273.21 - VOLUNTARY REORGANIZATION.
273.21 VOLUNTARY REORGANIZATION.
1. Two or more area education agencies may voluntarily reorganize
under this subchapter if the area education agencies are contiguous,
a majority of the members of each of the affected boards approve the
reorganization, and the reorganization plan submitted to the state
board pursuant to subsection 3 is approved by the state board.
2. If twenty percent or more of the school districts within an
affected area education agency file a petition by December 1 with the
affected area education agency board to consider reorganization, the
affected board shall consider the request and vote on the petition.
If a majority of the affected board members vote to study the
reorganization of the affected area education agency, the affected
board shall immediately begin the study to consider reorganization
effective by July 1 of the next year.
3. The affected boards contemplating a voluntary reorganization
shall do the following:
a. Develop detailed studies of the facilities, property,
services, staffing necessities, equipment, programs, and other
capabilities available in each of the affected area education
agencies for the purpose of providing for the reorganization of the
area education agencies in order to effect more economical operation
and the attainment of higher standards of educational services for
the schools.
b. Survey the school districts within the affected area
education agencies to determine the districts' current and future
programs and services, professional development, and technology
needs.
c. Consult with the officials of school districts within the
affected area and other citizens and periodically hold public
hearings during the development of a plan for reorganization, as well
as a public hearing on the final plan to be submitted to the
department.
d. Consult with the director of the department of education
in the development of surveys and plans. The director of the
department of education shall provide assistance and advice to the
affected area education agency boards as requested.
e. Develop a reorganization plan that demonstrates improved
efficiency and effectiveness of programs to meet accreditation
standards, includes a preliminary budget for reorganized areas,
documents public comment from the public hearings held pursuant to
paragraph "c", and provides for a board of directors, and the
number of members that the board shall consist of, in accordance with
section 273.8.
f. Set forth the assets and liabilities of the affected area
education agencies, which shall become the responsibility of the
board of directors of the newly formed area education agency on the
effective date of the reorganization.
g. Transmit the completed plan to the state board by July 15.
Plans received by the state board after July 15 shall be considered
for area education agency reorganization taking effect no sooner than
July 1 after the next succeeding fiscal year.
4. The state board shall review the reorganization plan and
shall, prior to September 30, either approve the plan as submitted,
approve the plan contingent upon compliance with the state board's
recommendations, or disapprove the plan. A contingently approved
plan shall be resubmitted with modifications to the department not
later than October 30. An approved plan shall take effect on July 1
of the fiscal year following the date of approval by the state board.
Section History: Recent Form
2001 Acts, ch 114, §3; 2002 Acts, ch 1029, §1, 2, 8; 2003 Acts, ch
180, §21--23
Referred to in § 273.22, 273.23