Brief (1)
SB 257 concerns school districts and addresses the following two matters.
School Board Powers Delegated to the Superintendent. A school district board of education is authorized to delegate to the superintendent the power to execute contracts on behalf of the district for purchases of goods and services of up to $10,000 in value.
School District "Home Rule." The power of local control is conferred on school district boards of education. This power is exercised by board resolution. School district boards are authorized to transact business and adopt policies they deem appropriate to perform their constitutional duty to maintain, develop, and operate local public schools. This delegation of power is not intended to relieve another governmental unit of duties and responsibilities prescribed by law or require a school district to assume duties and responsibilities required of another governmental unit.
Background
SB 257 was recommended by Senator Vratil. As introduced, the measure addressed only the issue of contracting power proposed to be delegated by the school district board to the superintendent.
The Senate Education Committee amended the bill to add the school district "home rule" component - the substance of SB 166.
The Kansas Association of School Boards presented testimony in support of SB 257. There were no other conferees.
SB 257, as amended by the Senate Committee on Education, would have no state fiscal impact.
1. *Supplemental notes are prepared by the Legislative Research Department and do not express legislative intent. The supplemental note and fiscal note for this bill may be accessed on the Internet at http://www.ink.org/public/legislative/fulltext.cgi