notice as to the date, time and place of each meeting.
(4) The Interagency Advisory Committee for Early Childhood Services, in addition to responsibilities assigned by the Early Childhood Services Interagency Coordinating Council, shall perform each of the following duties:
(a) Develop criteria for the award of early care and education program grants under the Early Learning Collaborative Act of 2013 as specifically provided under Section 37-21-51(1)(d);
( * * *b) Assist in the implementation of the
study conducted by the Task Force on the Development and Implementation of
Comprehensive Early Childhood Services in Mississippi established under Laws,
1999, Chapter 584;
( * * *c) Identify services to children which
impact early childhood development and education;
( * * *d) Identify and recommend methods to
facilitate interagency coordination of service programs for preschool children;
( * * *e) Serve as a forum for information
exchange regarding recommendations and priorities in early childhood development
and education; and
( * * *f) Advise and make recommendations to
the Interagency Coordinating Council as deemed necessary to effectuate the
council's responsibilities.
SECTION 4. Section 37-7-301, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
37-7-301. The school boards of all school districts shall have the following powers, authority and duties in addition to all others imposed or granted by law, to wit:
(a) To organize and operate the schools of the district and to make such division between the high school grades and elementary grades as, in their judgment, will serve the best interests of the school;
(b) To introduce public school music, art, manual training and other special subjects into either the elementary or high school grades, as the board shall deem proper;
(c) To be the custodians of real and personal school property and to manage, control and care for same, both during the school term and during vacation;
(d) To have responsibility for the erection, repairing and equipping of school facilities and the making of necessary school improvements;
(e) To suspend or to expel a pupil or to change the placement of a pupil to the school district's alternative school or homebound program for misconduct in the school or on school property, as defined in Section 37-11-29, on the road to and from school, or at any school-related activity or event, or for conduct occurring on property other than school property or other than at a school-related activity or event when such conduct by a pupil, in the determination of the school superintendent or principal, renders that pupil's presence in the classroom a disruption to the educational environment of the school or a detriment to the best interest and welfare of the pupils and teacher of such class as a whole, and to delegate such authority to the appropriate officials of the school district;
(f) To visit schools in the district, in their discretion, in a body for the purpose of determining what can be done for the improvement of the school in a general way;
(g) To support, within reasonable limits, the superintendent, principal and teachers where necessary for the proper discipline of the school;
(h) To exclude from the schools students with what appears to be infectious or contagious diseases; provided, however, such student may be allowed to return to school upon presenting a certificate from a public health officer, duly licensed physician or nurse practitioner that the student is free from such disease;
(i) To require those vaccinations specified by the State Health Officer as provided in Section 41-23-37;
(j) To see that all necessary utilities and services are provided in the schools at all times when same are needed;
(k) To authorize the use of the school buildings and grounds for the holding of public meetings and gatherings of the people under such regulations as may be prescribed by said board;
(l) To prescribe and enforce rules and regulations not inconsistent with law or with the regulations of the State Board of Education for their own government and for the government of the schools, and to transact their business at regular and special meetings called and held in the manner provided by law;
(m) To maintain and operate all of the schools under their control for such length of time during the year as may be required;
(n) To enforce in the schools the courses of study and the use of the textbooks prescribed by the proper authorities;
(o) To make orders directed to the superintendent of schools for the issuance of pay certificates for lawful purposes on any available funds of the district and to have full control of the receipt, distribution, allotment and disbursement of all funds provided for the support and operation of the schools of such school district whether such funds be derived from state appropriations, local ad valorem tax collections, or otherwise. The local school board shall be authorized and empowered to promulgate rules and regulations that specify the types of claims and set limits of the dollar amount for payment of claims by the superintendent of schools to be ratified by the board at the next regularly scheduled meeting after payment has been made;
(p) To select all school district personnel in the manner provided by law, and to provide for such employee fringe benefit programs, including accident reimbursement plans, as may be deemed necessary and appropriate by the board;
(q) To provide athletic programs and other school activities and to regulate the establishment and operation of such programs and activities;
(r) To join, in their discretion, any association of school boards and other public school-related organizations, and to pay from local funds other than minimum foundation funds, any membership dues;
