PROPOSED RULES
Original Notice.
Preproposal statement of inquiry was filed as WSR 02-06-052.
Title of Rule: WAC 180-24-400 Remote and necessary small school plants -- Authority, 180-24-405 Remote and necessary small school plants -- Purposes, 180-24-410 Remote and necessary small school plants -- Criteria, 180-24-415 Remote and necessary small school plants -- Review committee.
Purpose: Adopt amended language originally adopted on an emergency basis.
Other Identifying Information: Amend language to further identify criteria for granting remote and necessary status for small school plants.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: Section 502 (i)(e), chapter 6, Laws of 1994.
Summary: This language change will identify criteria for granting remote and necessary status for small school plants.
Reasons Supporting Proposal: The state operating budget allocates funds to small school plants evaluated as remote and necessary by the State Board of Education.
Name of Agency Personnel Responsible for Drafting, Implementation and Enforcement: Larry Davis, State Board of Education, Olympia, (360) 725-6024.
Name of Proponent: State Board of Education, governmental.
Rule is not necessitated by federal law, federal or state court decision.
Explanation of Rule, its Purpose, and Anticipated Effects: The state operating budget allocates funds to small school plants evaluated as remote and necessary by the State Board of Education. Currently there are nine remote and necessary small school plants in eight school districts. The language change will address classification of small school plants as remote and necessary.
Proposal Changes the Following Existing Rules: Changes language and repeals sections.
No small business economic impact statement has been prepared under chapter 19.85 RCW.
RCW 34.05.328 does not apply to this rule adoption.
Hearing Location: Senate Hearing Room 4, John A. Cherberg Building, 304 15th Avenue S.W., Olympia, WA 98504-0482, on June 20, 2002, at 8:30 a.m.
Assistance for Persons with Disabilities: Contact Laura Moore by June 13, 2002, TDD (360) 664-3631, or (360) 725-6027.
Submit Written Comments to: Rules Coordinator, State Board of Education, P.O. Box 47206, Olympia, WA 98504-7206, Patty Martin, Associate Director, fax (360) 586-2357, by June 13, 2002.
Date of Intended Adoption: June 21, 2002.
April 22, 2002
Larry Davis
Executive Director
OTS-5350.2
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 95-20-055, filed 10/2/95,
effective 11/2/95)
WAC 180-24-400
Remote and necessary small school
plants -- Purpose and authority.
(1) The purpose of WAC 180-24-400
through 180-24-420 is to establish policies and procedures to
govern the classification of small school plants as remote and
necessary.
(2) The authority for WAC 180-24-400 through 180-24-420 is the state Operating Appropriations Act which allocates funds to school districts for small school plants which have been judged by the state board of education to be remote and necessary.
[Statutory Authority: 1994 sp.s. c 6 § 502(i)(e). 95-20-055, § 180-24-400, filed 10/2/95, effective 11/2/95.]
(2) In making the finding under subsection (1) of this section, the state board of education shall consider, including but not limited to, the factors under (a) through (g) of this subsection. No single factor or combination of factors necessarily warrants granting or denying remote and necessary status. However, it shall be the policy of the state board of education to favor those requests which, in the board's judgment, meet the provisions of this section. "Favor" does not mean that the listed factors are necessarily exclusive. Additional factors and considerations may be included in a particular request. If there is a factual situation that falls outside the scope of all or a portion of the listed factors, the state board may consider the facts and reasons the additional factors or considerations support the request.
(a) The student population to be served at the small school site, must meet the small school funding formula for remote and necessary school plants as provided in the Operating Appropriations Act. The grade span served at the small school site shall include the same levels for eligible students established by the district for other elementary, middle, or high schools of the district, and meet the educational needs of the population served by that small school plant.
(b) Existence of an intact, permanent community which is defined as a geographically site-specific, nontransient group of people. This factor must be met.
