Amendment ID: S2410-35

Amendment 35

School District Collaboration & Regionalization

Mr. Wolf moves to amend the amendment by inserting after section 172 the following sections:-

"SECTION 172A. Said chapter 71 is hereby further amended by striking out section 14B, as so appearing, and inserting in place thereof the following section:-

Section 14B. (a) The regional district planning board may recommend the establishment of a regional school district which may include all the cities or towns represented by its membership, or alternatively, any specified combination of such cities or towns. If the regional district planning board so recommends, it shall submit a proposed agreement or agreements setting forth as to each alternative recommendation, if such be made, the following:

(i) the number, composition, method of selection, and terms of office of the members of the regional district school committee;

(ii) the cities, towns or general area within which the regional district school or schools shall be located;

(iii) the type of regional district school or schools; provided, however, that without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the type of regional school may, if it is so stated in the agreement, consist of a vocational school or schools offering such kinds of education as may be provided by cities or towns under chapter 74; provided, further, that any other type of regional school may, if it is so stated in the agreement, offer said kinds of education; and provided further, that a city or town may simultaneously be a member of a vocational regional school district and any other type of regional school district but when a vocational regional school district is in operation, no member city or town of such district, and no other type of regional school district of which such a city or town is a member shall, without the approval of the commissioner of education, offer the same kinds of education as offered by the vocational regional school district;

(iv) the method of apportioning the expenses of the regional school district, and the method of apportioning the costs of school construction, including any interest and retirement of principal of any bonds or other obligations issued by the district among the several cities or towns comprising the district, and the time and manner of payment of the shares of the several cities or towns of any such expense;

(v) the method by which school transportation shall be provided, and if such transportation is to be furnished by the district, the manner in which the expenses shall be borne by the several cities or towns;

(vi) the terms by which any city or town may be admitted to or separated from the regional school district; provided, however, that in the case of admission such terms shall not be inconsistent with section 16 of chapter 645 of the acts of 1948;

(vii) the method by which the agreement may be amended;

(viii) the detailed procedure for the preparation and adoption of an annual budget; and

(ix) any other matters, not incompatible with law, which the said board may deem advisable.

(b) Copies of any agreements prepared pursuant to subsection (a) shall be submitted to the department of elementary and secondary education, and subject to its approval, to the several cities and towns for their acceptance

SECTION 172B. Section 16 of said chapter 71, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out, in line 161, the word “ten” and inserting in place thereof the following figure:- 30.

SECTION 172C. Said section 16 of said chapter 71 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby amended by adding the following clause:-

(s) to serve as the fiscal agent when the regional school district and any towns or superintendency unions have hired the same superintendent and central office staff; provided, however, that the regional school district and school committees of the member municipalities shall enter into a written agreement regarding billing for the payment for services and personnel."