Bill Text: HI SB1487 | 2011 | Regular Session | Amended

Hawaii Senate Bill 1487 (Prior Session Legislation)

Bill Title: Education; School Closures

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 4-0)

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2011-03-24 - (H) Passed Second Reading and referred to the committee(s) on FIN with none voting no (0) and Har, Riviere, Wooley excused (3). [SB1487 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2011-SB1487-Amended.html

THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	1487
TWENTY-SIXTH LEGISLATURE, 2011		S.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO EDUCATION.

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

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that Seattle public schools have undergone school closings and consolidations starting in October 2008, with the goal of cutting costs. The Seattle public school districts experienced a revenue shortfall of at least $24,000,000 for the 2009-2010 school year, and it feared the amount would be higher given the state and national economic climate. In addition, all Seattle school districts faced increased expenses related to fuel, electricity, and food. Seattle found that the issue of public school closures and consolidations had been subject to the political will of the various local boards.

It is the intent of the legislature to move away from subjective judgment and toward better utilization of public school facilities within communities and school complexes. The legislature encourages schools and communities to consider multi- and income-producing uses for their facilities, the consolidation of administration and other non-teaching staff, and program sharing within a complex to provide a reduction in costs and greater efficiency.

The purpose of this Act is to establish an orderly and objective process for the closing and consolidation of public schools, while allowing schools that are subject to closure or consolidation to present a plan to the department of education demonstrating ways to increase enrollment, raise additional revenue, or make additional cost reductions to avoid closure or consolidation.

SECTION 2. Section 302A-1129, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

"[[]§302A-1129[]] Schools; opening and closing[.]; consolidation. (a) The [~~board~~] department may open new schools or close or consolidate existing schools.

(b) The department shall close or consolidate schools according to applicable administrative rules adopted pursuant to chapter 91.

(c) Should the department decide to close or consolidate any school pursuant to subsection (b), it shall provide notice to the affected school. The affected school and its school community council shall propose a plan, along with the notification of closure and consolidation, for the affected school to avoid closure or consolidation. The plan shall include target goals to increase enrollment, raise additional revenue, or make additional cost reductions from administrative complex consolidations. The affected school shall have a period of not more than one year to come into compliance with the plan and avoid closure or consolidation; provided that if a school achieves per cent of its target goal within one year, that school shall be allowed to remain open for twelve months on a probationary status.

(d) In determining whether to close or consolidate schools, the department shall strongly consider the effects of the closure, or consolidation on geographically isolated schools, including the availability of suitable alternative schools for displaced students and teachers.

(e) For the purposes of this section, "consolidation" means the closing of one or more existing schools and the transfer of all the students at the closed school to another school. It shall not mean the transfer of one or more grade levels to another school."

SECTION 3. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed

and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2050.

Report Title:

Education; School Closures

Description:

Authorizes the department of education to close or consolidate existing schools in conformance with applicable administrative rules adopted pursuant to chapter 91, HRS. Requires the department of education to give notice to affected schools of closure or consolidation; provided that an affected school may remain open if it meets certain requirements within one year of the notice of closure or consolidation. Effective 7/1/2050. (SD1)

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.