(s) To expend local school activity funds, or other available school district funds, other than minimum education program funds, for the purposes prescribed under this paragraph. "Activity funds" shall mean all funds received by school officials in all school districts paid or collected to participate in any school activity, such activity being part of the school program and partially financed with public funds or supplemented by public funds. The term "activity funds" shall not include any funds raised and/or expended by any organization unless commingled in a bank account with existing activity funds, regardless of whether the funds were raised by school employees or received by school employees during school hours or using school facilities, and regardless of whether a school employee exercises influence over the expenditure or disposition of such funds. Organizations shall not be required to make any payment to any school for the use of any school facility if, in the discretion of the local school governing board, the organization's function shall be deemed to be beneficial to the official or extracurricular programs of the school. For the purposes of this provision, the term "organization" shall not include any organization subject to the control of the local school governing board. Activity funds may only be expended for any necessary expenses or travel costs, including advances, incurred by students and their chaperons in attending any in-state or out-of-state school-related programs, conventions or seminars and/or any commodities, equipment, travel expenses, purchased services or school supplies which the local school governing board, in its discretion, shall deem beneficial to the official or extracurricular programs of the district, including items which may subsequently become the personal property of individuals, including yearbooks, athletic apparel, book covers and trophies. Activity funds may be used to pay travel expenses of school district personnel. The local school governing board shall be authorized and empowered to promulgate rules and regulations specifically designating for what purposes school activity funds may be expended. The local school governing board shall provide (i) that such school activity funds shall be maintained and expended by the principal of the school generating the funds in individual bank accounts, or (ii) that such school activity funds shall be maintained and expended by the superintendent of schools in a central depository approved by the board. The local school governing board shall provide that such school activity funds be audited as part of the annual audit required in Section 37-9-18. The State Department of Education shall prescribe a uniform system of accounting and financial reporting for all school activity fund transactions;
(t) To contract, on a shared savings, lease or lease-purchase basis, for energy efficiency services and/or equipment as provided for in Section 31-7-14, not to exceed ten (10) years;
(u) To maintain accounts and issue pay certificates on school food service bank accounts;
(v) (i) To lease a school building from an individual, partnership, nonprofit corporation or a private for-profit corporation for the use of such school district, and to expend funds therefor as may be available from any nonminimum program sources. The school board of the school district desiring to lease a school building shall declare by resolution that a need exists for a school building and that the school district cannot provide the necessary funds to pay the cost or its proportionate share of the cost of a school building required to meet the present needs. The resolution so adopted by the school board shall be published once each week for three (3) consecutive weeks in a newspaper having a general circulation in the school district involved, with the first publication thereof to be made not less than thirty (30) days prior to the date upon which the school board is to act on the question of leasing a school building. If no petition requesting an election is filed prior to such meeting as hereinafter provided, then the school board may, by resolution spread upon its minutes, proceed to lease a school building. If at any time prior to said meeting a petition signed by not less than twenty percent (20%) or fifteen hundred (1500), whichever is less, of the qualified electors of the school district involved shall be filed with the school board requesting that an election be called on the question, then the school board shall, not later than the next regular meeting, adopt a resolution calling an election to be held within such school district upon the question of authorizing the school board to lease a school building. Such election shall be called and held, and notice thereof shall be given, in the same manner for elections upon the questions of the issuance of the bonds of school districts, and the results thereof shall be certified to the school board. If at least three-fifths (3/5) of the qualified electors of the school district who voted in such election shall vote in favor of the leasing of a school building, then the school board shall proceed to lease a school building. The term of the lease contract shall not exceed twenty (20) years, and the total cost of such lease shall be either the amount of the lowest and best bid accepted by the school board after advertisement for bids or an amount not to exceed the current fair market value of the lease as determined by the averaging of at least two (2) appraisals by certified general appraisers licensed by the State of Mississippi. The term "school building" as used in this paragraph (v)(i) shall be construed to mean any building or buildings used for classroom purposes in connection with the operation of schools and shall include the site therefor, necessary support facilities, and the equipment thereof and appurtenances thereto such as heating facilities, water supply, sewage disposal, landscaping, walks, drives and playgrounds. The term "lease" as used in this paragraph (v)(i) may include a lease/purchase contract;
(ii) If two (2) or more school districts propose to enter into a lease contract jointly, then joint meetings of the school boards having control may be held but no action taken shall be binding on any such school district unless the question of leasing a school building is approved in each participating school district under the procedure hereinabove set forth in paragraph (v)(i). All of the provisions of paragraph (v)(i) regarding the term and amount of the lease contract shall apply to the school boards of school districts acting jointly. Any lease contract executed by two (2) or more school districts as joint lessees shall set out the amount of the aggregate lease rental to be paid by each, which may be agreed upon, but there shall be no right of occupancy by any lessee unless the aggregate rental is paid as stipulated in the lease contract. All rights of joint lessees under the lease contract shall be in proportion to the amount of lease rental paid by each;
