41325-41328
EDUCATION CODE
SECTION 41325-41328
41325. (a) The Legislature finds and declares that when a school district becomes insolvent and requires an emergency apportionment from the state in the amount designated in this article, it is necessary that the Superintendent of Public Instruction assume control of the district in order to ensure the district's return to fiscal solvency. (b) It is the intent of the Legislature that the Superintendent of Public Instruction, operating through an appointed administrator, do all of the following: (1) Implement substantial changes in the district's fiscal policies and practices, including, if necessary, the filing of a petition under Chapter 9 of the federal Bankruptcy Code for the adjustment of indebtedness. (2) Revise the district's educational program to reflect realistic income projections, in response to the dramatic effect of the changes in fiscal policies and practices upon educational program quality and the potential for the success of all pupils. (3) Encourage all members of the school community to accept a fair share of the burden of the district's fiscal recovery. (4) Consult, for the purposes described in this subdivision, with the school district governing board, the exclusive representatives of the employees of the district, parents, and the community. (5) Consult with and seek recommendations from the county superintendent of schools for the purposes described in this subdivision. 41326. (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this code, the acceptance by a school district of an apportionment made pursuant to Section 41320 that exceeds an amount equal to 200 percent of the amount of the reserve recommended for that district under the standards and criteria adopted pursuant to Section 33127 constitutes the agreement by the district to the conditions set forth in this article. Prior to applying for an emergency apportionment in the amount identified in this subdivision, a school district governing board shall discuss the need for that apportionment at a regular or special meeting of the governing board and, at that meeting, shall receive testimony regarding the apportionment from parents, exclusive representatives of employees of the district, and other members of the community. For purposes of this article, "qualifying school district" means a school district that accepts a loan as described in this subdivision. (b) The Superintendent shall assume all the legal rights, duties, and powers of the governing board of a qualifying school district. The Superintendent, in consultation with the county superintendent of schools, shall appoint an administrator to act on his or her behalf in exercising the authority described in this subdivision in accordance with all of the following: (1) The administrator shall serve under the direction and supervision of the Superintendent until terminated by the Superintendent at his or her discretion. The Superintendent shall consult with the county superintendent of schools before terminating the administrator. (2) The administrator shall have recognized expertise in management and finance. (3) To facilitate the appointment of the administrator and the employment of any necessary staff, for the purposes of this section, the Superintendent of Public Instruction is exempt from the requirements of Article 6 (commencing with Section 999) of Chapter 6 of Division 4 of the Military and Veterans Code and Part 2 (commencing with Section 10100) of the Public Contracts Code. (4) Notwithstanding any other law, the Superintendent may appoint an employee of the state or the office of the county superintendent of schools to act as administrator for up to the duration of the administratorship. During the tenure of his or her appointment, the administrator, if he or she is an employee of the state or the office of the county superintendent of schools, is an employee of the school district, but shall remain in the same retirement system under the same plan that has been provided by his or her employment with the state or the office of the county superintendent of schools. Upon the expiration or termination of the appointment, the employee shall have the right to return to his or her former position, or to a position at substantially the same level as that position, with the state or the office of the county superintendent of schools. The time served in the appointment shall be counted for all purposes as if the administrator had served that time in his or her former position with the state or the office of the county superintendent of schools. (5) Except for an individual appointed as an administrator by the Superintendent of Public Instruction pursuant to paragraph (4), the administrator shall be a member of the State Teachers' Retirement System, if qualified, for the period of service as administrator, unless he or she elects in writing not to become a member. A person who is a member or retirant of the State Teachers' Retirement System at the time of appointment shall continue to be a member or retirant of the system for the duration of the appointment. If the administrator chooses to become a member or is already a member, the administrator shall be placed on the payroll of the school district for the purposes of providing appropriate contributions to the system. The Superintendent may also require the administrator to be placed on the payroll of the school district for purposes of remuneration, other benefits, and payroll deductions. (6) For the purposes of workers' compensation benefits, the administrator is an employee of the qualifying district, except that an administrator appointed pursuant