SPONSOR:	Rep. K. Williams & Sen. Peterson
	Reps. Baumbach, Collins, Hudson, Keeley, Kowalko, Miro, Mitchell, Osienski, Outten, Wilson; Sens. Lavelle, Marshall, Townsend

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

148th GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HOUSE BILL NO. 260

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 14 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE:

Section 1. Amend § 105, Title 14 of the Delaware Code by making deletions as shown by strike through and insertions as shown by underline as follows:

§ 105. State Board procedures.

(a) The Board shall hold an annual meeting each year, in Dover, during the month of July. At this meeting the Board shall each year elect 1 of its members to serve as Vice-President. Other meetings shall be held at such times and places as the duties and business of the Board require, except that all meetings, including the annual meeting, must begin at or after 5:30 p.m. No motion or resolution shall be declared adopted without the concurrence of a majority of the whole Board.

SYNOPSIS

This bill requires State Board of Education to hold all of its meetings at 5:30 p.m. or after, in order to facilitate the attendance of interested teachers, parents, and community members. The mission statement of the State Board of Education emphasizes that “[i]n collaboration with community and stakeholders,” the Board “serves as the primary voice for Delaware citizens on education policy.”  However, the Board’s current practice of holding their meetings at 1:00 p.m. on Thursdays does not facilitate the attendance of teachers and working parents and concerned citizens.  Holding meetings in the evening hours would facilitate access and input and allow the Board to better fulfill its representative mission.