SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 6244

BYSenators Bailey, Metcalf, Vognild, Anderson, McMullen, Nelson, Bender, Kiskaddon, Smith and Barr

Providing additional capital construction assistance to certain small school districts.

Senate Committee on Education

Senate Hearing Date(s):January 18, 1988; January 26, 1988

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6244 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

      Signed by Senators Bailey, Chairman; Kiskaddon, Vice Chairman; Bender, Benitz, Craswell, Lee, Rinehart.

Senate Staff:Larry Davis (786-7422)

                  January 27, 1988

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, JANUARY 26, 1988

BACKGROUND:

Under current law school districts are eligible for state matching funds for school construction projects approved by the State Board of Education.  The amount of the state match varies from 20 percent to 90 percent according to the classification of the approved project.  It is proposed that a new category of eligibility for a 90 percent match be established for certain small school districts.

SUMMARY:

School districts are eligible for a 90 percent state match for approved school construction projects if they meet each of the following criteria:  (1) in the current and preceding two school years the district's enrollment of fulltime equivalent students (FTEs) does not exceed 600; (2) in the current school year at least 50 percent of the district's FTE students qualify for free and reduced price meals; (3) the district's special levy assessed valuation per FTE student does not exceed $200,000, for special levies collectible in the current and preceding two years; and (4) more than 50 percent of the total acreage comprising the district is exempt from school district special levy taxation.

EFFECT OF PROPOSED SUBSTITUTE:

The criteria established for the new category of districts eligible to qualify for 90 percent state matching funds on school construction projects are modified as follows:

      1.The district's enrollment of full-time equivalent (FTE) students will be determined on an annual average basis.

      2.Forty-five percent of the lunches served by the district are free and reduced-price meals rather than at least 50 percent of the district's FTE students qualify for free and reduced-price meals.

      3.The special levy assessed valuation per FTE student will be determined on the basis of resident FTE students.

Appropriation:    none

Revenue:    none

Fiscal Note:      available

Senate Committee - Testified: Dr. William Kildall, Superintendent, Darrington School District; Pete Selvig, Darrington School District; Bill Walters, Self; Bob Barnard, Self; Charles Requa, President, Darrington Education Association; Dan O'Malley, Athletic Director, Darrington School District; Beryl Mauldin, Principal, Darrington Elementary School; Jim Anderson, Self; Susan Richter, Member, Board of Directors, Darrington School District; Representative Sim Wilson