to paragraph (4) may be deemed an employee of the state or office of the county superintendent of schools, as applicable. (7) The qualifying district shall add the administrator as a covered employee of the school district all for purposes of errors and omissions liability insurance policies. (8) The salary and benefits of the administrator shall be established by the Superintendent of Public Instruction and paid by the qualifying school district. (9) The Superintendent or the administrator may, on a short-term basis, employ at district expense any staff necessary to assist the administrator, including, but not limited to, a certified public accountant. (10) The administrator may do all of the following: (A) Implement substantial changes in the fiscal policies and practices of the district, including, if necessary, the filing of a petition under Chapter 9 of the federal Bankruptcy Code for the adjustment of indebtedness. (B) Revise the educational program of the district to reflect realistic income projections and pupil performance relative to state standards. (C) Encourage all members of the school community to accept a fair share of the burden of the fiscal recovery of the district. (D) Consult, for the purposes described in this subdivision, with the governing board of the school district, the exclusive representatives of the employees of the district, parents, and the community. (E) Consult with, and seek recommendations from, the Superintendent, county superintendent of schools, and the County Office Fiscal Crisis and Management Assistance Team authorized pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section 42127.8 for the purposes described in this article. (F) With the approval of the Superintendent, enter into agreements on behalf of the district and, subject to any contractual obligation of the district, change any existing district rules, regulations, policies, or practices as necessary for the effective implementation of the recovery plans referred to in Sections 41327 and 41327.1. (c) (1) For the period of time during which the Superintendent of Public Instruction exercises the authority described in subdivision (b), the governing board of the qualifying school district shall serve as an advisory body reporting to the state-appointed administrator, and has no rights, duties, or powers, and is not entitled to any stipend, benefits, or other compensation from the district. (2) Upon the appointment of an administrator pursuant to this section, the district superintendent of schools is no longer an employee of the district. (3) A determination of the severance compensation for the district superintendent shall be made pursuant to subdivision (j). (d) Notwithstanding Section 35031 or any other law, the administrator may, after according the employee reasonable notice and the opportunity for a hearing, terminate the employment of any deputy, associate, assistant superintendent of schools, or any other district level administrator who is employed by a school district under a contract of employment signed or renewed after January 1, 1992, if the employee fails to document, to the satisfaction of the administrator, that prior to the date of the acceptance of the apportionment he or she either advised the governing board of the district, or his or her superior, that actions contemplated or taken by the governing board could result in the fiscal insolvency of the district, or took other appropriate action to avert that fiscal insolvency. (e) The authority of the Superintendent, and the administrator, under this section shall continue until all of the following occur: (1) (A) At any time after one complete fiscal year has elapsed following the district's acceptance of a loan as described in subdivision (a), the administrator determines, and so notifies the Superintendent and the county superintendent of schools, that future compliance by the school district with the recovery plans approved pursuant to paragraph (2) is probable. (B) The Superintendent may return power to the governing board for any area listed in subdivision (a) of Section 41327.1 if performance under the recovery plan for that area has been demonstrated to the satisfaction of the Superintendent. (2) The Superintendent has approved all of the recovery plans referred to in subdivision (a) of Section 41327 and the County Office Fiscal Crisis and Management Assistance Team completes the improvement plans specified in Section 41327.1 and has completed a minimum of two reports identifying the district's progress in implementing the improvement plans. (3) The administrator certifies that all necessary collective bargaining agreements have been negotiated and ratified, and that the agreements are consistent with the terms of the recovery plans. (4) The district has completed all reports required by the Superintendent and the administrator. (5) The Superintendent determines that future compliance by the school district with the recovery plans approved pursuant to paragraph (2) is probable. (f) When the conditions stated in subdivision (e) have been met, and at least 60 days after the Superintendent of Public Instruction has notified the Legislature, the Department of Finance, the Controller, and the county superintendent of schools that he or she expects the conditions prescribed pursuant to this section to be met, the school district governing board shall regain all of its legal rights, duties, and powers, except for the powers held by the trustee provided for pursuant to Article 2 (commencing with Section 41320). The Superintendent shall appoint a trustee under Section 41320.1 to monitor and review the operations