DIVISION OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION RULES GOVERNING
CONSOLIDATION AND ANNEXATION OF SCHOOL DISTRICTS
CHAPTER 1
: AUTHORITY AND
DEFINITIONS
1.00
PURPOSE
1.01 The purpose of
these rules is to establish the requirements and procedures concerning the
consolidation and annexation of school districts; the administrative
consolidation and annexation of school districts; and the distribution of
consolidation/annexation incentive funding.
2.00
AUTHORITY
2.01 The State Board of Education (State
Board) enacts these rules pursuant to the authority granted by Ark. Code Ann.
§§ 6-13-1401 et seq., 6-13-1601 et seq., and Act 757 of
2019.
3.00
DEFINITIONS
3.01
"Administrative annexation" means the joining of an affected school district or
a part of the school district with a receiving school district;
3.02 "Administrative consolidation" means the
joining of two (2) or more school districts to create a new single school
district with one (1) administrative unit and one (1) board of directors that
is not required to close school facilities;
3.03 "Affected district" means a school
district that:
3.03.1 Loses territory or
students as a result of annexation or administrative annexation; or
3.03.2 Is involved in a consolidation or
administrative consolidation.
3.04 "Aggrieved district" means the lawfully
constituted and existing board of directors of a school district that gains or
loses territory or students as a result of an annexation, administrative
annexation, consolidation, or administrative consolidation;
3.05 "Annexation" means the joining of an
affected school district or part thereof with a receiving district;
3.06 "Average daily membership (ADM)" has the
same meaning as defined by the Arkansas General Assembly in Ark. Code Ann.
§ 6-20-2303.
3.07
"Consolidation" means the joining of two (2) or more affected school districts
or parts thereof to create a new single school district;
3.08 "Debt" means a legal liability,
encumbrance or contract, including employment contracts, to be paid out of
future revenues or current reserves of the school district.
3.09 "Receiving district" means a school
district or districts that receive territory or students, or both, from an
affected district as a result of annexation or administrative
annexation;
3.10 "Resulting
district" means the new school district created from affected districts as a
result of consolidation or administrative consolidation.
Source: Ark. Code Ann. §§ 6-13-1401 and 6-13-1601
4.00
CONSOLIDATION AND
ANNEXATION AUTHORITY OF THE STATE BOARD
4.01 There shall not be any consolidation or
annexation of any public school district with any other school district in the
state without the prior consent and approval of the State Board.
Source: Ark. Code Ann. § 6-13-1402
CHAPTER 2
: CONSOLIDATION AND
ANNEXATION OF SCHOOL DISTRICTS
5.00
CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION MAY ANNEX SCHOOL
DISTRICTS
5.01 The State
Board shall consider the annexation of an affected school district or districts
to a receiving district or districts under any of the following conditions:
5.01.1 The State Board, after providing
thirty (30) days' written notice to the affected school districts, determines
that annexation is in the best interest of the affected district or districts
and the receiving district based upon failure to meet standards for
accreditation or failure to meet academic, fiscal, or facilities distress
requirements pursuant to The Quality Education Act of 2003, Ark. Code Ann.
§ 6-15-201 et seq., the Arkansas Educational Support and Accountability
Act, Ark. Code Ann. § 6-15-2901 et seq., the Arkansas Fiscal Assessment
and Accountability Program, Ark. Code Ann. § 6-20-1901 et seq., and the
Arkansas Public School Academic Facilities Program Act, Ark. Code Ann. §
6-21-801 et seq.;
5.01.2 The
affected district or districts file a petition with the State Board requesting
annexation to a particular receiving district or districts, and a copy of the
petition is filed with the county clerk's office of each county where the
affected district or districts are located;
5.01.2.1 The county clerk's office of each
county where the affected district or districts are located certifies in
writing that the petition has been signed by a majority of the qualified
electors of the affected district or districts; and
5.01.2.2 The receiving district or districts
provide to the State Board written proof of consent to receive the affected
district or districts by annexation as evidenced by either a vote to approve
annexation by resolution by a majority of the members of the local receiving
board of education or by a vote to approve annexation by a majority of the
qualified electors of the receiving district as provided for in Ark. Code Ann.
§ 6-14-122;
5.01.3
A majority of the qualified electors in the affected district or districts vote
to approve the annexation of an affected school district or districts to a
receiving district or districts as provided for in Ark. Code Ann. §
6-14-122; and
5.01.3.1 The receiving district
or districts provide to the State Board written proof of consent to receive the
affected district or districts by annexation as evidenced by either a vote to
approve annexation by resolution by a majority of the members of the local
receiving board of education or by a vote to approve annexation by a majority
of the qualified electors of the receiving district as provided in Ark. Code
Ann. § 6-14-122; or
5.01.4 The local board of education of the
affected district or districts votes to approve by resolution the annexation of
the affected district or districts to a receiving district or districts by a
majority of the members of the local board of education of the affected
district or districts; and
5.01.4.1 The
receiving district or districts provide to the State Board written proof of
consent to receive the affected district or districts by annexation as
evidenced by either a vote to approve annexation by resolution by a majority of
the members of the local receiving board of education or by a vote to approve
annexation by a majority of the qualified electors of the receiving districts
as provided for in Ark. Code Ann. § 6-14-122.
