An Act To Implement the Recommendations of the Joint Standing Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs Regarding Review of the State Board of Education under the State Government Evaluation Act

Sec. 1. 20-A MRSA §405, sub-§3, ¶U,  as enacted by PL 1995, c. 395, Pt. J, §4 and amended by PL 2003, c. 545, §5, is further amended to read:

U.  Review the organization of school administrative units statewide to identify current cooperative agreements between school administrative units. Cooperative agreements may include, but are not limited to: purchasing or contract agreements; administrative functions; shared staff and staff training; and technology initiatives. Based on the review, and in consultation with the department, the state board may require recommend that school administrative units develop and carry out a plan for a cooperative agreement with one or more other school administrative units. "Cooperative agreement" may include agreements between school administrative units and career and technical education regions and career and technical education centers; and

Sec. 2. 20-A MRSA §405, sub-§3, ¶V,  as enacted by PL 1995, c. 395, Pt. J, §4, is amended to read:

V.  Study school consolidation administrative unit configuration statewide, develop a school consolidation administrative unit configuration plan that includes criteria for evaluating opportunities for consolidation reconfiguration and, if desirable, develop a time line for implementation.

SUMMARY

This bill implements the recommendations of the Joint Standing Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs pursuant to its review of the State Board of Education under the State Government Evaluation Act.

This bill clarifies that the authority of the State Board of Education with respect to the development or implementation of cooperative agreements among school administrative units is advisory in nature and replaces the term "school consolidation" with "school administrative unit configuration."