WSR 22-18-051
PERMANENT RULES
SUPERINTENDENT OF
PUBLIC INSTRUCTION
[Filed August 30, 2022, 2:57 p.m., effective September 30, 2022]
Effective Date of Rule: Thirty-one days after filing.
Purpose: The rule change removes the requirement concerning reviewing remote and necessary small school plants every four years to determine if the school can continue to keep their remote and necessary status. Existing statutes and rules establish the conditions necessary to become a remote and necessary district and further define conditions when a school would lose its remote and necessary status. The conditions that designate the remote and necessary status do not change due to the remoteness of the schools. The change will save administrative time and effort.
Citation of Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 392-349-015.
Adopted under notice filed as WSR 22-15-102 on July 19, 2022.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted at the Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's own Initiative: New 0, Amended 1, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 1, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Date Adopted: August 30, 2022.
Chris P. S. Reykdal
State Superintendent of Public Instruction
OTS-3972.1
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 15-17-074, filed 8/17/15, effective 9/17/15)
WAC 392-349-015Remote and necessary small school plants—Review committee.
(1) There is hereby established by the superintendent of public instruction a remote and necessary review committee comprised of at least the following five members:
(a) One member of the state board of education selected by the president of the board;
(b) Two staff members from the office of the superintendent of public instruction, one who is knowledgeable about finance issues and one who is knowledgeable about curriculum issues, both selected by the state superintendent;
(c) One school director selected by the Washington State School Directors' Association;
(d) One school district administrator selected by the Washington Association of School Administrators.
(2) Vacancies on the review committee shall be filled by the person or organization responsible for appointments.
(3) At the discretion of the superintendent of public instruction, other members may be added to the review committee.
(4) It is the responsibility of the review committee to receive and review all applications from school districts requesting the superintendent of public instruction to grant remote and necessary status to a small school plant located in the district. Following the review of applications, the review committee shall recommend to the superintendent of public instruction whether such designation should be granted. Recommendations of the review committee shall be advisory only. The final determination rests solely with the superintendent of public instruction.
(5) ((Every small school plant with remote and necessary status beginning 1996, shall be reviewed every four years by the review committee and the superintendent of public instruction. The review committee shall submit its findings and recommendations to the superintendent of public instruction. The review committee may conduct the review on-site, with the number of members participating determined by the committee, or may conduct the review by other means as determined by the committee.
(6))) A small school plant shall lose its remote and necessary status if the number of students exceeds the enrollment requirements set forth in the state Operating Appropriations Act for three consecutive years. The loss of remote and necessary status shall take effect the immediate ensuing school year. If a small school site should lose its remote and necessary status, the local serving school district may continue to maintain and operate the school site. When the enrollment of such small school plant again meets the requirements of the state Operating Appropriations Act, the school district may apply to the superintendent of public instruction for redesignation as a remote and necessary plant.
(((7)))(6) A small school plant shall lose its remote and necessary status if a local school district closes the small school plant. If the small school plant is reopened by the district, or a new small school plant is opened, the school district may apply to the superintendent of public instruction for remote and necessary designation for the small school plant. If such designation is granted, the remote and necessary status shall take effect as determined by the superintendent of public instruction.