of the district until the conditions of subdivision (b) of that section have been met. (g) Notwithstanding subdivision (f), if the district violates any provision of the recovery plans approved by the Superintendent pursuant to this article within five years after the trustee appointed pursuant to Section 41320.1 is removed, the Superintendent may reassume, either directly or through an administrator appointed in accordance with this section, all of the legal rights, duties, and powers of the governing board of the district. The Superintendent shall return to the school district governing board all of its legal rights, duties, and powers reassumed under this subdivision when he or she determines that future compliance with the approved recovery plans is probable, or after a period of one year, whichever occurs later. (h) Article 2 (commencing with Section 41320) shall apply except as otherwise specified in this article. (i) It is the intent of the Legislature that the legislative budget subcommittees annually conduct a review of each qualifying school district that includes an evaluation of the financial condition of the district, the impact of the recovery plans upon the district's educational program, and the efforts made by the state-appointed administrator to obtain input from the community and the governing board of the district. (j) (1) The district superintendent is entitled to a due process hearing for purposes of determining final compensation. The final compensation of the district superintendent shall be between zero and six times his or her monthly salary. The outcome of the due process hearing shall be reported to the Superintendent of Public Instruction and the public. The information provided to the public shall explain the rationale for the compensation. (2) This subdivision applies only to a contract for employment negotiated on or after June 21, 2004. (k) (1) When the Superintendent assumes control over a school district pursuant to subdivision (b), he or she shall, in consultation with the County Office Fiscal Crisis and Management Assistance Team, review the fiscal oversight of the district by the county superintendent of schools. The Superintendent may consult with other fiscal experts, including other county superintendents of schools and regional fiscal teams in conducting this review. (2) Within three months of assuming control over a qualifying district, the Superintendent shall report his or her findings to the Legislature and shall provide a copy of that report to the Department of Finance. This report shall include findings as to fiscal oversight actions that were or were not taken and may include recommendations as to an appropriate legislative response to improve fiscal oversight. (3) If after performing the duties described in paragraphs (1) and (2), the Superintendent determines that the county superintendent of schools failed to carry out his or her responsibilities for fiscal oversight as required by this code, the Superintendent may exercise the authority of the county superintendent of schools who has oversight responsibilities for a qualifying school district. If the Superintendent finds, based on the report required in paragraph (1), that the county superintendent of schools failed to appropriately take into account particular types of indicators of financial distress or failed to take appropriate remedial actions in the qualifying district, the Superintendent shall further investigate whether the county superintendent of schools failed to take into account those indicators or similarly failed to take appropriate actions in other districts with negative or qualified certifications and shall provide an additional report on the fiscal oversight practices of the county superintendent to the appropriate policy and fiscal committees of each house of the Legislature and the Department of Finance. 41326.1. Within 30 days of assuming authority, an administrator who has control over a school district pursuant to Section 41326 shall discuss options for resolving the fiscal problems of the district with all of the following groups and shall consider, on a monthly basis, or more frequently if so desired by the administrator, information from one or more of the following groups: (a) The governing board of the school district. (b) Any advisory council of the school district. (c) Any parent-teacher organization of the school district. (d) Representatives from the community in which the school district is located. (e) The district administrative team. (f) The County Office Fiscal Crisis and Management Assistance Team. (g) Representatives of employee bargaining units. (h) The county superintendent of schools. 41327. (a) In accordance with timelines, instructions, and a format established by the Superintendent of Public Instruction, the state-appointed administrator shall prepare or obtain the following reports and plans: (1) A management review and recovery plan. (2) A multiyear financial recovery plan. The multiyear financial recovery plan shall include a plan, to be submitted annually on or before July 1, to repay to the state any and all loans owed by the district. (3) During the period of service by the state-appointed administrator, an annual report on the financial condition of the district, including, but not necessarily limited to, all of the following information: (A) Specific actions taken to reduce district expenditures or increase income to the district, and the amount of the resulting cost savings and increases in income. (B) A copy of the adopted district budget for the current fiscal year. (C) The amount of the district budgetary reserve. (D) The status