5.02 The State Board may vote to
approve, by a majority of a quorum present of the members of the State Board,
the annexation of the affected districts into a receiving district:
5.02.1 The State Board, after providing
thirty (30) days written notice to the affected districts, may on its own
motion based on a school district's failure to meet standards for accreditation
or failure to meet academic, fiscal, or facilities distress requirements
pursuant to The Quality Education Act of 2003, Ark. Code Ann. § 6-15-201
et seq., the Arkansas Educational Support and Accountability Act, Ark. Code
Ann. § 6-15-2901 et seq., the Arkansas Fiscal Assessment and
Accountability Program, Ark. Code Ann. § 6-20-1901 et seq., and the
Arkansas Public School Academic Facilities Program Act, Ark. Code Ann. §
6-21-801 et seq.; or
5.02.2 Upon
receipt of a valid petition for annexation and after receiving proof from the
petitioning party of at least one (1) of the required conditions set forth in
Ark. Code Ann. § 6-13-1403(a) and Section 5.01 of these rules, and upon
receipt of proof of the issuance of public notice of the intent to annex
affected districts into a receiving district or districts in the local
newspapers of general circulation in the affected districts for a time period
of no less than one (1) time a week for two (2) consecutive weeks immediately
prior to the time the petition is filed with the State Board.
5.03 In order for the petition for
annexation to be valid, it shall be filed with the State Board at least thirty
(30) days prior to the next regularly scheduled State Board meeting, at which
time the petition will be presented for hearing before the State Board.
However, no petition is required for the State Board to annex a school district
or districts upon a motion of the State Board as allowed in Ark. Code Ann.
§ 6-13-1403(b) and Section 5.02 of these rules.
5.04 Upon determination by the State Board to
annex a school district or approval of a petition requesting annexation, the
State Board shall issue an order dissolving the affected district or districts
and establishing the receiving district or districts.
5.04.1 The State Board shall issue an order
establishing the boundary lines of the receiving district or
districts.
5.04.2 It is the duty of
the Arkansas Geographic Information Systems Office to make changes in the maps
of the school districts to properly show the boundary lines of the receiving
district or districts.
5.05 The State Board shall:
5.05.1 Issue an order establishing the
changed boundaries; and
5.05.2 File
the order with the:
5.05.2.1 County clerk of
each county that contains school district territory of each affected or
receiving district;
5.05.2.2
Secretary of State; and
5.05.2.3
Arkansas Geographic Information Systems Office.
5.05.3 The county clerk shall make a
permanent record of the order.
5.05.4 A consolidation or annexation order
filed with the Secretary of State and the Arkansas Geographic Information
Systems Office shall include a digital map showing the boundaries of the
resulting district or receiving district in a format prescribed by the Arkansas
Geographic Information Systems Office.
5.05.5 The boundaries established by the
State Board pursuant to Ark. Code Ann. § 6-13-1403(e) and Section 5.05 of
these rules shall be the boundaries of the receiving district or districts
until changes are made according to the provisions of law.
5.06 The State Board shall not annex affected
districts into a receiving district or districts that are not geographically
contiguous unless the following limited conditions are determined to be valid
reasons for annexation:
5.06.1 The annexation
will result in the overall improvement in the educational benefit to students
in all the school districts involved; or
5.06.2 The annexation will provide a
significant advantage in transportation costs or service to all the school
districts involved.
Source: Ark. Code Ann. §§ 6-13-1403, 6-13-1415, &
6-13-1416
6.00
CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION MAY CONSOLIDATE
SCHOOL DISTRICTS
6.01 The
State Board shall consider the consolidation of affected districts into a new
resulting district or districts under the following conditions:
6.01.1 The State Board, after providing
thirty (30) days' written notice to the affected school districts, determines
consolidation is in the best interest of the affected districts based upon
failure to meet standards for accreditation or academic, fiscal, or facilities
distress requirements pursuant to The Quality Education Act of 2003, Ark. Code
Ann. § 6-15-201 et seq., the Arkansas Educational Support and
Accountability Act, Ark. Code Ann. § 6-15-2901 et seq., the Arkansas
Fiscal Assessment and Accountability Program, Ark. Code Ann. § 6-20-1901
et seq., and the Arkansas Public School Academic Facilities Program Act, Ark.
Code Ann. § 6-21-801 et seq.; or
6.01.2 The affected districts file a petition
with the State Board requesting that the affected districts be consolidated
into a resulting district or districts;
6.01.2.1 A copy of the petition has been
filed with the county clerk's office of each county where the affected
districts are located;
6.01.2.2 The
county clerk's office certifies in writing to the State Board that the petition
has been signed by a majority of the qualified electors of the affected
districts;
6.01.2.3 A majority of
the qualified electors in the affected districts votes to approve consolidation
of the affected districts into a resulting district or districts pursuant to a
valid election as provided in Ark. Code Ann. § 6-14-122; and
6.01.2.4 The local board of directors votes
to approve by resolution of a majority of the members of each local board of
education the consolidation of the affected districts into a resulting district
or districts.
