THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

1487

TWENTY-SIXTH LEGISLATURE, 2011

 

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 theretofore been subject to the political will of the various local boards.

     Rather than relying on essentially arbitrary decisions on school closures, it is the intent of the legislature to move away from a subjective judgment and towards better utilization of public school facilities within communities and school complexes.

     The purpose of this Act is to establish an orderly and objective process for the closing and consolidation of public schools.

     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 existing schools.

     (b)  The department shall adopt by administrative rule, specific criteria that establishes thresholds of levels of student population in every public school to determine the population at any particular school that makes it cost prohibitive to continue that school.  The department shall report to the legislature the threshold levels and any amendments to those levels.

     (c)  The department shall notify the affected schools of the board's determination of closure and consolidation pursuant to subsection (b).  The affected school and its school community council shall propose a plan, along with the notification of closure and consolidation, for each affected school to avoid closure.  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 two years to come into compliance and avoid closure; provided that if a school achieves       per cent of its target goal within the two years, that school shall be allowed to remain open for twelve months on a probationary status.

     (d)  In determining criteria to establish thresholds for the closure of schools, the department shall strongly consider the effects of the closure on geographically isolated schools, including the availability of suitable alternative schools to which the students and teachers who would be displaced under those circumstances.

     (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 upon its approval.

 

INTRODUCED BY:

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Report Title:

Education; School Closures

 

Description:

Requires the department of education to close and consolidate certain schools within two years of notification; provided that a school may remain open if it meets certain requirements.

 

 

 

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