(w) To employ all noninstructional and noncertificated employees and fix the duties and compensation of such personnel deemed necessary pursuant to the recommendation of the superintendent of schools;
(x) To employ and fix the duties and compensation of such legal counsel as deemed necessary;
(y) Subject to rules and regulations of the State Board of Education, to purchase, own and operate trucks, vans and other motor vehicles, which shall bear the proper identification required by law;
(z) To expend funds for the payment of substitute teachers and to adopt reasonable regulations for the employment and compensation of such substitute teachers;
(aa) To acquire in its own name by purchase all real property which shall be necessary and desirable in connection with the construction, renovation or improvement of any public school building or structure. Whenever the purchase price for such real property is greater than Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000.00), the school board shall not purchase the property for an amount exceeding the fair market value of such property as determined by the average of at least two (2) independent appraisals by certified general appraisers licensed by the State of Mississippi. If the board shall be unable to agree with the owner of any such real property in connection with any such project, the board shall have the power and authority to acquire any such real property by condemnation proceedings pursuant to Section 11-27-1 et seq., Mississippi Code of 1972, and for such purpose, the right of eminent domain is hereby conferred upon and vested in said board. Provided further, that the local school board is authorized to grant an easement for ingress and egress over sixteenth section land or lieu land in exchange for a similar easement upon adjoining land where the exchange of easements affords substantial benefit to the sixteenth section land; provided, however, the exchange must be based upon values as determined by a competent appraiser, with any differential in value to be adjusted by cash payment. Any easement rights granted over sixteenth section land under such authority shall terminate when the easement ceases to be used for its stated purpose. No sixteenth section or lieu land which is subject to an existing lease shall be burdened by any such easement except by consent of the lessee or unless the school district shall acquire the unexpired leasehold interest affected by the easement;
(bb) To charge reasonable fees related to the educational programs of the district, in the manner prescribed in Section 37-7-335;
(cc) Subject to rules and regulations of the State Board of Education, to purchase relocatable classrooms for the use of such school district, in the manner prescribed in Section 37-1-13;
(dd) Enter into contracts or agreements with other school districts, political subdivisions or governmental entities to carry out one or more of the powers or duties of the school board, or to allow more efficient utilization of limited resources for providing services to the public;
(ee) To provide for in-service training for employees of the district;
(ff) As part of their duties to prescribe the use of textbooks, to provide that parents and legal guardians shall be responsible for the textbooks and for the compensation to the school district for any books which are not returned to the proper schools upon the withdrawal of their dependent child. If a textbook is lost or not returned by any student who drops out of the public school district, the parent or legal guardian shall also compensate the school district for the fair market value of the textbooks;
(gg) To conduct fund-raising activities on behalf of the school district that the local school board, in its discretion, deems appropriate or beneficial to the official or extracurricular programs of the district; provided that:
(i) Any proceeds of the fund-raising activities shall be treated as "activity funds" and shall be accounted for as are other activity funds under this section; and
(ii) Fund-raising activities conducted or authorized by the board for the sale of school pictures, the rental of caps and gowns or the sale of graduation invitations for which the school board receives a commission, rebate or fee shall contain a disclosure statement advising that a portion of the proceeds of the sales or rentals shall be contributed to the student activity fund;
(hh) To allow individual lessons for music, art and other curriculum-related activities for academic credit or nonacademic credit during school hours and using school equipment and facilities, subject to uniform rules and regulations adopted by the school board;
(ii) To charge reasonable fees for participating in an extracurricular activity for academic or nonacademic credit for necessary and required equipment such as safety equipment, band instruments and uniforms;
(jj) To conduct or participate in any fund-raising activities on behalf of or in connection with a tax-exempt charitable organization;
(kk) To exercise such powers as may be reasonably necessary to carry out the provisions of this section;
(ll) To expend funds for the services of nonprofit arts organizations or other such nonprofit organizations who provide performances or other services for the students of the school district;
(mm) To expend federal No Child Left Behind Act funds, or any other available funds that are expressly designated and authorized for that use, to pay training, educational expenses, salary incentives and salary supplements to employees of local school districts; except that incentives shall not be considered part of the local supplement as defined in Section 37-151-5(o), nor shall incentives be considered part of the local supplement paid to an individual teacher for the purposes of Section 37-19-7(1). Mississippi Adequate Education Program funds or any other state funds may not be used for salary incentives or salary supplements as provided in this paragraph (mm);
