SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 5013

BYSenator Owen

Relating to second class school districts changing back to having directors run at-large.

Senate Committee on Education

Senate Hearing Date(s):February 1, 1989; February 9, 1989

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5013 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

      Signed by Senators Bailey, Chairman; Lee, Vice Chairman; Anderson, Bender, Benitz, Craswell, Gaspard, Metcalf, Murray, Rinehart.

Senate Staff:Larry Davis (786-7422)

                  February 14, 1989

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, FEBRUARY 9, 1989

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, 1989 through August 31, 1990, second class school 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 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 district's directors shall be elected at-large upon expiration of the terms of the incumbent directors.

The act expires September 1, 1990.

EFFECT OF PROPOSED SUBSTITUTE:

School districts may dissolve their director districts upon approval of the registered voters of the district.  No fewer than three school board members from director districts and no more than two school board members at-large may then be elected.

Appropriation:    none

Revenue:    none

Fiscal Note:      none requested

Effective Date:September 1, 1989

Senate Committee - Testified: Cindy Manning, Aide to Senator Owen, sponsor; Dwayne Slate, Washington State School Directors' Association