This bill amends existing laws regarding the election of school district directors in Washington State, specifically targeting districts with a head count enrollment of 2,000 students or more. A new section is added to chapter 28A.343 RCW, which mandates that by January 1, 2027, school districts with more than 5,000 students must elect at least four members of their school board from designated director districts, while those with enrollments between 2,000 and 5,000 must elect at least three members from these districts. Additionally, districts with fewer than 2,000 students are exempt from these requirements.

The bill also updates RCW 28A.343.300, clarifying that the governing board of a school district is known as the board of directors. It specifies that, unless otherwise stated, each board member is elected by the registered voters of the district for a four-year term, with staggered elections to ensure that not more than a majority of one is elected at any regular election. Furthermore, it modifies the definition of a first-class school district to include those with a city population of 400,000 or more, which will have a seven-member board of directors, while all other first and second-class districts will maintain a five-member board.

Statutes affected:
Original Bill: 28A.343.300
Substitute bill: 28A.343.300