The bill H.681 proposes that a school district must obtain an affirmative vote from the town in which a school is located before proceeding with the closure of that school or any individual grades within it. This requirement is outlined in the newly added section 564 of Title 16, which specifies that the school district must seek voter approval prior to closing a school that serves grades prekindergarten through grade 12. Additionally, the bill clarifies that the terms "school board" and "school district" are defined as per existing law, and it establishes that this new provision will take precedence over any conflicting educational charters or school district agreements.

Furthermore, the bill amends existing sections 563 and 562 to incorporate references to the new section 564, ensuring that the requirement for voter approval is integrated into the powers of school boards and the electorate. The bill also sets an effective date for these changes to take effect on July 1, 2026.

Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 16-563, 16-562