PRINTER'S NO. 2799
No. 2215 Session of 1995
INTRODUCED BY VEON, WALKO, ROBINSON, LEVDANSKY, CARONE, RAMOS,
TRELLO, MELIO, DeLUCA AND LAUGHLIN, NOVEMBER 14, 1995
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, NOVEMBER 14, 1995
AN ACT
1 Providing for development of a countywide school district plan
2 by the State Board of Education, for hearings and a report
3 and for responsibilities of the State Board of Education.
4 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
5 hereby enacts as follows:
6 Section 1. Legislative findings.
7 The General Assembly finds that:
8 (1) The present administrative system of this
9 Commonwealth's 501 public school districts is incapable of
10 adequately addressing problems caused by declining tax bases,
11 dwindling student enrollments and financial inequities among
12 school districts in many regions of this Commonwealth.
13 (2) A countywide school district system would create an
14 administrative structure that would enhance basic educational
15 opportunities for students in this Commonwealth by providing
16 more equitable funding and a broader curriculum.
17 Section 2. Development of countywide school district plan by
18 State Board of Education.
1 The State Board of Education shall, within 12 months of final
2 passage of this act, develop and submit to the Governor and the
3 General Assembly a report with its findings and recommendations
4 on reorganizing this Commonwealth's 501 public school districts
5 into 67 countywide school districts. This report shall include a
6 reorganization plan and a schedule for implementation of the
7 reorganization plan, with consideration given to the duration of
8 existing collective bargaining agreements and the need for
9 development of a new election system for county boards of school
10 directors which provides that all regions of the county are
11 fairly represented.
12 Section 3. Hearings.
13 After submission of the report described in section 2, the
14 State Board of Education shall hold public hearings across this
15 Commonwealth to provide appropriate information to citizens, to
16 answer questions and to hear testimony on countywide school
17 district reorganization.
18 Section 4. Submission of final report.
19 After the completion of the public hearings required by
20 section 3, but not later than six months after the date of
21 submission of the initial report, the State Board of Education
22 shall revise its findings and recommendations as necessary and
23 submit a final report with its findings and recommendations on
24 countywide school district reorganization, including the final
25 version of the reorganization plan, to the Governor and the
26 General Assembly.
27 Section 5. Assistance from Department of Education.
28 The Department of Education and any other department or
29 agency as required by the State Board of Education shall assist
30 the board and provide staff and services as required by the
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1 board.
2 Section 6. Effective date.
3 This act shall take effect immediately.
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