(nn) To use any available funds, not appropriated or designated for any other purpose, for reimbursement to the state-licensed employees from both in state and out of state, who enter into a contract for employment in a school district, for the expense of moving when the employment necessitates the relocation of the licensed employee to a different geographical area than that in which the licensed employee resides before entering into the contract. The reimbursement shall not exceed One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) for the documented actual expenses incurred in the course of relocating, including the expense of any professional moving company or persons employed to assist with the move, rented moving vehicles or equipment, mileage in the amount authorized for county and municipal employees under Section 25-3-41 if the licensed employee used his personal vehicle or vehicles for the move, meals and such other expenses associated with the relocation. No licensed employee may be reimbursed for moving expenses under this section on more than one (1) occasion by the same school district. Nothing in this section shall be construed to require the actual residence to which the licensed employee relocates to be within the boundaries of the school district that has executed a contract for employment in order for the licensed employee to be eligible for reimbursement for the moving expenses. However, the licensed employee must relocate within the boundaries of the State of Mississippi. Any individual receiving relocation assistance through the Critical Teacher Shortage Act as provided in Section 37-159-5 shall not be eligible to receive additional relocation funds as authorized in this paragraph;
(oo) To use any available funds, not appropriated or designated for any other purpose, to reimburse persons who interview for employment as a licensed employee with the district for the mileage and other actual expenses incurred in the course of travel to and from the interview at the rate authorized for county and municipal employees under Section 25-3-41;
(pp) Consistent with the report of the Task Force to Conduct a Best Financial Management Practices Review, to improve school district management and use of resources and identify cost savings as established in Section 8 of Chapter 610, Laws of 2002, local school boards are encouraged to conduct independent reviews of the management and efficiency of schools and school districts. Such management and efficiency reviews shall provide state and local officials and the public with the following:
(i) An assessment of a school district's governance and organizational structure;
(ii) An assessment of the school district's financial and personnel management;
(iii) An assessment of revenue levels and sources;
(iv) An assessment of facilities utilization, planning and maintenance;
(v) An assessment of food services, transportation and safety/security systems;
(vi) An assessment of instructional and administrative technology;
(vii) A review of the instructional management and the efficiency and effectiveness of existing instructional programs; and
(viii) Recommended methods for increasing efficiency and effectiveness in providing educational services to the public;
(qq) To enter into agreements with other local school boards for the establishment of an educational service agency (ESA) to provide for the cooperative needs of the region in which the school district is located, as provided in Section 37-7-345;
(rr) To implement a financial literacy program for students in Grades 10 and 11. The board may review the national programs and obtain free literature from various nationally recognized programs. After review of the different programs, the board may certify a program that is most appropriate for the school districts' needs. If a district implements a financial literacy program, then any student in Grade 10 or 11 may participate in the program. The financial literacy program shall include, but is not limited to, instruction in the same areas of personal business and finance as required under Section 37-1-3(2)(b). The school board may coordinate with volunteer teachers from local community organizations, including, but not limited to, the following: United States Department of Agriculture Rural Development, United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, Junior Achievement, bankers and other nonprofit organizations. Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed as to require school boards to implement a financial literacy program;
(ss) To collaborate with the State Board of Education, Community Action Agencies or the Department of Human Services to develop and implement a voluntary program to provide services for a prekindergarten program that addresses the cognitive, social, and emotional needs of four-year-old and three-year-old children. The school board may utilize any source of available revenue to fund the voluntary program. Effective with the 2013-2014 school year, to implement voluntary prekindergarten programs under the Early Learning Collaborative Act of 2013 pursuant to grants awarded by the State Department of Education on a matching basis. First priority for the implementation of such prekindergarten program grants shall require local school boards to implement a full-day prekindergarten program if the school district has a "D" or "F" for the preceding two (2) consecutive years, and shall utilize state source funds, subject to appropriation therefor, to fund the program;
(tt) With respect to any lawful, written obligation of a school district, including, but not limited to, leases (excluding leases of sixteenth section public school trust land), bonds, notes, or other agreement, to agree in writing with the obligee that the Department of Revenue or any state agency, department or commission created under state law may:
(i) Withhold all or any part (as agreed by the school board) of any monies which such local school board is entitled to receive from time to time under any law and which is in the possession of the Department of Revenue, or any state agency, department or commission created under state law; and
(ii) Pay the same over to any financial institution, trustee or other obligee, as directed in writing by the school board, to satisfy all or part of such obligation of the school district.
