This bill amends Section 16-2-34 of the General Laws to authorize the city of Central Falls, through its home rule charter or city ordinance, to create a school board with all powers and duties necessary to govern the Central Falls School District. The existing seven-member board of trustees will be replaced by this new school board, which is required to meet at least monthly and may serve without compensation as determined by local ordinance. The school board will focus on maintaining communication with families, students, and educators, and will have broad policy-making authority for the operation of the schools. Its duties include appointing a superintendent, regularly evaluating the superintendent's performance, developing educational policies, and leading a transparent public process for budget development.

Additionally, the bill amends Section 16-7.2-6 to establish a Central Falls Stabilization Fund, which will support the district's educational needs. The total allocation to this fund will be calculated as the difference between the total foundation amount and state formula aid, plus funding for costs outside the permanent foundation education-aid formula. The funding structure aims to share costs between the state and the city for various education-related expenses, including transportation, facility maintenance, and tuition payments for outplaced special education students.

The provisions related to the new school board will take effect on January 1, 2026, while the remaining sections of the act will take effect upon passage.

Statutes affected:
6255: 16-2-34, 16-7.2-6