SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 6268

BYSenator Owen

Establishing procedures for certain school districts to decide to elect their directors at large.

Senate Committee on Education

Senate Hearing Date(s):January 27, 1988; February 1, 1988

Majority Report:  Do pass.

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

Senate Staff:Larry Davis (786-7422)

                  February 2, 1988

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, FEBRUARY 1, 1988

BACKGROUND:

Under current law, certain second class school districts are ineligible to dissolve their director districts and return to a system of electing their school board members on an at-large basis.  Allowing such districts an opportunity to elect their directors at large could assist these districts in recruiting school board candidates.

SUMMARY:

Effective September 1, 1988 through August 31, 1989, second class districts which are ineligible to return to electing their directors at large may do so under the following conditions:  (1) At least 20 percent of the registered voters of the qualifying second class district must sign a petition, or the school board must adopt a motion, requesting dissolution of the director districts; (2) the petition or motion must be submitted to the Educational Service District Superintendent and the county auditor shall call for a special election; and (3) if a majority of the voters approve, the districts' directors shall be elected at large upon expiration of the terms of the incumbent directors.

Appropriation:    none

Revenue:    none

Fiscal Note:      none requested

Effective Date:September 1, 1988

Senate Committee - Testified: Dwayne Slate, Washington State School Directors' Association; Kelle Davis, Community For Better Education (pro)