AN ACT Relating to schools; amending RCW 28A.58.040 and 28A.58.045; and adding a new section to chapter 28A.58 RCW.

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

Sec. 1. Section 28A.58.040, chapter 223, Laws of 1969 ex. sess. as last amended by section 3, chapter 306, Laws of 1981 and RCW 28A.58.040 are each amended to read as follows:

The board of directors of each school district shall have exclusive control of all school property, real or personal, belonging to the district; said board shall have power, subject to RCW 28A.58.045, as now or hereafter amended, in the name of the district, to convey by deed all the interest of their district in or to any real property of the district which is no longer required for school purposes. Except as otherwise specially provided by law, by section 3 of this 1985 act, and RCW 28A.58.045, as now or hereafter amended, the board of directors of each school district may purchase, lease, receive and hold real and personal property in the name of the district, and rent, lease or sell the same, and all conveyances of real estate made to the district shall vest title in the district.

Sec. 2. Section 28A.58.045, chapter 223, Laws of 1969 ex. sess. as last amended by section 1, chapter 103, Laws of 1984 and RCW 28A.58.045 are each amended to read as follows:

(1) The board of directors of any school district of this state may:

(a) Sell for cash, at public or private sale, and convey by deed all interest of the district in or to any of the real property of the district which is no longer required for school purposes; and

(b) Purchase real property, except as provided in section 3 of this 1985 act, for the purpose of locating thereon and affixing thereto any house or houses and appurtenant buildings removed from school sites owned by the district and sell for cash, at public or private sale, and convey by deed all interest of the district in or to such acquired and improved real property.

(2) When the board of directors of any school district proposes a sale of school district real property pursuant to this section and the value of the property exceeds seventy thousand dollars, the board shall publish a notice of its intention to sell the property. The notice shall be published at least once each week during two consecutive weeks in a legal newspaper with a general circulation in the area in which the school district is located. The notice shall describe the property to be sold and designate the place where and the day and hour when a hearing will be held. The board shall hold a public hearing upon the proposal to dispose of the school district property at the place and the day and hour fixed in the notice and admit evidence offered for and against the propriety and advisability of the proposed sale.

(3) The board of directors of any school district desiring to sell surplus real property shall send written notice of that intent to the office of the state superintendent of public instruction. School districts shall not sell the property for at least forty-five days following the date notification is mailed to the state superintendent of public instruction.

(4) Private schools shall have the same rights as any other person or entity to submit bids for the purchase of surplus real property and to have such bids considered along with all other bids.

(5) Any sale of school district real property authorized pursuant to this section shall be preceded by a market value appraisal by three licensed real estate brokers or professionally designated real estate appraisers as defined in RCW 74.46.020 selected by the board of directors and no sale shall take place if the sale price would be less than ninety percent of the average of the three appraisals made by the brokers or professionally designated real estate appraisers: PROVIDED, That if the property has been on the market for one year or more the property may be reappraised and sold for not less than seventy-five percent of the average reappraised value with the unanimous consent of the board.

(6) If in the judgment of the board of directors of any district the sale of real property of the district not needed for school purposes would be facilitated and greater value realized through use of the services of licensed real estate brokers, a contract for such services may be negotiated and concluded: PROVIDED, That the use of a licensed real estate broker will not eliminate the obligation of the board of directors to provide the notice described in this section: PROVIDED FURTHER, That the fee or commissions charged for any broker services shall not exceed seven percent of the resulting sale value for a single parcel: PROVIDED FURTHER, That any licensed real estate broker or professionally designated real estate appraisers as defined in RCW 74.46.020 selected by the board to appraise the market value of a parcel of property to be sold may not be a party to any contract with the school district to sell such parcel of property for a period of three years after the appraisal.

(7) If in the judgment of the board of directors of any district the sale of real property of the district not needed for school purposes would be facilitated and greater value realized through sale on contract terms, a real estate sales contract may be executed between the district and buyer: PROVIDED, That the terms and conditions of any such sales contract must comply with rules and regulations of the state board of education, herein authorized, governing school district real property contract sales.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. A new section is added to chapter 28A.58 RCW to read as follows:

No local school district with an enrollment of less than twenty students shall acquire real property unless the superintendent of public instruction approves the acquisition after finding that such real property is essential for meeting state basic education responsibilities. A minimum of a ninety-day public review and comment period is required following public notification of intent to acquire property. In no event shall state funds be used for any part of an acquisition in excess of fifty thousand dollars for a single parcel or combination of more than one parcel in any calendar or school year.