SPONSOR:

Rep. Jaques & Rep. Bolden & Rep. Miro & Sen. Sokola

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

149th GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 39

ESTABLISHING A TASK FORCE TO STUDY AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS RELATED TO SCHOOL DISTRICT CONSOLIDATION.

WHEREAS, there are currently nineteen (19) school districts operating in the state of Delaware; and

WHEREAS, school districts range in size from 15,929 students in Red Clay Consolidated School District to 1,200 students in POLYTECH School District; and

WHEREAS, school districts differ in regard to enrollment size, physical area covered, taxing authority, education provided, and proportion of state funding; and

WHEREAS, school districts required a chief school officer, or superintendent, and a school board; and

WHEREAS, as the state of Delaware’s financial obligations related to education continue to rise, many states and school districts are exploring consolidation as a strategy for decreasing administrative and other related education costs; and

WHEREAS, school district consolidation may also produce cost advantages through the provision of shared services (e.g. – transportation, information technology, security, and food preparation) and greater economies-of-scale in the purchase of material.

NOW, THEREFORE:

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the 149 th General Assembly of the State of Delaware, the Senate concurring therein, that a Task Force be created to study and make findings and recommendations regarding the impact of consolidating school districts in the state of Delaware.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a Task Force be composed of sixteen (16) members consisting of the following:

(1) The Education Policy Advisor for the Governor;

(2) The Secretary of Education or designee;

(3) Two (2) members of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House, one from each caucus;

(4) Two (2) members of the Senate appointed by the Senate President Pro Tempore, one from each caucus;

(5) Three (3) Superintendents, appointed by the President of the Chief School Officers Association, one from each county;

(6) The Director of OMB, or designee;

(7) A representative appointed by the President of the Delaware State Education Association;

(8) The Executive Director of the School Boards Association, or designee;

(9) A representative of the Governor’s Advisory Council for Exceptional Citizens;

(10) A representative from the Charter School Network;

(11) One (1) parent or guardian of a public school student, appointed by the Delaware Parent Teacher Association; and

(12) One (1) representative of a Vo-Tech school district.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this Task Force shall:

(a) Examine issues and existing research related to the consolidation of school districts;

(b) Study and make findings related to the financial feasibility and impact of school district consolidation;

(c) Study implementation challenges associated with school district consolidation;

(d) Examine and identify incentives that may be used to encourage schools districts to consolidate or reorganize; and

(e) Make recommendations to the Governor and General Assembly concerning a proposed direction for public education consolidation based upon its findings.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the support staff for the Task Force shall be provided by the Delaware Department of Education.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Task Force shall select a chairperson from among its members;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Task Force shall report its findings and recommendations to the members of the Delaware General Assembly no later than January 30, 2018.

SYNOPSIS

This concurrent resolution establishes a Task Force to study and make recommendations regarding the impact of consolidating school districts in the state of Delaware.