SENATE BILL REPORT
SB 5833
As of January 24, 2022
Title: An act relating to school board of directors compensation.
Brief Description: Increasing compensation options for directors of a school district board.
Sponsors: Senators Carlyle, Hasegawa, Hunt, Mullet, Nguyen and Nobles.
Brief History:
Committee Activity: Early Learning & K-12 Education: 1/24/22.
Brief Summary of Bill
  • Establishes that, if authorized by a school district's board of directors, a member of the board of directors may receive compensation of up to either $50 per day and $5,000 per year, or at a tiered level based on district enrollment.
  • Requires that school director compensation limits be increased for inflation every five years.
SENATE COMMITTEE ON EARLY LEARNING & K-12 EDUCATION
Staff: Benjamin Omdal (786-7442)
Background:

Compensation for School Board Directors.  If authorized by a school district board of directors resolution at a regularly scheduled meeting, the members of the board may receive compensation of $50 per day, or portion of a day, for attending board meetings and performing other services on behalf of the district.  This compensation is in addition to any reimbursement for expenses.
 
The compensation may not exceed $4,800 per year, and only locally collected excess levy funds available for this purpose may be used to provide the compensation.  Compensation for board members must not cause the state to incur any present or future funding obligation.  Any director may waive part or all of their compensation.
Summary of Bill:

School Director Compensation.  If compensation is authorized by a school district board of directors, each member of the board of directors may receive compensation at a daily amount of $50 per day or a portion thereof not to exceed $5,000 per year, or up to the following amounts based on total student enrollment:

 

District Total Student Enrollment Annual Compensation Maximum
0–2499$5,000
2500–6249$10,000
6250–9999$15,000
10,000–19,999$20,000
20,000–29,999$25,000
30,000–$30,000

 

Total student enrollment is determined using the three-year rolling annual average full-time equivalent student enrollment, based on the prior school year.
 
Inflationary Adjustment.  The dollar thresholds for salaries and per diem compensation must be adjusted for inflation by the Office of Financial Management (OFM) every five years, beginning July 1, 2023.  OFM must calculate the new dollar threshold and transmit it to the Office of the Code Reviser for publication in the Washington State Register at least one month before the new dollar threshold is to take effect.
 
Inflation is measured by the implicit price deflator for a given fiscal year, using the official current base compiled by the Bureau of Economic Analysis in the United States Department of Commerce.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Requested on January 20, 2022.
Creates Committee/Commission/Task Force that includes Legislative members: No.
Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony:

PRO:  The complexity of running school districts makes the current model of school boards archaic and inequitable.  It is impossible for people to serve as a full-time volunteer.  School board directors put in innumerable hours of work; it is important to have qualified individuals to manage these large organizations.  Not being allowed to provide more compensation is an issue of equity.

OTHER:  The tiered compensation implies that board members at larger districts work more hours than directors at smaller districts, which is not always the case.  Small districts face the same compliance work as larger districts.
Persons Testifying: PRO: Senator Reuven Carlyle, Prime Sponsor; Charlie Brown, Tacoma Public Schools.
OTHER: Sandy Hayes, Washington State School Directors' Association.
Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: No one.