The school board may make such written agreement to withhold and transfer funds irrevocable for the term of the written obligation and may include in the written agreement any other terms and provisions acceptable to the school board. If the school board files a copy of such written agreement with the Department of Revenue, or any state agency, department or commission created under state law then the Department of Revenue or any state agency, department or commission created under state law shall immediately make the withholdings provided in such agreement from the amounts due the local school board and shall continue to pay the same over to such financial institution, trustee or obligee for the term of the agreement.
This paragraph (tt) shall not grant any extra authority to a school board to issue debt in any amount exceeding statutory limitations on assessed value of taxable property within such school district or the statutory limitations on debt maturities, and shall not grant any extra authority to impose, levy or collect a tax which is not otherwise expressly provided for, and shall not be construed to apply to sixteenth section public school trust land;
(uu) With respect to any matter or transaction that is competitively bid by a school district, to accept from any bidder as a good-faith deposit or bid bond or bid surety, the same type of good-faith deposit or bid bond or bid surety that may be accepted by the state or any other political subdivision on similar competitively bid matters or transactions. This paragraph (uu) shall not be construed to apply to sixteenth section public school trust land. The school board may authorize the investment of any school district funds in the same kind and manner of investments, including pooled investments, as any other political subdivision, including community hospitals;
(vv) To utilize the alternate method for the conveyance or exchange of unused school buildings and/or land, reserving a partial or other undivided interest in the property, as specifically authorized and provided in Section 37-7-485, Mississippi Code of 1972;
(ww) To delegate, privatize or otherwise enter into a contract with private entities for the operation of any and all functions of nonacademic school process, procedures and operations including, but not limited to, cafeteria workers, janitorial services, transportation, professional development, achievement and instructional consulting services materials and products, purchasing cooperatives, insurance, business manager services, auditing and accounting services, school safety/risk prevention, data processing and student records, and other staff services; however, the authority under this paragraph does not apply to the leasing, management or operation of sixteenth section lands. Local school districts, working through their regional education service agency, are encouraged to enter into buying consortia with other member districts for the purposes of more efficient use of state resources as described in Section 37-7-345;
(xx) To partner with entities, organizations and corporations for the purpose of benefiting the school district;
(yy) To borrow funds from the Rural Economic Development Authority for the maintenance of school buildings;
(zz)
To fund and operate voluntary early childhood education programs, defined as
programs for children less than five (5) years of age on or before September 1,
and to use any source of revenue for such early childhood education programs.
Such programs shall not conflict with the Early Learning Collaborative Act of * * * 2013;
(aaa) To issue and provide for the use of procurement cards by school board members, superintendents and licensed school personnel consistent with the rules and regulations of the Mississippi Department of Finance and Administration under Section 31-7-9; and
(bbb) To conduct an annual comprehensive evaluation of the superintendent of schools consistent with the assessment components of paragraph (pp) of this section and the assessment benchmarks established by the Mississippi School Board Association to evaluate the success the superintendent has attained in meeting district goals and objectives, the superintendent's leadership skill and whether or not the superintendent has established appropriate standards for performance, is monitoring success and is using data for improvement.
SECTION 5. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2013.
