HB 1324 – AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE
27Jan2010… 0204h
2010 SESSION
04/03
HOUSE BILL 1324
AN ACT relative to staffing exceptions for geographically isolated small schools.
SPONSORS: Rep. Ladd, Graf 5; Rep. K. Shaw, Hills 26; Rep. Rappaport, Coos 1; Rep. B. Ward, Graf 1; Rep. Rous, Straf 7; Sen. Reynolds, Dist 2
This bill establishes a definition of a geographically isolated small school and implements a procedure for such schools to petition the department of education for approval of an alternative staffing plan.
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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.
Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]
Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
27Jan2010… 0204h
10-2190
04/03
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Ten
AN ACT relative to staffing exceptions for geographically isolated small schools.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 New Section; School Boards; Geographically Isolated Small Schools. Amend RSA 189 by inserting after section 24 the following new section:
189:24-a Geographically Isolated Small Schools.
I. In this section, “geographically isolated small school” means:
(a) An elementary school which is 10 miles or more from another elementary school; or
(b) A high school which is 20 or more miles from another high school; or
(c) Any school which is separated from the nearest school by a significant geographical barrier; and
(d) Which is comprised of kindergarten through grade 6 with an average daily membership in attendance of less than 92 pupils, or any school comprised of kindergarten through grade 8 with an average daily membership in attendance of less than 120 pupils, or any school comprised of grades 9 through 12 with an average daily membership in attendance of less than 60 pupils, or meets one of the following configurations:
(1) Kindergarten through grade 2 with an average daily membership in residence of 12 pupils or less per grade; or
(2) A school comprised of grades 3 through 8 with an average daily membership in residence of 14 pupils or less per grade; or
(3) A school comprised of grades 9 through 12 with an average daily membership in residence of 15 pupils or less per grade.
II. Upon written request from the school board of a school district, the commissioner of the department of education shall approve a school as a geographically isolated small school provided the school meets the definition set forth in paragraph I.
III. The school board of a geographically isolated small school may petition the commissioner of the department of education, on a form provided by the commissioner, for approval for an alternative staffing plan for a course at the school. The petition shall explain the alternative staffing plan and how the plan will be in the best educational interests of the pupils. The commissioner shall render a decision no later than 30 days after the date the petition is received. An approved alternative staffing plan shall remain in effect until the commissioner determines the school no longer meets the definition of a geographically isolated small school set forth in paragraph I.
2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.