Section 162.858

Title XI EDUCATION AND LIBRARIES

Chapter 162

Effective - 24 May 1996, see footnote   

  162.858.  Public review committee and parental advisory committee of special school district with population of more than 100,000 — appointment of members — powers and duties. — 1.  On or before July 1, 1997, and every four years thereafter, a public review committee shall be appointed to conduct a thorough review of a special school district with a population greater than one hundred thousand persons including the structure, governance, administration, financial management, delivery of services, cooperation with component school districts, the district's role as an advocate for handicapped and severely handicapped children, compliance with sections 162.850 to 162.859, regarding conflicts and responsiveness to the needs and concerns of the citizens of the special school district.  The committee shall investigate, document and determine the validity or invalidity to the extent possible of allegations relating to these matters.  Any such allegation shall be addressed in writing and shall be delivered to the governing council and school board for resolution, as required.  The committee shall consist of three members appointed by the commissioner of education, three members appointed by the governing council of the district and three members appointed by the parental advisory committee established in this section^*.  All members of the public review committee shall be registered voters of the special school district who have resided within the state for one year next preceding the appointment of the committee and who are at least twenty-four years of age.  The committee may hold public hearings and gather information and shall make recommendations based upon factual findings.  No later than July first of the year following the year in which the committee is appointed, the committee shall complete its review and submit a report containing its findings and recommendations to the board of education of the special school district, the governing council and the general assembly, and the report shall be made available to the public upon request.  The department of elementary and secondary education shall provide staff resources to assist in the review, and the district budget shall provide sufficient resources, including staff and consultants, upon request of the public review committee.  The public review committee may propose, if needed, a revised structure of the board of education of the special school district, or a revised structure for the selection of the members of the board of education of the special school district, or both, and may cause the county election authority to place such proposal before the voters of the special school district for approval and adoption, and any such issue shall become effective thirty days after approval and adoption by the voters of the district or on such other, later date as provided in the issue placed before the voters.  Any such issue shall be proposed no later than July first of the year following the year in which the committee is appointed, and the issue shall be submitted to the voters on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November in the year following the year in which the committee is appointed in the manner provided pursuant to chapter 115.  The structure of the board of education and the selection of members of the board of education of a special school district with a population of more than one hundred thousand persons shall be as established pursuant to section 162.867, except as may be otherwise approved by the voters of the special school district under this subsection.

  2.  There is hereby established a parental advisory committee which shall consult with the governing council and the board of education on issues involving pupils or parents of pupils of the district, including procedures for parental rights in resolution conferences and other proceedings regarding disputes between a parent and the local school district, the special school district or both, over the education of a pupil.  The governing council shall establish a process for selection of the members of the parental advisory committee which shall provide for members to be independently selected by parents of pupils of the special school district.

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(L. 1996 S.B. 687)

Effective 5-24-96

*Words "section 162.858" appear in original rolls.