School Directors.
The board of directors of each school district is its governing body. Boards of directors have broad discretionary power to provide for the development and implementation of programs, activities, services, or practices that the board determines will promote: the education and daily physical activity of public school students; and the effective, efficient, or safe management and operation of the school district. With the exception of Seattle Public Schools, all boards of directors consist of five members.
School director compensation rates and limits are prescribed in statute. School directors may receive $50 for each full or partial day attending board meetings and performing other services on behalf of the school district, and the compensation each director may receive in a year may not exceed $4,800. Authorizations for the compensation must be made by a board resolution at a regularly scheduled public meeting, and funds for the compensation may come only from locally collected excess levy funds. Additionally, school directors may waive all or any portion of their compensation through a written notice filed with the district.
School directors are also eligible for expense reimbursements. As provided in statute, the actual expenses of school directors going to, returning from, and attending directors' meetings or other meetings must be paid by the school district.
Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction.
In addition to its constitutional charge of supervising all matters pertaining to public schools, the Superintendent of Public Instruction and its office has numerous and broad responsibilities prescribed in statute, including:
Department of Commerce.
The Department of Commerce (Commerce) is charged with numerous duties and responsibilities, many of which are related to community and economic development. Commerce administers a diverse portfolio of more than 100 programs and several boards and commissions.
Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction.
Beginning with the 2022-23 school year, the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI), subject to the availability of specific legislative appropriations, must annually distribute funds to each school district in an amount equaling $3,000 per year for each member of its board of directors. The OSPI is directed to adopt rules for the distribution of the funds and the funds may only be used for school director compensation.
School Directors.
The maximum daily compensation that school directors may receive is increased from $50 to $100, and the annual compensation limit is increased from $4,800 to $7,800. School directors are also specifically authorized to receive reimbursement for childcare costs associated with attending meetings.
Provisions specifying that school director compensation may be authorized only from locally collected excess levy funds, and that compensation authorized by school directors does not cause the state to incur any present or future funding obligation, are repealed. Requirements mandating that authorizations for school director compensation be made by a board of directors' resolution at a regularly scheduled public meeting are modified to specify that compensation provided to a director that is in excess of $3,000 per year must be authorized by the board of directors at a regularly scheduled meeting.
The Department of Commerce.
Commerce is directed to examine actual and potential school director compensation, including salaries, per diem rates, expense reimbursements, and health care benefits for the purpose of determining what changes in statute or practice, if any, would be necessary to align provisions governing school director compensation with those for other elected officials with comparable duties and responsibilities.
The examination, at a minimum, must address:
In completing the examination, Commerce must consult with interested parties, including the OSPI, the Washington State School Directors' Association, the Washington Association of School Administrators, and educational service districts.
Commerce must report its findings and recommendations to the Governor, the Superintendent of Public Instruction, and the committees of the Legislature with jurisdiction over fiscal matters and kindergarten through grade 12 education by November 18, 2022.
The substitute bill makes the following changes to the original bill:
(In support) Workloads for school directors have skyrocketed, but the statutory compensation rates have not changed in decades. This bill will align school board compensation with that of other elected officials from special purpose districts. The work of directors and other elected officials needs to be examined to consider workload and parity issues. Some school directors are losing money by incurring costs for serving on school boards.
The concept of investing in school directors is supported. School directors have significant financial responsibilities on behalf of the district. Additionally, school board meetings have been long and contentious, and board member spouses have been attending for the purpose of escorting their family member. This has increased childcare costs, but those costs should not create barriers to public service.
School district finances can exceed $100 million. School districts need to have qualified people to serve on school boards. The decision to compensate board members is a local one.
The composition of the Shoreline school district board has only recently become representative of the community. The optional stipend provided to members does not come close to covering the costs that persons incur for serving. Many board members are parents, and the board positions are effectively volunteer positions. As a result, only those who can afford to serve can do so. The state should assist with funding for the costs of board member compensation.
The time commitments for board members can be significant and the small stipend only removes a small portion of the total burden. Barriers to service must be removed, and expanding the stipend and making it mandatory will help create school boards that reflect the communities they represent.
(Opposed) This bill is unnecessary and may impact the finances of school boards at a cost of up to $60,000 per year. Other education issues are more pressing at this time.