SECOND REGULAR SESSION
SENATE BILL NO. 679
91ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR BLAND.
Pre-filed December 1, 2001, and 1,000 copies ordered printed.
TERRY L. SPIELER, Secretary.
2903S.01I
AN ACT
To amend chapter 162, RSMo, by adding thereto one new section relating to the Kansas City Missouri school district.
Section A. Chapter 162, RSMo, is amended by adding thereto one new section, to be known as section 162.555, to read as follows:
162.555. 1. There is hereby established a planning commission for the Kansas City Missouri school district.
2. The commission shall consist of fifteen members selected as follows:
(1) The superintendent of the Kansas City Missouri school district shall serve as ex-officio member;
(2) The president of the school board of the Kansas City Missouri school district shall serve as ex-officio member;
(3) The president of the local chapter of the American Federation of Teachers shall serve as a member;
(4) One member, resident in the district, shall be appointed by the local chapter of the National Education Association;
(5) One member shall be the president of the local AFL/CIO chapter;
(6) The chancellor of Rockhurst College shall serve as ex-officio member;
(7) The chancellor of the University of Missouri-Kansas City shall serve as ex-officio member;
(8) The president of Lincoln University shall appoint a member who is a resident of the district with expertise in education issues;
(9) One member shall be the chief executive officer of the Kansas City urban league;
(10) One member shall be the president of the parent's association for the district;
(11) One member shall be the chief executive officer of a large corporation with an office in Kansas City, appointed by the Kansas City chamber of commerce;
(12) One member shall be a business person appointed by the Kansas City black chamber of commerce;
(13) One member shall be appointed by the NAACP;
(14) One member of the house of representatives who represents all or a portion of the school district and has expertise in education issues shall be appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives;
(15) One member who is a resident of the school district with expertise in education issues shall be appointed by the president pro tempore of the senate with the approval of the senators representing all or a portion of the school district.
3. All appointed planning commission members shall have expertise in either education, administration or business matters.
4. The planning commission shall research, review, evaluate and recommend alternative solutions for the school district to improve the quality of education and improve student academic success. The commission's research shall include, at a minimum, study of the history, development and patterns of urban education in the school district and in other urban school districts across the nation over at least the last twenty years. The commission shall review the history and performance of the district over at least the last twenty years to assess when educational deficiencies began in the district. The commission's evaluation shall determine the strengths and weaknesses of the school district's educational system. The commission's recommendations shall include options to develop a new process whereby the district may improve educational quality, improve student academic success and meet existing requirements applicable to school districts. The commission shall make such findings as it deems appropriate and shall make such recommendations to the state board of education as it deems appropriate.
5. Other provisions of law to the contrary notwithstanding, the state board of education may adopt an alternative plan whereby an unaccredited school district may return to accredited status. Such plan may allow an unaccredited district's corporate status to remain intact during the period such alternative plan is in force, which may exceed two years, provided that the district continues to annually meet all terms and conditions established pursuant to the alternative plan.
6. There is hereby established a community advisory committee to the planning commission established pursuant to this section. All members of the advisory committee shall be residents of the school district. The advisory committee shall consist of:
(1) One member appointed by each member of the house of representatives who represents all or a part of the school district;
(2) One member appointed by each member of the senate who represents all or a part of the school district;
(3) One member appointed by each member of the city council of the city containing the school district who represents all or a part of the school district;
(4) One member appointed by each member of the county legislature of the county containing the school district who represents all or a part of the school district; and
(5) Five members appointed by the governor, including two parents of resident pupils attending a district school, one grandparent of a resident pupil attending a district school and two members of the community.
7. The community advisory committee shall serve as a liaison between the community and the planning commission. The advisory committee may hold public meetings to seek public input, suggestions and ideas on alternative plans and solutions and shall report to the commission on the interests, ideas and solutions received from the community by the advisory committee.
8. As used in this section, "school district" shall mean the Kansas City Missouri school district.