ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Fifty-sixth Legislature

Second Regular Session

 

HB 2717: county superintendents; administration; pilot program

Sponsor: Representative Gillette, LD 30

Committee on Education

Overview

Requires the county school superintendents of La Paz and Mohave counties (participating counties) to conduct a five-year pilot program to provide administrative services and support to school districts. Transfers, during the pilot program, specified powers and duties from school district governing boards (governing boards) to the participating county school superintendents.

History

A county school superintendent's office functions as an education service agency, and statute tasks a county school superintendent with specified powers and duties, including: 1) appointing governing board members to fill vacancies; 2) conducting school district elections; 3) maintaining teacher and administrator certification records; 4) providing assistance to schools and libraries on the use of student data, staff development, curriculum alignment and technology; and 4) apportioning monies to schools (A.R.S. §§ 15-301, 15-302, 15-303).

A governing board's required powers include: 1) enforcing policies to govern schools; 2) managing school property; 3) prescribing curricula and criteria for the promotion and graduation of students; 4) using state and county monies to pay employee salaries and district expenses; and 5) providing for adequate supervision over students by personnel (A.R.S. § 15-341).

Provisions

1.   ☐ Prop 105 (45 votes) ☐ Prop 108 (40 votes) ☐ Emergency (40 votes) ☐ Fiscal NoteDirects the county school superintendent for each participating county to conduct, beginning in FY 2026, a five-year pilot program to provide administrative services and support to school districts located within the county.

2.   Repeals the pilot program on January 1, 2031.

3.   Requires a participating county school superintendent to establish at least one county office to provide specified administrative services to all school districts in the county.

4.   Transfers, beginning in FY 2026, the following powers and duties under state and federal law from the governing board of each school district located in a participating county to the county school superintendent:

a)   school district budgeting, accounting and other financial matters;

b)   school district employees; and

c) curriculum management.

5.   Specifies the statutory powers and duties transferred from a governing board to a participating county school superintendent.

6.   Prohibits a participating county school superintendent from adopting a budget that exceeds the general budget limit calculated according to statute.

7.   Assigns direction and control of all school district revenues to the county school superintendent during the pilot program.

8.   Deems a school district in a participating county as ineligible for accounting responsibility during the pilot program.

9.   Stipulates a school district may use a curriculum that is not provided by a participating county school superintendent if the curriculum does not generate a financial cost and meets the minimum standards prescribed by law.

10.  Allows a participating county school superintendent to provide student transportation services for students enrolled in a charter school by entering into an intergovernmental agreement or contract.

11.  Permits a participating county school superintendent to use up to 10% of the total school district monies, excluding private monies, each fiscal year for pilot program administrative costs.

12.  Specifies the criteria used to determine if a school district is within a participating county.

13.  Asserts that the:

a)   powers, duties, rights or obligations not listed remain with the school administrators or governing board; and

b)   powers, duties, rights or obligations of any charter school located within a participating county are not affected.

14.  Directs the Arizona Department of Education (ADE) to develop procedures and guidelines for participating county school superintendents.

15.  Establishes reporting requirements regarding the implementation and results of the pilot program for participating county school superintendents and ADE.

16.  Defines participating county as Mohave and La Paz counties.

17.   

18.   

19.  ---------- DOCUMENT FOOTER ---------

20.                    HB 2717

21.  Initials CH           Page 0 Education

22.   

23.  ---------- DOCUMENT FOOTER ---------