PRINTER'S NO. 1863
No. 1641 Session of 1993
INTRODUCED BY STURLA, COWELL, FAJT, PETRONE, MELIO, RAYMOND,
STABACK, PISTELLA, MIHALICH, TRELLO, LAUB, HERMAN, FREEMAN,
CAPPABIANCA, SEMMEL, MICOZZIE, SCHEETZ, GIGLIOTTI, KASUNIC,
STEELMAN, COLAFELLA, WILLIAMS AND TOMLINSON, MAY 24, 1993
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, MAY 24, 1993
AN ACT
1 Amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), entitled "An
2 act relating to the public school system, including certain
3 provisions applicable as well to private and parochial
4 schools; amending, revising, consolidating and changing the
5 laws relating thereto," requiring training of school
6 directors.
7 WHEREAS, The General Assembly finds its constitutional
8 responsibility to be to provide for the maintenance and support
9 of a thorough and efficient system of public education to serve
10 the needs of this Commonwealth; and
11 WHEREAS, The General Assembly has assigned the duty of
12 administration of the public school system to a local board of
13 school directors, elected or appointed, as found in the act of
14 March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code
15 of 1949; and
16 WHEREAS, It is recognized that the local board of school
17 directors has varied and profound duties and powers, as found in
18 section 508 and throughout the Public School Code of 1949; and
19 WHEREAS, School directors are recognized individuals in their
1 communities for the support of education; and
2 WHEREAS, The General Assembly recognizes that school
3 directors serve as unpaid policymakers; and
4 WHEREAS, The General Assembly wants to provide educational
5 opportunities which will assist school directors in fulfilling
6 the duties of their office; and
7 WHEREAS, Ongoing education for school directors in the form
8 of informational programs and in-service opportunities has been
9 available through an association of school directors on a
10 voluntary basis; and
11 WHEREAS, A more comprehensive, basic educational program for
12 school directors has been recognized as necessary by both the
13 General Assembly and the association of school directors.
14 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
15 hereby enacts as follows:
16 Section 1. The act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known
17 as the Public School Code of 1949, is amended by adding a
18 section to read:
19 Section 322.1. Training of School Directors.--(a) The State
20 Board of Education shall, with the assistance of an advisory
21 committee appointed by the board, establish training sessions
22 for elected and appointed school directors. The training
23 sessions shall include topics, including, but not limited to,
24 duties and responsibilities of school directors, graduation
25 requirements, finance and budget, school law, employe relations,
26 board and superintendent relations, school and community
27 relations, child development, instructional methods and
28 effective meetings. The training sessions shall involve a
29 minimum of twelve (12) hours of study.
30 (b) The Secretary of Education shall be charged with
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1 responsibility for administering this program.
2 (c) The Department of Education may charge a fee to cover
3 administrative costs of the program.
4 (d) The State Board of Education shall establish an approval
5 process for successful completion of the training. An elected or
6 appointed school director must successfully complete the
7 training requirements within nine (9) months of the effective
8 date of this section. Other school directors must complete this
9 training requirement in accordance with a schedule approved by
10 the State Board of Education. School directors who have served
11 as a school director for twelve (12) years or more are exempt
12 from the mandatory provisions of this section. The
13 superintendent of the school district shall certify that each
14 elected or appointed school director has fulfilled the
15 requirements of this section within thirty (30) days after the
16 deadline. Any school director who fails to fulfill the training
17 requirement as established by the State Board of Education in
18 the time period allowed shall be removed from office immediately
19 following the procedures outlined in section 318 of this act.
20 Section 2. This act shall take effect in 180 days.
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