6.02 The State Board:
6.02.1 After providing thirty (30) days
written notice to the affected districts, may consolidate school districts upon
its own motion based upon a school district's failure to meet standards for
accreditation or academic, fiscal, or facilities distress requirements pursuant
to The Quality Education Act of 2003, Ark. Code Ann. § 6-15-201 et seq.,
the Arkansas Educational Support and Accountability Act, Ark. Code Ann. §
6-15-2901 et seq., the Arkansas Fiscal Assessment and Accountability Program,
Ark. Code Ann. § 6-20-1901 et seq., and the Arkansas Public School
Academic Facilities Program Act, Ark. Code Ann. § 6-21-801 et seq.;
or
6.02.2 May vote to approve by a
majority of a quorum present of the members of the State Board the
consolidation of the affected districts into a resulting district or districts
upon receipt of a valid petition for consolidation after receiving proof from
the petitioning party of at least one (1) of the required conditions set forth
in Ark. Code Ann. § 6-13-1404(a) and Section 6.01 of these rules, and upon
receipt of proof of the issuance of public notice of the intent to consolidate
affected districts into a resulting district or districts in the local
newspapers of general circulation in the affected districts for a time period
of no less than one (1) time a week for two (2) consecutive weeks immediately
prior to the time the petition is filed with the State Board.
6.03 In order for the petition for
consolidation to be valid, it shall be filed with the State Board at least
thirty (30) days prior to the next regularly scheduled State Board meeting, at
which time the petition will be presented for hearing before the State Board.
However, no petition is required for the State Board to consolidate a school
district or districts on a motion of the State Board as allowed under Ark. Code
Ann. § 6-13-1404(b) and Section 6.02 of these rules.
6.04 Upon consolidation of a school district
by the State Board or approval of a petition requesting consolidation, the
State Board shall issue an order dissolving the affected districts and
establishing the resulting district or districts.
6.04.1 The State Board shall issue an order
establishing the boundary lines of the resulting district or
districts.
6.04.2 It is the duty of
the Arkansas Geographic Information Systems Office to make changes in the maps
of the school districts to properly show the boundary lines of the resulting
district or districts.
6.05 The State Board shall:
6.05.1 Issue an order establishing the
changed boundaries; and
6.05.2 File
the order with the:
6.05.2.1 County clerk of
each county that contains school district territory of each affected or
resulting district;
6.05.2.2
Secretary of State; and
6.05.2.3
Arkansas Geographic Information Systems Office.
6.05.3 The county clerk shall make a
permanent record of the order.
6.05.4 A consolidation or annexation order
filed with the Secretary of State and the Arkansas Geographic Information
Systems Office shall include a digital map showing the boundaries of the
resulting district or receiving district in a format prescribed by the Arkansas
Geographic Information Systems Office.
6.05.5 The boundaries established under this
subsection shall be the boundaries of the resulting district or districts until
changes are made according to the provisions of law.
6.06 The State Board shall not consolidate
affected districts that are not geographically contiguous unless the following
limited conditions are determined to be valid reasons for consolidation:
6.06.1 The consolidation will result in the
overall improvement in the educational benefit to students in all the school
districts involved; or
6.06.2 The
consolidation will provide a significant advantage in transportation costs or
service to all the school districts involved.
Source: Ark. Code Ann. §§ 6-13-1404, 6-13-1415, &
6-13-1416
7.00
RESULTING DISTRICT SUCCESSOR IN INTEREST - WHEN PART OF DISTRICT
TAKEN
7.01 Any receiving or
resulting district created under Ark. Code Ann. § 6-13-1407 and Section
7.00 of these rules shall become the successor in interest to the property of
the school district dissolved, shall become liable for the contracts and debts
of such a school district, and may sue and be sued therefor.
7.02 When territory less than the entire
school district is annexed or consolidated to a school district, the receiving
or resulting district shall take the property of the school district from which
the territory was taken, as the State Board shall deem proper, and shall be
liable for that part of all indebtedness of the school district from which the
territory was taken as shall be assigned to it by the State Board unless
otherwise approved by a majority vote of the affected school district's or
districts' board or boards of directors.
Source: Ark. Code Ann. § 6-13-1407
8.00
ANNEXATION OR CONSOLIDATION NOT TO
NEGATIVELY IMPACT STATE-ASSISTED DESEGREGATION
8.01 The State Board shall not order any
annexation or consolidation pursuant to Title 6, Chapter 13, Subchapter 14, or
any other act or any combination of acts which hampers, delays, or in any
manner negatively affects the desegregation efforts of a school district or
districts in this state.
8.02 Prior
to the entry of any order under Title 6, Chapter 13, Subchapter 14, the State
Board shall seek an advisory opinion from the Attorney General concerning the
impact of the proposed annexation or consolidation on the effort of the state
to assist a school district or districts in desegregation of the public schools
of this state.
8.03 Any order of
annexation or consolidation or combination thereof that violates the provisions
of Ark. Code Ann. § 6-13-1408 and Section 8.00 of these rules shall be
null and void.
Source: Ark. Code Ann. § 6-13-1408
9.00
OTHER STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION
DUTIES
9.01 The State Board
shall have the following duties regarding consolidations and annexations:
9.01.1 To form local school districts, change
boundary lines of school districts, dissolve school districts and annex the
territory of those school districts to another school district, create new
school districts, and perform all other functions regarding changes in school
districts in accordance with the law;
9.01.2 To transfer funds and attach territory
that is in no school district to other school districts as may seem best for
the educational welfare of the children; and
9.01.3 To enact rules and regulations
regarding the consolidation and annexation of school districts pursuant to
Title 6 of the Arkansas Code.
9.02 The millage rate of the electors of an
affected district shall remain the same until an election may be held to change
the rate of taxation for the resulting or receiving district or districts.
