PRINTER'S NO. 2617
No. 2015 Session of 1997
INTRODUCED BY VEON, WALKO, BELARDI, LaGROTTA, M. COHEN, DEMPSEY,
STABACK, STEIL, CARONE, STURLA, MELIO, BOSCOLA, LEVDANSKY,
RAMOS, MAITLAND, VAN HORNE, ROBERTS, TRICH, MICHLOVIC AND
KIRKLAND, NOVEMBER 25, 1997
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, NOVEMBER 25, 1997
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
1 State Board of Education.
2 The State Board of Education shall, within 12 months of the
3 effective date of this act, develop and submit to the Governor
4 and the General Assembly a report with its findings and
5 recommendations on reorganizing this Commonwealth's 501 public
6 school districts into 67 countywide school districts. This
7 report shall include a reorganization plan and a schedule for
8 implementation of the reorganization plan, with consideration
9 given to the duration of existing collective bargaining
10 agreements and the need for development of a new election system
11 for county boards of school directors which provides that all
12 regions of the county are fairly represented.
13 Section 3. Hearings.
14 After submission of the report described in section 2, the
15 State Board of Education shall hold public hearings across this
16 Commonwealth to provide appropriate information to citizens, to
17 answer questions and to hear testimony on countywide school
18 district reorganization.
19 Section 4. Submission of final report.
20 After the completion of the public hearings required by
21 section 3, but not later than six months after the date of
22 submission of the initial report, the State Board of Education
23 shall revise its findings and recommendations as necessary and
24 submit a final report with its findings and recommendations on
25 countywide school district reorganization, including the final
26 version of the reorganization plan, to the Governor and the
27 General Assembly.
28 Section 5. Assistance from Department of Education.
29 The Department of Education and any other department or
30 agency as required by the State Board of Education shall assist
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1 the board and provide staff and services as required by the
2 board.
3 Section 6. Effective date.
4 This act shall take effect immediately.
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