H-849                _______________________________________________

                                                    HOUSE BILL NO. 262

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                              50th Legislature                              1987 Regular Session

By Representatives H. Sommers, Holland, Rust and Taylor

Read first time 1/22/87 and referred to Committee on Education.

AN ACT Relating to small high school facilities; and amending RCW 28A.47.080.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

        Sec. 1.  Section 28A.47.080, chapter 223, Laws of 1969 ex. sess. and RCW 28A.47.080 are each amended to read as follows:

          All applications by school districts for state assistance in providing school plant facilities shall be made to the superintendent of public instruction in conformity with rules and regulations which shall be prescribed by the state board of education.  Studies and surveys shall be conducted by the aforesaid officer for the purpose of securing information relating to (1) the kind and extent of the school plant facilities required and the urgency of need for such facilities in districts that seek state assistance, (2) the ability of such districts to provide capital outlay funds by local effort, (3) the need for improvement of school administrative units and school attendance areas among or within such districts, and (4) any other pertinent matters.  Recommendations respecting action on the aforesaid applications shall be submitted to the state board of education by the superintendent of public instruction together with such reports of the findings, studies, and surveys made by said officer as may be required by the state board.

In the case of a district applying after the effective date of this 1987 act for state assistance for a high school facility to serve less than one hundred students, the state board shall first find that the high school is remote and necessary, before granting approval for the district to proceed in the application process.  In making this finding, the state board shall consider options of consolidation with high school programs in adjacent districts, and the effects of these options on program quality and the efficient use of resources.