Source: Ark. Code Ann. § 6-13-1409
10.00
APPEAL AND
ELECTION
10.01
Notwithstanding any other provision of law or rule of the State Board, the
decision of the State Board regarding an administrative consolidation,
consolidation, administrative annexation, or annexation shall be final with no
further right of appeal except that only an aggrieved district may appeal to
Pulaski County Circuit Court pursuant to the Arkansas Administrative Procedure
Act, Ark. Code Ann. § 25-15-201 et seq.
Source: Ark. Code Ann. § 6-13-1410
11.00
USE OF FUND
BALANCES
11.01 Unless
otherwise approved by a unanimous vote of the board of directors of the
resulting district, the fund balances of any school district that is
consolidated, annexed, or otherwise reorganized shall be used by the resulting
district solely for the construction of facilities or the operation,
maintenance, or support of the schools that were located in the affected school
district from which the fund balance was derived if any of the facilities of
the affected district from which the fund balance was derived remain
open.
11.02 The provisions of Ark.
Code Ann. § 6-13-1411 and Section 11.00 of these rules shall not apply if
the consolidation or annexation is because of the school district's failure to
meet standards for accreditation or failure to meet academic, or fiscal, or
facilities distress requirements pursuant to The Quality Education Act of 2003,
Ark. Code Ann. § 6-15-201 et seq., the Arkansas Educational Support and
Accountability Act, Ark. Code Ann. § 6-15-2901 et seq., the Arkansas
Fiscal Assessment and Accountability Program, Ark. Code Ann. § 6-20-1901
et seq., or the Arkansas Public School Academic Facilities Program Act, Ark.
Code Ann. § 6-21-801 et seq.
Source: Ark. Code Ann. § 6-13-1411
12.00
INVOLUNTARY ANNEXATION OR
CONSOLIDATION - EFFECTIVE DATE - INTERIM BOARD OF DIRECTORS
12.01 Ark. Code Ann. § 6-13-1415 and
Section 12.00 of these rules apply to the involuntary consolidation or
involuntary annexation of a school district made by a motion of the State
Board.
12.02 The effective date of
an involuntary consolidation or involuntary annexation of a school district
shall be the July 1 after the State Board action unless determined otherwise by
the State Board.
12.03 The State
Board shall establish the terms and conditions of the involuntary consolidation
or involuntary annexation that shall govern the affected districts, resulting
districts, and receiving districts.
12.04 If the State Board determines that a
new permanent board of directors is necessary, the State Board shall prescribe:
12.04.1 The number of members for the new
permanent board of directors of the resulting district or receiving
district;
12.04.2 The manner of
formation of the new permanent board of directors of the resulting district or
receiving district under Ark. Code Ann. § 6-13-1417 and Section 14.00 of
these rules; and
12.04.3 Whether
the new permanent board of directors will be elected at the first or second
school election after the effective date of consolidation or annexation. The
election for the new permanent school board of directors may take place during
the second school election after the effective date of consolidation or
annexation only if the State Board determines that additional time is required
to implement single-member zoned elections.
12.05 If the State Board determines that an
interim board of directors is necessary, the State Board shall prescribe:
12.05.1 The number of members for the interim
board of directors of the resulting district or receiving district;
12.05.2 The terms of the members of the
interim board of directors of the resulting district or receiving district;
and
12.05.3 The manner of formation
of the interim board of directors of the resulting district or receiving
district. The State Board may:
12.05.3.1 Allow
the affected districts and receiving districts thirty (30) days to establish an
interim board of directors to govern the resulting district or receiving
district that consists of either five (5) or seven (7) members selected from
the boards of directors from the affected districts and receiving districts
based on the proportion of the student population of each of the affected
districts and receiving districts before consolidation or annexation;
12.05.3.2 Appoint an interim board of
directors to govern the resulting or receiving district that consists of either
five (5) or seven (7) members selected from the boards of directors from the
affected districts and receiving districts based on the proportion of the
student population of each of the affected districts and receiving districts
before consolidation or annexation; or
12.05.3.3 Designate the existing board of
directors of one (1) affected district in a consolidation or the existing board
of directors of the receiving district in an annexation as the interim board to
govern the resulting district or receiving district.
12.06 The State Board may
determine that an interim board of directors is not necessary and may order the
existing board of directors of one (1) affected district in a consolidation or
the existing board of directors of the receiving district in an annexation to
remain as the permanent school board of directors.
12.07 An interim board of directors shall
serve until the first school election after the effective date of consolidation
or annexation unless:
12.07.1 Any members of
the permanent board of directors of the resulting district or receiving
district are elected from single-member zones, then the interim board of
directors may serve until the second school election after the effective date
of consolidation or annexation under Ark. Code Ann. § 6-13-1415(d)(1)(C)
and Section 12.04.3 of these rules; or
12.07.2 All the members of the permanent
board of directors of the resulting district or receiving district are elected
at-large, then the State Board may stagger the terms of the interim board of
directors, which shall be determined by lot so that no more than two (2)
members' terms expire during any one (1) year.
12.08 If the State Board allows the local
school districts time to establish an interim board of directors, the board of
directors of each affected district before the consolidation or each affected
district and receiving district before the annexation may determine
independently how to select members of the existing board of directors to serve
on the interim board of directors, subject to approval by the State Board, by:
12.08.1 The voluntary resignation of one (1)
or more members of the existing board of directors;
12.08.2 Selecting one (1) or more members of
the existing board of directors by a majority vote of the school board;
or
12.08.3 Selecting one (1) or
more members of the existing board of directors by a random lot
drawing.
