Report Title:

School Community Councils; Elections

Description:

Requires the Superintendant of Education, under policies established by the Board of Education, to conduct all elections for school community councils.

THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	1618
TWENTY-FIFTH LEGISLATURE, 2009
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

Relating to school community councils.

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

     SECTION 1.  Section 302A-1124, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended as follows:

     1.   By amending subsection (a) to read:

     (a)  The department, through the board and its superintendent, shall establish a school community council system under which each public school, excluding charter schools, shall create and maintain a school community council[.]; provided that the office of the superintendent of education, under policies established by the board, shall regulate and conduct the election of members to a school community council under subsection (e); provided further that each council's school shall provide any assistance necessary to conduct the elections in an efficient and effective manner.  Each school community council shall:

     (1)  Review and evaluate the school's academic plan and financial plan, and either recommend revisions of the plans to the principal, or recommend the plans for approval by the complex area superintendent;

     (2)  Ensure that the school's academic and financial plans are consistent with the educational accountability system under section 302A-1004;

     (3)  Participate in principal selection and evaluation, and transmit any such evaluations to the complex area superintendent; and

     (4)  Provide collaborative opportunities for input and consultation."

     2.   By amending subsection (e) to read:

     "(e)  Unless otherwise specified, each school community council shall establish policies governing the council's composition, [election,] staggered terms of office for members, operation, and vacancies; provided that:

     (1)  The number of school personnel [[]on[]] any school community council shall be equal to the number of primary stakeholders on the school community council;

     (2)  At the elementary and middle school levels, each school community council shall be composed of the principal and at least one member representing each of the following groups:

         (A)  Parents elected by ballots distributed among and collected from the parents of the school’s students;

         (B)  Teachers elected by ballots distributed among and collected from teachers of the school;

         (C)  Noncertificated school personnel elected by ballots distributed among and collected from noncertificated personnel of the school;

         (D)  Community representatives elected by ballots distributed among and collected from parents of the school's students; and

         (E)  Student representatives selected by the student council of the school; [and]

and

     (3)  At the high school level, each school community council shall be composed of the principal and at least one member representing each of the following groups:

         (A)  Parents elected by ballots distributed among and collected from parents of the school’s students;

         (B)  Teachers elected by ballots distributed among and collected from teachers of the school;

         (C)  Noncertificated school personnel elected by ballots distributed among and collected from noncertificated personnel of the school;

         (D)  Community representatives elected by ballots distributed among and collected from the parents of the school's students; and

         (E)  Student representatives selected by the student council of the school.

     For the purposes of this subsection, "primary stakeholders" means students, parents, and community members."

     SECTION 2.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 3.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

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