HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1952        FILED ON: 1/15/2015

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 405

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Kevin G. Honan

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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act relative to the school turnaround process.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1952        FILED ON: 1/15/2015

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 405

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Eighty-Ninth General Court
(2015-2016)

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An Act relative to the school turnaround process.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1. Subsection (f) of section 1J of chapter 69 of the General Laws as appearing in the 2012 Official Edition is hereby  amended by inserting after the third paragraph the following paragraph:-

If the superintendent determines during the annual review process described in subsections (k) and (v), or during the review of the school upon the expiration of the turnaround plan described in subsections (l) and (w), that 1 or more of the resolutions contained in the decision of the joint resolution committee should be renegotiated, the superintendent shall submit the written request for renegotiation to the commissioner along with an explanation of the reasons why such a renegotiation is necessary, including a description of any changes in circumstances that require a change in the initial decision. The commissioner shall have 10 days to respond to this request. If this request is approved, the superintendent and the bargaining unit shall have 30 days from the time of approval to bargain the identified resolutions in good faith for a resolution. If the parties are unable to reach an agreement within 30 days, then the commissioner will resolve all outstanding issues. If the request is denied, the commissioner shall transmit to the superintendent an explanation of the reasons for the denial.

SECTION 2. Subsection (l) of section 1J of chapter 69 of the General Laws as appearing in the 2012 Official Edition is hereby amended by inserting, after the second sentence, the following sentence:-

Renewing a turnaround plan shall not require renegotiating any decision with a collective bargaining unit pursuant to subsection (f).

SECTION 3. Subsection (w) of section 1J of chapter 69 of the General Laws as  appearing in the 2012 Official Edition is hereby amended by inserting, after the second sentence, the following sentence:-

Renewing a turnaround plan shall not require renegotiating any decision with a collective bargaining unit pursuant to subsection (f).

SECTION 4. Subsection (y) of said section 1J of chapter 69 of the General Laws as appearing in the 2012 Official Edition is hereby amended by inserting, at the end of the second sentence, the following:-

; provided, however, that this transitional period shall extend for a minimum of 5 years after the school’s designation as underperforming or chronically underperforming terminates. Any decision with a collective bargaining unit pursuant to subsection (g) shall continue in effect during such transitional period.