12.09 An
interim board of directors shall be established by May 31 of the year preceding
the effective date of administrative consolidation or administrative annexation
under Ark. Code Ann. § 6-13-1603 if the State Board determines that an
interim board of directors is necessary.
12.10 A consolidation or annexation order
adopted by the State Board shall be filed with the:
12.10.1 County clerk of each county that
contains school district territory of each affected district, receiving
district, or resulting district;
12.10.2 Secretary of State; and
12.10.3 Arkansas Geographic Information
Systems Office.
12.11 A
consolidation or annexation order shall include a map of the boundaries of the
resulting district or receiving district.
12.12 A consolidation or annexation order
filed with the Secretary of State and the Arkansas Geographic Information
Systems Office shall include a digital map showing the boundaries of the
resulting district or receiving district in a format prescribed by the Arkansas
Geographic Information Systems Office.
Source: Ark. Code Ann. § 6-13-1415
13.00
VOLUNTARY CONSOLIDATION OR
ANNEXATION - EFFECTIVE DATE - INTERIM BOARD OF DIRECTORS
13.01 Ark. Code Ann. § 6-13-1416 and
Section 13.00 of these rules apply to any petition for consolidation or
annexation of a school district submitted to the State Board by a school
district.
13.02 The effective date
of a petition for consolidation or annexation of a school district shall be the
July 1 after the State Board approves the consolidation or annexation petition
unless the State Board approves an alternative effective date or determines
otherwise.
13.03 Each board of
directors of an affected district and receiving district shall enter into a
written agreement approved by the quorum of the members of each board of
directors present and executed by the president and secretary of each school
district's board of directors.
13.03.1 The
written agreement may prescribe the effective date of the annexation of the
affected district to the receiving district or the effective date of the
formation of the resulting district from consolidation of affected districts,
subject to approval by the state board.
13.03.2 The written agreement may prescribe
the number of members of the permanent board of directors of the resulting
district or receiving district and the manner of formation of the permanent
board of directors of the resulting district or receiving district under Ark.
Code Ann. § 6-13-1417 or as allowed by law.
13.03.2.1 If the written agreement prescribes
the formation of a new permanent board of directors, the written agreement
shall specify whether the new permanent board of directors will be elected at
the first or second school election after the effective date of consolidation
or annexation.
13.03.2.2 The
election of a new permanent board of directors may take place during the second
school election after the effective date of consolidation or annexation only if
additional time is necessary to implement single-member zoned
elections.
13.04 The written agreement may prescribe for
the formation of an interim board of directors, including the number of
members, the length of member terms, and the manner of formation as follows:
13.04.1 Establish an interim board of
directors to govern the resulting district or receiving district that consists
of either five (5) or seven (7) members selected from the boards of directors
from the affected districts and receiving districts based on the proportion of
the student population of each of the affected districts and receiving
districts before consolidation or annexation;
13.04.2 Designate the existing board of
directors of one (1) affected district in a consolidation or the existing board
of directors of the receiving district in an annexation as the interim board of
directors; or
13.04.3 Determine
that an interim board of directors is not necessary and may designate the
existing board of directors of one (1) affected district in a consolidation or
the existing board of directors of the receiving district in an annexation to
remain as the permanent school board of directors.
13.05 If the written agreement prescribes the
formation of an interim board of directors, the interim board of directors
shall serve until the first school election after the effective date of
consolidation or annexation unless:
13.05.1
Any members of the permanent board of directors of the resulting district or
receiving district are elected from single-member zones, then the interim board
of directors may serve until the second school election after the effective
date of consolidation or annexation under Ark. Code Ann. §
6-13-1416(c)(3)(B) and Sections 13.03.2.1 and 13.03.2.2 of these rules;
or
13.05.2 All the members of the
permanent board of directors of the resulting district or receiving district
are elected at-large, then the written agreement may stagger the terms of the
interim board of directors, which shall be determined by lot so that no more
than two (2) members' terms expire during any one (1) year.
13.06 If the written agreement
prescribes formation of an interim board of directors, the board of directors
of the affected district before the consolidation or the affected district and
receiving district before annexation may determine independently how to select
members of the existing board of directors to serve on the interim board of
directors by:
13.06.1 The voluntary
resignation of one (1) or more members of the existing board of
directors;
13.06.2 Selecting one
(1) or more members of the existing board of directors by a majority vote of
the school board; or
13.06.3
Selecting one (1) or more members of the existing board of directors by a
random lot drawing.
13.07 If the written agreement in an
administrative consolidation or an administrative annexation under Ark. Code
Ann. § 6-13-1603 requires the formation of an interim board of directors,
the interim board of directors shall be established by May 31 preceding the
effective date of the administrative consolidation or administrative
annexation.
13.08 An executed copy
of the written agreement shall be attached to the petition for consolidation or
annexation submitted to the State Board.
13.08.1 If the written agreement is approved
by the State Board, the terms of the written agreement shall be binding upon
the affected districts, receiving districts, and resulting districts, including
the interim and permanent school boards of directors.
13.08.2 A written agreement under Ark. Code
Ann. § 6-13-1416 and Section 13.00 of these rules shall not be effective
without approval from the State Board.
13.09 A consolidation or annexation petition
approved by the State Board along with an executed copy of the written
agreement shall be filed with the:
13.09.1
County clerk of each county that contains school district territory of each
affected district, receiving district, or resulting district;
13.09.2 Secretary of State; and
13.09.3 Arkansas Geographic Information
Systems Office.
13.10 An
approved consolidation or annexation petition shall include a map of the
boundaries of the resulting district or receiving district.