of employee contracts. (E) Any obstacles to the implementation of the recovery plans described in paragraphs (1) and (2). (b) Each of the reports or plans required under this section, or under any other law that requires the district to prepare reports or plans, shall be submitted to the Superintendent of Public Instruction for approval, after his or her consideration of comments and recommendations of the county superintendent of schools. The Superintendent of Public Instruction may accept and approve, for the purposes of this section, any reports or plans that were prepared by or for the district prior to the district's acceptance of a loan as described in subdivision (a) of Section 41326. (c) With the approval of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, the state-appointed administrator may enter into agreements on behalf of the district and, subject to any contractual obligation of the district, change any existing district rules, regulations, policies, or practices as necessary for the effective implementation of the recovery plans referred to in subdivision (a). 41327.1. (a) The State Board of Education shall adopt and may periodically update by regulation a comprehensive list of professional and legal standards that all districts are encouraged to use as a guide to conduct a good educational program and fiscal and management practices that shall be used as the basis of evaluating the improvement of qualifying districts pursuant to this article. These standards shall, at a minimum, address all of the following areas: (1) Financial management. (2) Pupil achievement. (3) Personnel management. (4) Facilities management. (5) Community relations. (b) If an administrator is appointed pursuant to Section 41326, the County Office Fiscal Crisis and Management Assistance Team established pursuant to Section 42127.8 shall conduct comprehensive assessments in the five areas specified in subdivision (a). (c) After the assessments specified in subdivision (b) are completed, the Superintendent, in consultation with the County Office Fiscal Crisis and Management Assistance Team and the county superintendent of schools, shall determine, based upon the district's particular needs and circumstances, the level of improvement needed in the standards adopted pursuant to subdivision (a) before local authority will be returned pursuant to subdivision (f) of Section 41326. Based upon this determination, the County Office Fiscal Crisis and Management Assistance Team shall complete improvement plans in the five areas specified in subdivision (a) that focus on the agreed upon standards, and that are consistent with the financial improvement plan. (d) Beginning six months after an emergency loan is approved, and every six months thereafter until local authority is returned pursuant to subdivision (f) of Section 41326, the County Office Fiscal Crisis and Management Assistance Team shall file a written status report with the appropriate fiscal and policy committees of the Legislature, the Members of the Legislature that represent the qualifying district, any advisory council of the school district, the Superintendent, the county superintendent of schools, the Director of Finance, and the Secretary for Education. The reports shall indicate the progress that the district is making in meeting the recommendations of the improvement plans developed pursuant to this section. (e) If the County Office Fiscal Crisis and Management Assistance Team indicates in writing that it has insufficient resources to complete the comprehensive assessments, improvement plans, and progress reports required pursuant to this section, the department shall request proposals to complete these tasks, and subject to the approval of the Department of Finance, select an entity to complete the tasks assigned to the County Office Fiscal Crisis and Management Assistance Team pursuant to this section. 41327.2. (a) The appointment of an administrator pursuant to Section 41326 does not remove any statutory rights, duties, or obligations from the county superintendent of schools. The county superintendent of schools retains the responsibility to superintend school districts under his or her jurisdiction. (b) The county superintendent of schools shall submit reports to the Superintendent, the appropriate fiscal and policy committees of the Legislature, the Director of Finance, and the Secretary for Education subsequent to review by the county superintendent of schools of the district's budget and interim reports in accordance with subdivisions (d) and (g) of, and paragraph (3) of subdivision (i) of, Section 42127, and paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of, and subdivision (e) of, Section 42131. These reports shall document the fiscal and administrative status of the qualifying district, particularly in regard to the implementation of fiscal and management recovery plans. Each report shall also include a determination of whether the revenue streams to the district appear to be consistent with its expenditure plan, according to the most recent data available at the time of the report. These reports are required until six months after all rights, duties, and powers are returned to the school district pursuant to this article. 41328. The qualifying district shall bear 100 percent of all costs associated with implementing this article, including the activities of the County Office Fiscal Crisis and Management Assistance Team or the regional team. The Superintendent of Public Instruction shall withhold from the apportionments to be made from the State School Fund to the district the amounts due pursuant to this section.