3306.34 Accountability compliance commissions.
3306.34 Accountability compliance commissions.
(A) Each accountability compliance commission appointed under division (D) of section 3306.33 of the Revised Code is a body both corporate and politic, constituting an agency and instrumentality of the state and performing essential governmental functions of the state. A commission shall be known as the “accountability compliance commission for …............ (name of school district),” and, in that name, may exercise all authority vested in such a commission by this section. A separate commission shall be established for each school district for which the superintendent of public instruction opts to establish a commission under division (D) of section 3306.33 of the Revised Code.
(B)Each accountability commission shall consist of three members, one of whom shall be appointed by the governor, one of whom shall be appointed by the superintendent of public instruction, and one of whom shall be appointed by the auditor of state.
All members shall serve at the pleasure of the appointing authority during the life of the commission. In the event of the death, resignation, incapacity, removal, or ineligibility to serve of a member, the appointing authority shall appoint a successor within fifteen days after the vacancy occurs. Members shall serve without compensation, but shall be paid by the commission their necessary and actual expenses incurred while engaged in the business of the commission.
(C) Immediately after appointment of the initial members of an accountability compliance commission, the state superintendent shall call the first meeting of the commission and shall cause written notice of the time, date, and place of that meeting to be given to each member of the commission at least forty-eight hours in advance of the meeting. The first meeting shall include an overview of the commission’s roles and responsibilities, the requirements of section 2921.42 and Chapter 102. of the Revised Code as they pertain to commission members, the requirements of section 121.22 of the Revised Code, and the provisions of division (F) of this section. At its first meeting, the commission shall adopt temporary bylaws in accordance with division (D) of this section to govern its operations until the adoption of permanent bylaws.
The state superintendent shall designate a chairperson for the commission from among the members. The chairperson shall call and conduct meetings, set meeting agendas, and serve as a liaison between the commission and the district board of education. The chairperson also shall appoint a secretary, who shall not be a member of the commission.
The department of education shall provide administrative support for the commission, provide data requested by the commission, and inform the commission of available state resources that could assist the commission in its work.
(D) Each accountability compliance commission may adopt and alter bylaws and rules, which shall not be subject to section 111.15 or Chapter 119. of the Revised Code, for the conduct of its affairs and for the manner, subject to this section, in which its powers and functions shall be exercised and embodied.
(E) Two members of an accountability compliance commission constitute a quorum of the commission. The affirmative vote of two members of the commission is necessary for any action taken by vote of the commission. No vacancy in the membership of the commission shall impair the rights of a quorum by such vote to exercise all the rights and perform all the duties of the commission. Members of the commission are not disqualified from voting by reason of the functions of any other office they hold and are not disqualified from exercising the functions of the other office with respect to the school district, its officers, or the commission.
(F)The members of an accountability compliance commission, the state superintendent, and any person authorized to act on behalf of or assist them shall not be personally liable or subject to any suit, judgment, or claim for damages resulting from the exercise of or failure to exercise the powers, duties, and functions granted to them in regard to their functioning under this section, but the commission, state superintendent, and such other persons shall be subject to mandamus proceedings to compel performance of their duties under this section.
(G)Each member of an accountability compliance commission shall file the statement described in section 102.02 of the Revised Code with the Ohio ethics commission. The statement shall be confidential, subject to review, as described in division (B) of that section.
(H) Meetings of each accountability compliance commission shall be subject to section 121.22 of the Revised Code.
(I) Each accountability compliance commission shall seek input from the district board of education regarding ways to improve the district’s operations and compliance with the requirements of this chapter and the expenditure and reporting standards prescribed by rule adopted under section 3306.25 of the Revised Code, but any decision of the commission related to any authority granted to the commission under this section shall be final.
The commission may do any of the following:
(1) Prepare and submit the school district’s spending plan required under section 3306.30 and, if applicable, section 3306.31 of the Revised Code;
(2) Appoint school building administrators and reassign administrative personnel;
(3) Terminate the contracts of administrators or administrative personnel. The commission shall not be required to comply with section 3319.16 of the Revised Code with respect to any contract terminated under this division.
(4) Contract with a private entity to perform school or district management functions;
(5)Establish a budget for the district and approve district appropriations and expenditures, unless a financial planning and supervision commission has been established for the district pursuant to section 3316.05 of the Revised Code;
(6)Exercise the powers, duties, and functions with respect to the district as are granted to a financial planning and supervision commission with respect to a school district under divisions (A)(1) to (4) of section 3316.07 of the Revised Code, unless a financial planning and supervision commission has been established for the district.
(J) If the board of education of a school district for which an accountability compliance commission has been established renews any collective bargaining agreement under Chapter 4117. of the Revised Code during the existence of the commission, the board shall not enter into any agreement that would render any decision of the commission unenforceable.
(K) An accountability compliance commission shall cease to exist at the beginning of the first year that none of the circumstances described in division (A) of section 3306.33 of the Revised Code apply to the district.
Added by 128th General Assembly File No. 9, HB 1, § 101.01, eff. 7/17/2009.