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HB 189 Hochberg / Janek
Prohibits a superintendent from receiving financial benefit for services performed for a business entity conducting or soliciting business with the district. Requires an agreement between a superintendent and other public entities (such as an ESC) to be approved on a case-by-case basis by the board.
HB 2563 Hancock / Van de Putte
Restates and clarifies existing laws with regard to school district governance relating to the powers and duties of school boards and superintendents. School boards are required to adopt a vision statement and performance goals relating to existing academic and fiscal accountability measures. School boards are also required to establish a process by which parents, members of the public, and school personnel may obtain a hearing from the district administrators and the board regarding a complaint. Another provision of the bill provides that a district employment policy must provide each employee with the right to present grievances to the district board of trustees. The bill amends current nepotism law by requiring that the nepotism provisions apply to both school board members and the superintendent if a district has delegated final selection authority to the superintendent. This change in nepotism law does not apply to a school district that is located in a county with a population of less than 35,000. Pursuant to an amendment drafted by TCTA, any employees hired by the superintendent prior to the effective date of the bill who are related to a school board member within the degree prohibited by the nepotism law may continue in employment with the district
SB 670 Ellis, Rodney / Vo
Relating to allowing an independent school district to change the length of trustees' terms.
Allows a school board to adopt a resolution changing the length of trustee terms. The resolution must provide for a three- or four-year term and specify how the transition to the new term lengths will be done. The resolution must be adopted by December 31, 2007, and the transition must begin with the first board election in 2008.
SB 883 Deuell / Laubenberg
Exempts school districts from having to pay impact fees charged by cities for new developments. The board of trustees of the district can consent to an impact fee by entering a contract with the political subdivision imposing the fees.
SB 1788 Shapiro / Madden
Creates a "State Virtual School Network" funded by the state, to provide education through electronic courses and programs beginning with the 2008-09 school year. A student that participates must be less than 21 years of age on September 1, must not have graduated from high school, and must be eligible to enroll in public school. A student is eligible to enroll full time only if the student was enrolled in a Texas public school the preceding year or is the dependent of a member of the U.S. military, was previously enrolled in a Texas high school, and lives out of state due to a military deployment. A student not enrolled in public school may only take two electronic courses per semester.
Only districts rated academically acceptable or higher can serve as a provider. A course offered through the virtual network must be in a subject that is part of the required curriculum. A provider may offer the classroom portion of a driver’s education course, including the traffic safety curriculum, but not the lab portion.
Students taking an electronic course must take any tests required for students in a traditional classroom setting.
A district or charter school will receive state and local funding equal to the cost of the course plus 20%. A district may charge a fee not to exceed the lesser of $400 or the cost of providing the course.
For the 2008 – 09 school year, courses will be provided for grades 9 – 12 only. For the 2009 – 10 school year, grades 6, 7, and 8 will be added and, beginning in the 2010 – 11 school year, courses will be offered at all grade levels.
Reviewed: 01/08/08
