STATE OF NEW YORK
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7914
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
May 28, 2019
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Introduced by M. of A. MAGNARELLI -- read once and referred to the
Committee on Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to establishing the Syra-
cuse city school district regional STEAM high school to provide
instruction to students in the Onondaga, Cortland and Madison county
BOCES and the central New York region in the areas of science, tech-
nology, engineering, arts and mathematics (STEAM) areas
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-
bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Legislative intent. The purpose of this act is to establish
2 the Syracuse city school district regional STEAM high school. The STEAM
3 high school shall provide a high school course of instruction for grades
4 nine through twelve, dedicated to providing expanded learning opportu-
5 nities to students residing in the Onondaga, Cortland and Madison county
6 board of cooperative educational services region and central New York,
7 in the areas of science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics
8 as well as the core academic areas required for the issuance of high
9 school diplomas in accordance with the rules and regulations promulgated
10 by the board of regents. The legislature hereby finds and declares that
11 the establishment of the STEAM high school is a necessary component to
12 the development of the greater central New York region of New York state
13 and a necessary link to fostering the development and advancement of the
14 arts and emerging technologies. This school will advance the interests
15 of the central New York region and New York state by engaging students
16 in rigorous and enriching educational experiences focused on the arts
17 and emerging technologies, project-based learning and collaboration and
18 by providing that experience within the context of a business and learn-
19 ing community for the purpose of directly connecting student learning
20 with real world experience in the arts and advanced technical facili-
21 ties. It is expressly found that the establishment and operation of such
22 school pursuant to this act is a public purpose.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD11786-02-9
A. 7914 2
1 § 2. Establishment of Syracuse city school district regional STEAM
2 high school.
3 1. A regional science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics
4 ("STEAM") high school may be established by the board of education of
5 the Syracuse city school district pursuant to this section for students
6 in grades nine through twelve, and shall be subject to the approval of
7 the commissioner of education.
8 2. The board of education of the Syracuse city school district shall
9 submit to the commissioner of education a proposed plan for the opera-
10 tion of such school for his or her approval.
11 3. Such school shall be governed by the board of education of the
12 Syracuse city school district.
13 4. The board of education of the Syracuse city school district shall
14 have the responsibility for the operation, supervision and maintenance
15 of the school and shall be responsible for the administration of the
16 school, including curriculum, grading and staffing.
17 5. The board of education of the Syracuse city school district shall
18 be authorized to enter into contracts as necessary or convenient to
19 operate such school.
20 6. Students attending such school shall continue to be enrolled in
21 their school district of residence. The Syracuse city school district
22 shall be responsible for the issuance of a high school diploma to
23 students who attended the school based on such students' successful
24 completion of the school's educational program.
25 7. For purposes of all state aid calculations made pursuant to the
26 education law, students attending such school shall continue to be
27 treated and counted as students of their school district of residence.
28 8. The resident public school district shall be obligated to provide
29 transportation, without regard to any mileage limitations, provided
30 however, that no mileage limitations shall be applied to the transporta-
31 tion costs associated with the transportation of students to and from
32 the STEAM high school.
33 9. It shall be the duty of the student's district of residence to make
34 payments as calculated in this act directly to the school for each
35 student enrolled in the school. Notwithstanding any other provision of
36 law to the contrary, the board of education of the Syracuse city school
37 district shall annually adopt a methodology for the calculation of per
38 pupil tuition costs. Such methodology shall be subject to annual review
39 and approval by the commissioner of education. No costs shall be appor-
40 tioned to school districts that elect not to participate in such school.
41 10. The trustees or the board of education of a school district may
42 enter into a memorandum of understanding with the board of education of
43 the Syracuse city school district to participate in such school program
44 for a period not to exceed five years upon such terms as such trustees
45 or board of education and the board of education of the Syracuse city
46 school district may mutually agree.
47 11. Any student eligible for enrollment in grades nine through twelve
48 of a public school entering into a memorandum of understanding with the
49 board of education of the Syracuse city school district to enroll
50 students in the STEAM high school shall be eligible for admission to the
51 STEAM high school. To the extent that the number of qualified applicants
52 may exceed the number of available spaces, the school shall grant admis-
53 sion on a random selection basis, provided that an enrollment preference
54 shall be provided to pupils returning to the school in the second or any
55 subsequent year. The school shall determine the tentative enrollment
56 roster, notify the parents, or those in parental relations to those
A. 7914 3
1 students, and the resident school district by April first of the school
2 year preceding the school year for which the admission is granted.
3 12. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, the
4 Syracuse city school district is authorized to transfer ownership of the
5 Syracuse city school district regional STEAM high school facility to the
6 county of Onondaga and the county of Onondaga is authorized to assume
7 such ownership and to enter into a lease for such facility with the
8 Syracuse city school district. The county of Onondaga may contract for
9 indebtedness to renovate such facility and any related financing shall
10 be deemed a county purpose.
11 § 3. Paragraph a of subdivision 6 of section 3602 of the education law
12 is amended by adding a new subparagraph 8 to read as follows:
13 (8) Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, for
14 the purpose of computation of building aid for the renovation and equip-
15 ping of a regional STEAM high school authorized for operation by the
16 Syracuse city school district the building aid units assigned to this
17 project shall reflect a building aid enrollment of one thousand students
18 and multi-year cost allowances for the project shall be established and
19 utilized two times in the first five-year period. Subsequent multi-year
20 cost allowances shall be established no sooner than ten years after
21 establishment of the first maximum cost allowance authorized pursuant to
22 this subparagraph.
23 § 4. This act shall take effect immediately.