HB 659 -- TRANSITION OF SCHOOL GOVERNANCE

SPONSOR:  Dusenberg

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass by consent" by the Committee on
Elementary and Secondary Education by a vote of 10 to 0.

This bill allows the State Board of Education to appoint
additional members to any special administrative board appointed
under Section 162.081, RSMo, regarding lapsed school districts.
The state board may set a final term with an end date of June 30
for any member whose successor will be elected by the district's
voters on the municipal election day immediately prior to the
expiration of the final term of office.  Otherwise qualified
special board members are allowed to run for an elected seat on
the board.  If the state board replaces the chair of the special
board, the members of the special board are authorized to appoint
and sign a contract for a superintendent of schools.  The state
board may also set a date for the school district to return to
local governance and continue operation as a district as
authorized by law.

FISCAL NOTE:  No impact on state funds in FY 2010, FY 2011, and
FY 2012.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that the current law does not provide
much direction on how a lapsed school district can transition
from state control.  The bill offers the Department of Elementary
and Secondary Education more flexibility in returning districts
to local control.

Testifying for the bill were Representative Dusenberg; and
Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

OPPONENTS:  There was no opposition voiced to the committee.

Missouri House of Representatives
95th General Assembly, 1st Regular Session
Last Updated November 17, 2009 at 9:25 am