13.11 An approved consolidation or annexation
petition filed with the Secretary of State and the Arkansas Geographic
Information Systems Office shall include a digital map showing the boundaries
of the resulting district or receiving district in a format prescribed by the
Arkansas Geographic Information Systems Office.
Source: Ark. Code Ann. § 6-13-1416
14.00
FORMATION OF A PERMANENT BOARD OF
DIRECTORS
14.01 A permanent
board of directors shall have either five (5) or seven (7) members unless the
school district is allowed to have nine (9) members under Ark. Code Ann. §
6-13-634.
14.02 The length of the
terms of the board of directors may be for the time period prescribed by law
and:
14.02.1 Prescribed in the written
agreement under Ark. Code Ann. § 6-13-1416 and Section 13.00 of these
rules; or
14.02.2 Determined by the
permanent board of directors.
14.03 At the first meeting of the permanent
board of directors, the members shall determine the terms of the board of
directors by lot so that not more than two (2) members' terms expire during any
one (1) year.
14.04 A vacancy on
the board of directors shall be filled as prescribed by law.
14.05 If single-member election zones are not
necessary to comply with the Voting Rights Act of 1965 or with any other
federal or state law, any or all of the members of the permanent board of
directors may be elected at large.
14.06 A minimum of five (5) members of a
permanent board of directors shall be elected from single-member election zones
if one (1) or more of the following applies:
14.06.1 Single-member election zones are
required to comply with the Voting Rights Act of 1965 or other federal
law;
14.06.2 The resulting district
or receiving district after consolidation or annexation is required to be zoned
under Ark. Code Ann. § 6-13-631 or other state law; or
14.06.3 The boards of directors of the
affected districts before consolidation or the boards of directors of the
affected districts and receiving districts before annexation agree that the
permanent board of directors shall be elected from single-member election
zones.
14.07 If
single-member election zones are necessary to comply with the Voting Rights Act
of 1965, other federal law, or state law, the resulting district or receiving
district shall:
14.07.1 Review the
demographic makeup and boundaries of the zones based on the latest decennial
census data of the resulting district or receiving district after consolidation
or annexation and rezone the resulting district or receiving district as
necessary to comply with the Voting Rights Act of 1965, other federal law, or
state law;
14.07.2 Complete the
election rezoning no later than one hundred twenty (120) calendar days before
the second school election following the effective date of the consolidation or
annexation; and
14.07.3 No later
than one hundred twenty (120) calendar days before the second school election
following the effective date of the consolidation or annexation, file a digital
map, in a format prescribed by the Arkansas Geographic Information Systems
Office, detailing the election zone boundaries of the resulting district or
receiving district with the:
14.07.3.1
Secretary of State;
14.07.3.2
Arkansas Geographic Information Systems Office; and
14.07.3.3 County clerk of each county that
contains school district territory of each affected district, receiving
district, or resulting district.
Source: Ark. Code Ann. § 6-13-1417
CHAPTER 3
:
ADMINISTRATIVE CONSOLIDATION AND ANNEXATION OF SCHOOL DISTRICTS
15.00
ADMINISTRATIVE CONSOLIDATION
LIST
15.01 By January 1 of
each year, the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education shall publish a:
15.01.1 List of all school districts with
fewer than three hundred fifty (350) students according to the school district
average daily membership in the school year immediately preceding the current
school year; and
15.01.2
Consolidation list that includes all school districts with fewer than three
hundred fifty (350) students according to the school district average daily
membership in each of the two (2) school years immediately preceding the
current school year.
Source: Ark. Code Ann. § 6-13-1602
16.00
ADMINISTRATIVE
REORGANIZATION
16.01 Any
school district included in the Division of Elementary and Secondary
Education's consolidation list under Ark. Code Ann. § 6-13-1602 may
voluntarily agree to administratively consolidate with or be annexed to another
school district or districts in accordance with the requirements and
limitations of Ark. Code Ann. § 6-13-1603 and Section 16.00 of these
rules.
16.02 Any school district on
the consolidation list choosing to voluntarily administratively consolidate or
annex shall submit a petition for approval to the State Board by March 1
immediately following publication of the list and shall set forth the terms of
the administrative consolidation or annexation agreement in the petition. If
the petition is approved by the State Board, the administrative consolidation
or annexation shall be completed by May 1, to be effective July 1 immediately
following the publication of the list required under Ark. Code Ann. §
6-13-1602 and Section 15.00 of these rules.
16.03 Any school district on the
consolidation list that does not submit a petition under Ark. Code Ann. §
6-13-1603(a)(2)(A) or Section 16.02 of these rules, or that does not receive
approval by the State Board for a voluntary consolidation or annexation
petition, shall be administratively consolidated by the State Board with or
into one (1) or more school districts by May 1, to be effective July 1
immediately following the publication of the list required under Ark. Code Ann.
§ 6-13-1602 and Section 15.00 of these rules unless the school district
has been granted a waiver under § 6-13-1613 and Section 28.00 of these
rules.
16.04 The State Board shall
promptly consider petitions or move on its own motion to administratively
consolidate a school district on the consolidation list in order to enable the
affected school districts to reasonably accomplish any resulting administrative
consolidation or annexation by July 1 immediately following the publication of
the list required under Ark. Code Ann. § 6-13-1602 and Section 15.00 of
these rules.
