PRINTER'S NO. 2008
No. 1579 Session of 2007
INTRODUCED BY CALTAGIRONE, CLYMER, DALEY, GEIST, HENNESSEY,
REICHLEY, SEIP, SIPTROTH, SURRA AND THOMAS, JUNE 20, 2007
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, JUNE 20, 2007
AN ACT
1 Requiring the Department of Education to manage collective
2 bargaining for school district personnel and to prepare a
3 plan for consolidation of school districts.
4 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
5 hereby enacts as follows:
6 Section 1. Short title.
7 This act shall be known and may be cited as the Public School
8 Reform Act.
9 Section 2. Declaration of policy.
10 The General Assembly finds and declares as follows:
11 (1) It is necessary to consider massive changes in the
12 public school system of the Commonwealth.
13 (2) Financing of public schools is of critical concern
14 to the Commonwealth.
15 (3) The most important aspects of public school
16 financing are:
17 (i) collective bargaining;
18 (ii) physical facilities;
1 (iii) supplies; and
2 (iv) transportation.
3 Section 3. Definitions.
4 The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
5 have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
6 context clearly indicates otherwise:
7 "Department." The Department of Education of the
8 Commonwealth.
9 "School district." A unit established under Article II of
10 the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public
11 School Code of 1949.
12 "School district personnel." Employees of a school district.
13 Section 4. School district personnel.
14 (a) Collective bargaining.--The department shall be the
15 public employer for purposes of collective bargaining with the
16 employee representative of school district personnel under the
17 act of July 23, 1970 (P.L.563, No.195), known as the Public
18 Employe Relations Act.
19 (b) Administration.--Each school district has authority over
20 selection, termination, promotion, demotion and discipline of
21 school district personnel.
22 (c) Applicability.--This section shall apply to collective
23 bargaining agreements entered into or renewed on or after the
24 effective date of this section.
25 Section 5. Consolidation.
26 (a) Plan.--The department shall prepare a plan for
27 consolidation of school districts in order to do all of the
28 following:
29 (1) Reduce the number of school districts.
30 (2) Maximize utilization of:
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1 (i) physical facilities; and
2 (ii) supplies.
3 (3) Minimize transportation costs.
4 (4) Equalize Commonwealth funding.
5 (5) Recommend appropriate changes in applicable statutes
6 and regulations.
7 Section 30. Effective date.
8 This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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