SB 221 - This act sets up a procedure whereby voters who reside in the portion of the Kansas City school district that falls within the city of Independence and the city of Sugar Creek may petition to annex the territory of the Kansas City school district that is located in the city of Independence and the city of Sugar Creek to the Independence school district. Ten percent of the number of voters who voted in the last annual school board election and who reside in the aforementioned territory may petition the Independence school district for annexation to that district and a change of school boundaries. A majority vote by such voters shall decide the question. If the voters approve, the question shall be presented to the Independence school board, which may accept or reject. Upon acceptance, an election shall be held in the Independence school district for annexation and boundary change. The act contains ballot language. DESE shall incur the cost of the election. The voters in the Independence school district shall decide the question by a majority vote. If assent to the annexation and boundary change is given, the annexation and boundary change shall go into effect the subsequent fifteenth day of June, at which time the school tax property levy in the annexed territory shall be set at the same rate as the school tax levy in the Independence school district.
Upon annexation, the Kansas City school district shall transfer all buildings of the school district located in the territory annexed to the Independence school district. Should the Kansas City school district refuse to transfer the buildings to the Independence school district, the Kansas City school district shall pay the tuition of and provide transportation for each resident pupil to attend an accredited school in another district of the same or an adjoining county. Regarding all other property in question, if the school boards cannot agree upon an adjustment and apportionment of property and indebtedness, the act directs that the school boards shall follow the provisions of two current statutes that allow the board of either district to appeal to the state board of education, which shall appoint three persons as a board of arbitration to make an adjustment and apportionment of property and indebtedness.
JIM ERTLE