Washington State

House of Representatives

Office of Program Research

BILL

ANALYSIS

Education Committee

HB 1497

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

Brief Description: Concerning appointments of the board of directors of a school district of the first class having within its boundaries a city with a population of four hundred thousand people or more.

Brief Summary of Bill

Requires, in school districts of the first class having within its boundaries a city with a population of 400,000 people, the appointment of two board of director members and the election of five directors.

Background:

A first class school district is one that has an enrollment in its public schools of 2,000 students or more. All other school districts are second class districts. By statute, first and second class school districts must have a board of directors of five members, all of whom are elected. However, a first class school district having within its boundaries a city with a population of 400,000 people or more (Seattle School District) must have a board of directors of seven members, all of whom are elected.

The term of office for board of director members in Seattle School District is four years and the elections are staggered so that three members are elected in one biennium and four in the following biennium.

The elections for Seattle School District board members are district-based for the primary and at-large for the general election.

Summary of Bill:

The Seattle School District must redraw its boundaries, consistent with the requirements for redistricting, to encompass five director districts. The new districts must be submitted to the county auditor no later than January 15, 2017.

Effective January 1, 2017, the Seattle School District shall consist of five elected board of director members and two members appointed by the mayor of Seattle. Such appointments and elections may not affect the term of office of any incumbent director.

One member shall be appointed effective January 1, 2017, and one member shall be appointed effective January 1, 2019. The five elected members of the new districts shall take office at the end of the terms of the current board members as follows: two members elected in 2017 and the remaining three members elected in 2019.