Read first time 01/24/2003.   Referred to Committee on Education.

     AN ACT Relating to appeals from decisions by the school district regional committee; and amending RCW 28A.315.205 and 28A.315.195.

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

Sec. 1   RCW 28A.315.205 and 1999 c 315 s 402 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) The chair of the regional committee shall schedule a hearing on the proposed transfer of territory at a location in the educational service district within sixty calendar days of being notified under RCW 28A.315.195 (7) or (8).
     (2) Within thirty calendar days of the hearing under subsection (1) of this section, or final hearing if more than one is held by the committee, the committee shall issue its written findings and decision to approve or disapprove the proposed transfer of territory. The educational service district superintendent shall transmit a copy of the committee's decision to the superintendents of the affected school districts within ten calendar days.
     (3) In carrying out the purposes of RCW 28A.315.015 and in making decisions as authorized under RCW 28A.315.095(1), the regional committee shall base its judgment upon whether and to the extent the proposed change in school district organization complies with RCW 28A.315.015(2) and rules adopted by the state board under chapter 34.05 RCW.
     (4) State board rules under subsection (3) of this section shall provide for giving consideration to all of the following:
     (a) ((The annual school performance reports required under RCW 28A.320.205 in the affected districts and improvement of the educational opportunities of pupils in the territory proposed for a change in school district organization;
     (b))) Student educational opportunities as measured by the percentage of students performing at each level of the statewide mandated assessments and data regarding student attendance, graduation, and dropout rates;
     (b) The safety and welfare of pupils. For the purposes of this subsection, "safety" means freedom or protection from danger, injury, or damage and "welfare" means a positive condition or influence regarding health, character, and well-being;
     (c) The history and relationship of the property affected to the students and communities affected, including, for example, inclusion within a single school district, for school attendance and corresponding tax support purposes, of entire master planned communities that were or are to be developed pursuant to an integrated commercial and residential development plan with over one thousand dwelling units;
     (d) Whether or not geographic accessibility warrants a favorable consideration of a recommended change in school district organization, including remoteness or isolation of places of residence and time required to travel to and from school; and
     (e) All funding sources of the affected districts, equalization among school districts of the tax burden for general fund and capital purposes through a reduction in disparities in per pupil valuation when all funding sources are considered, improvement in the economies in the administration and operation of schools, and the extent the proposed change would potentially reduce or increase the individual and aggregate transportation costs of the affected school districts.
     (5)(a)(i) A petitioner or school district may appeal a decision by the regional committee ((to approve a change in school district organization)) to the state board based on the claim that the regional committee failed to follow the applicable statutory and regulatory procedures or acted in an arbitrary and capricious manner. Any such appeal shall be based on the record and the appeal must be filed within thirty days of the final decision of the regional committee.
     (ii) If the state board finds that all applicable procedures were not followed or that the regional committee acted in an arbitrary and capricious manner, it shall refer the matter back to the regional committee with an explanation of the board's findings. The regional committee shall rehear the proposal.
     (iii) If the state board finds that all applicable procedures were followed or that the regional committee did not act in an arbitrary and capricious manner, depending on the appeal, the educational service district shall be notified and directed to implement the changes.
     (b) Any school district or citizen petitioner affected by a final decision of the regional committee may seek judicial review of the committee's decision in accordance with RCW 34.05.570.

Sec. 2   RCW 28A.315.195 and 1999 c 315 s 401 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) A proposed change in school district organization by transfer of territory from one school district to another may be initiated by a petition in writing presented to the educational service district superintendent:
     (a) Signed by at least ((ten)) fifty percent plus one of the active registered voters residing in the territory proposed to be transferred; or
     (b) Signed by a majority of the members of the board of directors of one of the districts affected by a proposed transfer of territory.
     (2) The petition shall state the name and number of each district affected, describe the boundaries of the territory proposed to be transferred, and state the reasons for desiring the change and the number of children of school age, if any, residing in the territory.
     (3) The educational service district superintendent shall not complete any transfer of territory under this section that involves ten percent or more of the common school student population of the entire district from which the transfer is proposed, unless the educational service district superintendent has first called and held a special election of the voters of the entire school district from which the transfer of territory is proposed. The purpose of the election is to afford those voters an opportunity to approve or reject the proposed transfer. A simple majority shall determine approval or rejection.
     (4) The state board may establish rules limiting the frequency of petitions that may be filed pertaining to territory included in whole or in part in a previous petition.
     (5) Upon receipt of the petition, the educational service district superintendent shall notify in writing the affected districts that:
     (a) Each school district board of directors, whether or not initiating a proposed transfer of territory, is required to enter into negotiations with the affected district or districts;
     (b) In the case of a citizen-initiated petition, the affected districts must negotiate on the entire proposed transfer of territory;
     (c) The districts have ninety calendar days in which to agree to the proposed transfer of territory;
     (d) The districts may request and shall be granted by the educational service district superintendent one thirty-day extension to try to reach agreement; and
     (e) Any district involved in the negotiations may at any time during the ninety-day period notify the educational service district superintendent in writing that agreement will not be possible.
     (6) If the negotiating school boards cannot come to agreement about the proposed transfer of territory, the educational service district superintendent, if requested by the affected districts, shall appoint a mediator. The mediator has thirty days to work with the affected school districts to see if an agreement can be reached on the proposed transfer of territory.
     (7) If the affected school districts cannot come to agreement about the proposed transfer of territory, and the districts do not request the services of a mediator or the mediator was unable to bring the districts to agreement, either district may file with the educational service district superintendent a written request for a hearing by the regional committee.
     (8) If the affected school districts cannot come to agreement about the proposed transfer of territory initiated by citizen petition, and the districts do not request the services of a mediator or the mediator was unable to bring the districts to agreement, the district in which the citizens who filed the petition reside shall file with the educational service district superintendent a written request for a hearing by the regional committee, unless a majority of the citizen petitioners request otherwise.
     (9) Upon receipt of a notice under subsection (7) or (8) of this section, the educational service district superintendent shall notify the chair of the regional committee in writing within ten days.
     (10) Costs incurred by school districts under this section shall be reimbursed by the state from such funds as are appropriated for this purpose.