HB 1646 -- SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE BOARDS

SPONSOR: Terry

This bill provides, as an option upon the classification of a school district as unaccredited, for the State Board of Education to suspend the governing or managing authority of the elected school board members of the unaccredited district, and take additional actions relating to special administrative boards as specified in the bill. Currently, a special administrative board for a school district shall have no less than five members.

As specified in this bill, such board shall have seven members, four of whom shall be residents of the district. Each member of the board shall serve for three years, the qualifications of the members are listed in the bill. The special administrative board shall meet at least once per month and each member shall receive a salary of $500 a month. Within 30 days after the vote to appoint a member to the special administrative board, if a member of the Missouri House of Representatives whose district touches the school district, in whole or in part, submits a request to the President Pro Tem of the Senate, the appointment shall be subject to the advice and consent of the Senate. The members of the district's elected school board shall be ex-officio non-voting members of the special administrative board.

Upon failure of the school district to be classified as provisionally or fully accredited for at least two successive academic years, the State Board of Education shall require the special administrative board to establish a specific plan and timeline for achieving accreditation, including appointing a new superintendent of the school district every three years.

A special administrative board may be extended for no more than three years after its expiration date by the State Board of Education. Governance of the school district shall be returned to the elected school board upon the expiration of the authority of the special administrative board.

The bill repeals a provision of law that allows the State Board of Education to appoint additional members to any special administrative board and sets final terms of office for members of such board.

This bill is the same as HB 63 (2023).

Statutes affected:
Introduced (3620H.01): 162.081, 162.083