SENATE BILL REPORT

                                    SB 5463

            AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS, MARCH 5, 1991

Brief Description:  Authorizing site‑based councils.

SPONSORS:Senators A. Smith, Bailey, Erwin, Rinehart, Owen, Pelz, Bauer, Conner and Skratek.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5463 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass and be referred to Committee on Ways & Means.

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

Staff:  Leslie Goldstein (786‑7424)

Hearing Dates:February 12, 1991; February 21, 1991

SENATE COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS

Majority Report:  That Second Substitute Senate Bill No. 5463 be substituted therefor, and the second substitute bill do pass.

      Signed by Senators McDonald, Chairman; Bailey, Bauer, Bluechel, Cantu, Gaspard, Hayner, Johnson, L. Kreidler, Murray, Niemi, Owen, Rinehart, Talmadge, West, Williams, and Wojahn. 

Staff:  Bill Freund (786-7715)

Hearing Dates:March 4, 1991; March 5, 1991

BACKGROUND:

Changing the way schools are managed has been suggested as an important part of restructuring our schools.  Shared-decision making through site-based councils has been suggested as a method of involving principals, teachers, parents and community members in school governance to meet the needs of local schools and set local school goals.  The assumption behind school-based management models is that greater decision-making authority at the school-level will enable the individual school to respond to the needs of its unique student population by combining the expertise of school professionals and the involvement of parents and the community. 

SUMMARY:

School district boards of directors may adopt policies establishing school site-based councils.  The school district board of directors has the final authority to determine the powers and duties of the site-based council.  The policies adopted by the school board may include:  procedures for forming a council, membership of the council, designation of activities, and authority to adopt bylaws and a charter.  Boards establishing site-based councils are required to adopt plans for attendance policies, consistent with requirements of any desegregation plan, that promote stability for the schools.

Any modifications to collective bargaining agreements necessary to implement site-based councils shall be clearly stated in written agreements between the district and the bargaining representative.  The written statement is not necessary if the provisions have been waived for schools participating in Reach For Excellence projects.

Schools with site-based councils are eligible to apply for funds from the superintendent of public instruction to help support restructuring efforts.  Schools receiving these funds shall report on the use of those funds to the Superintendent of Public Instruction.  The Superintendent of Public Instruction may provide technical assistance and may share information about programs through the state Clearinghouse for Educational Information and Assistance.

EFFECT OF PROPOSED SUBSTITUTE:

School boards cannot delegate authority over personnel decisions to site-based councils.  Any budget authority delegated to site-based councils is limited to one-year periods and to decisions at the building level.

EFFECT OF PROPOSED SECOND SUBSTITUTE:

The appropriation of $500,000 is deleted and the bill is made contingent on funding in the budget.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  available

TESTIMONY FOR:

School site-based councils will help bring meaningful improvement to schools by helping people become involved in the system.  The councils will help school communities work in a collaborative manner to achieve their goals.

TESTIMONY AGAINST:

Decentralization of authority will not improve education.  There is no research to support the proposition that site-based councils will improve education.  The appropriation is a misuse of state funds and punishes districts that do not establish site-based councils.

TESTIFIED (Education):  Dwayne Slate, Washington State School Directors' Association (pro); Bob Rayborn, Mukilteo School District, Development and Research Group (con); Elaine Rose, City of Seattle (pro); Judy Hartmann, Washington Education Association (pro)

TESTIFIED (Ways & Means):  Senator A. Smith, prime sponsor (pro); Judy Hartmann, Washington Education Association (pro)