(c) Transportation: Travel time to another school in the district, or school in another district, is not less than sixty minutes one way, or international boundary crossing processing time is unpredictable or lengthy or both.
(d) Transportation: Student safety from a small school site in the school district to another school in the district, or school in another district, may be at risk due to the condition of roads or waterways, seasonal weather conditions, or topography.
(e) Operational efficiency: Nonavailability of age appropriate grade level or cooperative programs in other school facilities in the district, or in the next nearest district or districts, or other educational organizations approved or recognized by the state board of education or the superintendent of public instruction.
(3) At its discretion, the state board of education may use as guidance the applicable provisions of WAC 180-24-013, 180-24-016, and 180-24-017.
[Statutory Authority: 1994 1st sp.s. c 6 § 502 (1)(e). 97-21-069, § 180-24-410, filed 10/15/97, effective 11/15/97. Statutory Authority: 1994 sp.s. c 6 § 502(i)(e). 95-20-055, § 180-24-410, filed 10/2/95, effective 11/2/95.]
(a) One member of the state board of education selected by the president of the board;
(b) Two staff members from the office of the superintendent of public instruction, one who is knowledgeable about finance issues and one who is knowledgeable about curriculum issues, both selected by the state superintendent;
(c) One school director selected by the Washington State School Directors' Association;
(d) One school district administrator selected by the Washington Association of School Administrators;
(2) Vacancies on the review committee shall be filled by the person or organization responsible for appointments.
(3) At the state board of education's discretion, other members may be added to the review committee.
(4) It is the responsibility of the review committee to receive and review all applications from school districts requesting the state board of education to grant remote and necessary status to a small school plant located in the district. Following the review of applications, the review committee shall recommend to the state board whether such designation should be granted. Recommendations of the review committee shall be advisory only. The final determination rests solely with the state board of education.
(5) Every small school plant with remote and necessary
status beginning 1996, shall be reviewed every four years by the
review committee and the state board. The review committee shall
submit its findings and recommendations to the state board. The
review committee may conduct the review on-site, with the number
of members participating determined by the committee, or may
conduct the review by other means as determined by the committee
((and with state board approval)). The state board shall provide
to the fiscal committees of the legislature in January of
odd-numbered years a list of remote and necessary small school
plants.
(6) A small school plant shall lose its remote and necessary
status if the number of students exceeds the enrollment
requirements set forth in the state Operating Appropriations Act
for three consecutive years. The loss of remote and necessary
status shall take effect the immediate ensuing school year. ((If
a small school site should lose its remote and necessary status,
the local serving school district may continue to maintain and
operate the school site. When the enrollment of such small
school plant again meets the requirements of the state Operating
Appropriations Act, the school district may apply to the state
board of education for redesignation as a remote and necessary
plant. The small school site's annual average full-time
equivalent enrollment, pursuant to the Operating Appropriations
Act requirements, shall be met for one full year prior to
reapplication.)) If a small school site should lose its remote
and necessary status, the local serving school district may
continue to maintain and operate the school site. When the
enrollment of such small school plant again meets the
requirements of the state Operating Appropriations Act, the
school district may apply to the state board of education for
redesignation as a remote and necessary plant.
(7) A small school plant shall lose its remote and necessary status if a local school district closes the small school plant. If the small school plant is reopened by the district, or a new small school plant is opened, the school district may apply to the state board of education for remote and necessary designation for the small school plant. If such designation is granted, the remote and necessary status shall take effect as determined by the state board of education.
[Statutory Authority: 1994 1st sp.s. c 6 § 502 (1)(e). 97-21-069, § 180-24-415, filed 10/15/97, effective 11/15/97. Statutory Authority: 1994 sp.s. c 6 § 502(i)(e). 95-20-055, § 180-24-415, filed 10/2/95, effective 11/2/95.]
The following section of the Washington Administrative Code is repealed:
| WAC 180-24-405 | Remote and necessary small school plants -- Purpose. |