SENATE BILL REPORT

2SSB 5720

BYSenate Committee on Education (originally sponsored by Senators Gaspard, Patterson, Barr, Bailey, Bauer and Hansen)

Revising the authority for cooperative agreements between or among school districts.

Senate Committee on Education

Senate Hearing Date(s):February 26, 1987; January 19, 1988; January 28, 1988

Majority Report:  That Second Substitute Senate Bill No. 5720 be substituted therefor, and the second substitute bill do pass.

      Signed by Senators Bailey, Chairman; Kiskaddon, Vice Chairman; Bauer, Craswell, Gaspard.

Senate Staff:Larry Davis (786-7422)

                  January 29, 1988

AS PASSED SENATE, FEBRUARY 9, 1988

BACKGROUND:

In 1985 the Legislature authorized the Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI) to develop a program to establish five-year pilot projects for the joint operation of programs and services between small school districts.  For the purposes of the program, which shall expire September 1, 1990, the SPI is authorized to waive certain provisions of law which create financial disincentives to cooperation among small school districts.  Making the pilot program ongoing could encourage more districts to enter into cooperative agreements.

SUMMARY:

The sunset date for the small schools cooperative projects program is repealed and the program is made ongoing.  Districts are encouraged to establish cooperative projects with an emphasis to increase curriculum programs and opportunities.

Small school districts eligible to participate in cooperative projects are districts which receive state funds as small high school districts.  Subject to rules adopted by the Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI), second class districts which are not small high school districts may also participate.

Districts must submit an application to the SPI for approval to implement a cooperative project.  The application must include a description of the project; expected improvements in curriculum offerings and educational opportunities; statutory requirements or administrative rules which may need to be waived; and other information.

Waivers granted by the SPI must be reviewed every five years and districts must reapply for waivers after five years if they wish to continue the cooperative project.

Districts participating in a cooperative project may adopt identical salary schedules and shall be considered a single district for salary compliance purposes if they adopt identical salary schedules. For purposes of computing fringe benefit calculations, districts may use the greater of the highest amount provided by the districts in the 1986-87 school year, or the amount provided in the state budget in effect at the time of the cooperative project.

A high school district which sends its students to another high school district under a cooperative project shall not be required to become a non-high school district if the cooperative project exceeds two years in duration.

Districts must submit reports to the SPI in the third and fifth years of the cooperative project.  SPI must submit a report to the Legislature on the cooperative projects program every third odd-numbered year.

The SPI may contract with other agencies to provide technical assistance to districts interested in developing and implementing a cooperative project.

Appropriation:    none

Revenue:    none

Fiscal Note:      available

Senate Committee - Testified: Senator Patterson, sponsor (for); Archie Neal, School Director, Garfield School District (for); Mark Hegg, School Director, Palouse School District (for); Larry Warner, Superintendent, Garfield School District and Palouse School District (for); Ray Smith, Director, Rural Education Center/WSU (for); Bob Fisher, Washington Education Association (for); Kris Van Gorkom, Washington Association of School Administrators (for)