16.05 The State Board
shall not deny the petition for voluntary administrative consolidation or
annexation of any two (2) or more school districts unless:
16.05.1 The provisions contained in the
articles of administrative consolidation or annexation would violate state or
federal law; or
16.05.2 The
voluntary consolidation or annexation would not contribute to the betterment of
the education of students in the school district.
16.06 Any school district required to be
administratively consolidated under Title 6, Chapter 13, Subchapter 16 and
Section 16.00 of these rules shall be administratively consolidated in such a
manner as to create a resulting district with an average daily membership
meeting or exceeding three hundred fifty (350).
16.07 All administrative consolidations or
annexations under Ark. Code Ann. § 6-13-1603 and Section 16.00 of these
rules shall be accomplished so as not to create a school district that hampers,
delays, or in any manner negatively affects the desegregation of another school
district in this state.
16.08 In
the administratively consolidated or annexed school districts created under
Title 6, Chapter 13, Subchapter 16 and Section 16.00 of these rules, the ad
valorem tax rate shall be determined as set forth under Ark. Code Ann. §
6-13-1409 and Section 9.00 of these rules.
16.09 Nothing in Ark. Code Ann. §
6-13-1603 or Section 16.00 of these rules shall be construed to require the
closing of any school or school facility.
16.10 No administratively consolidated or
annexed resulting or receiving school district shall have more than one (1)
superintendent.
16.11 Any school
district not designated as being in academic or fiscal distress for the current
school year and previous two (2) school years that administratively receives by
consolidation or annexation a school district designated by the State Board as
being in academic or fiscal distress at the time of consolidation or annexation
shall not be subject to academic or fiscal distress sanctions for a period of
three (3) years from the effective date of consolidation unless:
16.11.1 The school district fails to meet
minimum teacher salary requirements; or
16.11.2 The school district fails to comply
with the Standards for Accreditation of Arkansas Public Schools and School
Districts issued by the Division of Elementary and Secondary
Education.
16.12
Noncontiguous school districts may voluntarily consolidate if the facilities
and physical plant of each school district:
16.12.1 Are within the same county, and the
State Board approves the administrative consolidation; or
16.12.2 Are not within the same county, and
the State Board approves the administrative consolidation or administrative
annexation and finds that:
16.12.2.1 The
administrative consolidation or administrative annexation will result in the
overall improvement in the educational benefit to students in all of the school
districts involved; or
16.12.2.2
The administrative consolidation or administrative annexation will provide a
significant advantage in transportation costs or service to all of the school
districts involved.
16.13 Contiguous school districts may
administratively consolidate even if they are not in the same county.
16.14 The provisions of Ark. Code Ann.
§§ 6-13-1415 through 6-13-1417, and Sections 12.00 through 14.00 of
these rules, shall govern the board of directors of each resulting district or
receiving district created under this Title 6, Chapter 13, Subchapter 16 and
Section 16.00 of these rules.
Source: Ark. Code Ann. § 6-13-1603
17.00
RETENTION OF HISTORICAL RECORDS
AND DOCUMENTS
17.01
Following the annexations or consolidations under Ark. Code Ann. §
6-13-1601 et seq. effective prior to December 1, 2004, and prior to any
consolidation, annexation, detachment, approval of a conversion charter, or any
other type of reclassification or reorganization of a school district after
December 31, 2004, a receiving or resulting school district shall obtain and
retain all student and historical records and documents from the affected
school district, specifically including, but not limited to:
17.01.1 Student transcripts;
17.01.2 Graduation records;
17.01.3 Minutes and other legal documents of
the local board of directors;
17.01.4 Maps or boundary documents;
17.01.5 Sports records, trophies, and
awards;
17.01.6 Employee records;
and
17.01.7 Financial records.
Source: Ark. Code Ann. § 6-13-1607
18.00
AUDIT REQUIRED
18.01 The Arkansas Legislative Audit shall
conduct a comprehensive financial review of all the school district's financial
matters for any school that is involved in administrative consolidation or
administrative annexation or is otherwise reorganized by the State
Board.
18.02 The comprehensive
financial review shall begin no less than ten (10) days after the earliest of:
18.02.1 The publication of the district's
name on the consolidation and annexation list under Ark. Code Ann. §
6-13-1602;
18.02.2 The filing of a
petition for voluntary administrative consolidation or administrative
annexation; or
18.02.3 The adoption
of a motion by the State Board to consolidate, annex, or otherwise reorganize a
school district designated as being in academic or fiscal distress.
18.03 Beginning on the date of
publication of the consolidation list under Ark. Code Ann. § 6-13-1602 and
Section 15.00 of these rules each year, the Division of Elementary and
Secondary Education shall have authority to oversee all fiscal and
accounting-related matters of all school districts on the consolidation list
and shall require those school districts to have accurate records necessary to
close all books within sixty (60) days after the end of the fiscal year.
18.03.1 No contract or other debt obligation
incurred by a school district for which the Division has oversight authority
under Ark. Code Ann. § 6-13-1608 and Section 18.00 of these rules shall be
valid or enforceable against a resulting school district unless the contract or
other debt obligation is preapproved in writing by the Commissioner of
Education or his or her designee.
18.04 Any school that is involved in an
administrative consolidation or administrative annexation shall have an audit
started within thirty (30) days of the completion of the closing of the books
by the school district.
18.05 The
Division of Elementary and Secondary Education and the Arkansas Legislative
Audit shall jointly develop the scope and details of the comprehensive fiscal
review consistent with the requirements of Ark. Code Ann. § 6-13-1608 and
Section 18.00 of these rules.
