SENATE BILL REPORT

                                   EHB 1177

             AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, MARCH 27, 1991

Brief Description:  Clarifying school district boards of directors' responsibilities.

SPONSORS:Representatives Holland, Leonard, Peery, Brough, Jones and Winsley.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

SENATE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Majority Report:  Do pass.

      Signed by Senators Bailey, Chairman; Erwin, Vice Chairman; Craswell, Metcalf, Murray, Oke, Pelz, and Talmadge.

Staff:  Leslie Goldstein (786‑7424)

Hearing Dates:March 26, 1991; March 27, 1991

BACKGROUND:

Under RCW 28A.150.230(1), each school board is given the authority and the responsibility to set policies regarding the content and extent of the educational program offered.

Under RCW 28A.150.230(2), school boards are given a specific list of responsibilities.  In listing the school board responsibilities, RCW 28A.150.230(2) recites that "it shall be the responsibility of each common school district board of directors, acting through its respective administrative staff, to" perform the specified responsibilities.  There has been litigation over the interpretation of RCW 28A.150.230(2) with respect to the division of responsibilities between a school board and its administrative staff.

SUMMARY:

The phrase "acting through its respective administrative staff" contained in RCW 28A.150.230(2) is deleted and the school board is required to adopt policies with respect to each of the listed responsibilities.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  none requested

TESTIMONY FOR:

The Renton School District has received two different legal opinions regarding the interpretation of the statute and now there is a lawsuit.  This bill is intended to resolve the ambiguity and prevent future problems.

TESTIMONY AGAINST:  None

TESTIFIED:  Representative Bruce Holland, sponsor (pro); Dwayne Slate, WA State School Directors Assn. (pro)