PRINTER'S NO. 3364
No. 2498 Session of 1998
INTRODUCED BY KIRKLAND, COWELL, ROBINSON, LEVDANSKY, EVANS,
READSHAW, PESCI, LAUGHLIN, TRELLO, STURLA, MANDERINO, TIGUE,
JAMES, ITKIN, WASHINGTON, MUNDY, RAMOS AND STEELMAN,
APRIL 1, 1998
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, APRIL 1, 1998
AN ACT
1 Amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), entitled "An
2 act relating to the public school system, including certain
3 provisions applicable as well to private and parochial
4 schools; amending, revising, consolidating and changing the
5 laws relating thereto," further providing for special board
6 of control; and making editorial changes.
7 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
8 hereby enacts as follows:
9 Section 1. Section 692 of the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30,
10 No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, amended January
11 14, 1970 (1969 P.L.468, No.192), is amended to read:
12 Section 692. Special Board of Control; Petition;
13 Appointments.--Whenever on the basis of a proper investigation
14 as herein provided for, the [Superintendent of Public
15 Instruction] Secretary of Education has declared any school
16 district to be a distressed school district he or his designated
17 representative who shall be a person trained in public school
18 administration, possessing the certification prerequisites
19 demanded of a district or assistant superintendent, [or holding
1 in the Department of Public Instruction the rank of Deputy
2 Superintendent,] shall petition the court of common pleas of the
3 county in which such district, or the largest part in area, is
4 located to appoint two citizens who shall be qualified electors
5 and taxpayers in the county in which the school district is
6 located. At least one of those persons shall reside in the
7 community which the school district serves, and in which it is
8 situated. The Secretary of Education shall submit a list of
9 recommended persons to the office of the senator from the Senate
10 district in which the distressed district is located, and the
11 senator shall appoint a person from that list. The Secretary of
12 Education shall submit a list of recommended persons to the
13 office of the member of the House of Representatives from the
14 legislative district in which the school district is located.
15 The representative shall appoint one person from that list.
16 School directors and employes of any such school district shall
17 be ineligible for appointment by the court. The appointees,
18 together with the [Superintendent of Public Instruction]
19 Secretary of Education or his designated representative, shall
20 constitute a special board of control. Vacancies occurring
21 because of death or resignation of appointed members of the
22 board shall be filled by the court. The special board of control
23 shall assume control of the affairs of the district and operate
24 it in the place of the school directors during the period
25 necessary to reestablish a sound financial structure in the
26 district. The costs of the court proceedings shall be paid by
27 the Department of [Public Instruction] Education.
28 Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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