Bill Text - HB1324 (2010)

Relative to staffing exceptions for geographically isolated small schools.


Revision: Dec. 10, 2009, midnight

HB 1324 – AS INTRODUCED

2010 SESSION

10-2190

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

COMMITTEE: Education

ANALYSIS

This bill establishes a procedure for an isolated small school to petition the department of education for permission to implement alternative staffing of a course.

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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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

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, “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. The school board of an isolated small school may petition the commissioner of the department of education, on a form provided by the commissioner, for approval for alternative staffing for a course at the school. The petition shall explain the alternative staffing proposal and how the proposal 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.

2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.