18.06
A school district may not incur debt without the prior written approval of the
Division of Elementary and Secondary Education if the school district is
identified by the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education under Ark.
Code Ann. § 6-13-1602(1) and Section 15.01.1 of these rules as having
fewer than three hundred fifty (350) students according to the school district
average daily membership in the school year immediately preceding the current
school year.
Source: Ark. Code Ann. § 6-13-1608
19.00
PRESERVATION OF HISTORICAL SCHOOL
ARTIFACTS
19.01 Following
the administrative consolidations or administrative annexations under Ark. Code
Ann. §§ 6-13-1601 - 6-13-1603, 6-13-1604 [repealed], and 6-13-1605
[repealed] effective before December 1, 2004, and before any consolidation,
annexation, detachment, approval of a conversion charter, or any other type of
reclassification or reorganization of a school district after December 31,
2004, a receiving district or resulting district shall obtain, retain,
preserve, and, as appropriate, display historical artifacts of the affected
district in the same manner as if the historical artifacts were those of the
receiving district or resulting district.
Source: Ark. Code Ann. § 6-13-1609
20.00
FINANCIAL RELIEF FOR DEBTS
ACQUIRED AS A RESULT OF INVOLUNTARY CONSOLIDATIONS
20.01 As used in Section 20.00 of these
rules:
20.01.1 "Accounts payable" means a
debt owed by a school district on June 30 immediately prior to administrative
consolidation, excluding bonded indebtedness or other long-term debt;
20.01.2 "Act 60 school district" means a
school district that was on the consolidation list under Ark. Code Ann. §
6-13-1602 and Section 15.00 of these rules and was involuntarily consolidated
under Ark. Code Ann. § 6-13-1603(a)(3) and Section 16.03 of these
rules;
20.01.3 "Available funding"
means funds that are available to a school district for paying accounts payable
or are reasonably expected to be collected and available for payment of
accounts payable;
20.01.4 "Excess
accounts payable" means accounts payable of an Act 60 school district that
exceed available funding; and
20.01.5 "Improper expenditure exceptions"
means an erroneous expenditure of federal or state funds that is noted as an
audit exception and has been determined by the Division of Elementary and
Secondary Education to require an expenditure of funds by the resulting school
district to be correct.
20.02 If on July 1, 2004, or thereafter, the
State Board required an involuntary administrative consolidation under Ark.
Code Ann. § 6-13-1603(a)(3) and Section 16.03 of these rules and the
resulting district assumed excess accounts payable or improper expenditure
exceptions incurred by the Act 60 school district before the July 1
administrative consolidation date that would have caused deficit spending if
paid from the funds of the Act 60 district, the Division of Elementary and
Secondary Education shall provide supplemental funding to the resulting
district.
20.03 The amount of the
supplemental funding provided under Ark. Code Ann. § 6-13-1610(b) and
Section 20.02 of these rules shall be equal to the amount of the excess
accounts payable and improper expenditure exceptions assumed by the resulting
school district.
20.03.1 The amount of
accounts payable, excess accounts payable, improper expenditure exceptions, and
available funding shall be determined by the Division of Elementary and
Secondary Education based on information provided in a final audit and other
verifiable fiscal information available to the Division of Elementary and
Secondary Education.
20.03.2 The
audit of an Act 60 school district required under Ark. Code Ann. §
6-13-1610 and Section 20.00 of these rules shall be completed within the time
under Ark. Code Ann. § 6-20-1801(d) for school districts in fiscal
distress.
20.03.3 No supplemental
funding shall be paid under this section until after completion of a final
audit by the Arkansas Legislative Audit or a private certified public
accountant that may conduct school district audits under Ark. Code Ann. §
6-20-1801.
20.04
Beginning on the date of the publication of the consolidation list under Ark.
Code Ann. § 6-13-1602 and Section 15.00 of these rules each year, the
Division of Elementary and Secondary Education shall have authority to oversee
all fiscal and accounting-related matters of all school districts on the
consolidation list and shall require these school districts to have accurate
records necessary to close all books within sixty (60) days of the end of the
fiscal year.
20.04.1 No contract or other
debt obligation incurred by a school district for which the Division of
Elementary and Secondary Education has oversight authority under Ark. Code Ann.
§ 6-13-1610 and Section 20.00 of these rules shall be valid or enforceable
against a resulting district unless the contract or other debt obligation is
preapproved in writing by the Commissioner of Education or his or her designee.
Source: Ark. Code Ann. § 6-13-1610
21.00
ANNUAL REPORTS
21.01 By October 1 of each year, the
resulting district or receiving district of any school district that was
administratively consolidated or administratively annexed under Ark. Code Ann.
§§ 6-13-1601 - 6-13-1603, 6-13-1604 [repealed], and 6-13-1605
[repealed] shall file a written report with the House Interim Committee on
Education, the Senate Interim Committee on Education, and the Division of
Elementary and Secondary Education indicating:
21.01.1 What efforts were made and the
results of those efforts for inclusion of parents from the affected district in
the receiving district's or the resulting district's activities, including
without limitation:
21.01.1.1 Parent-teacher
associations;
21.01.1.2 Booster
clubs; and
21.01.1.3 Parent
involvement committees;
21.01.2 The number and percentage of students
from the affected districts participating in an extracurricular activity,
itemized by each extracurricular activity offered by the school district and,
for each activity, which school district the student attended before
reorganization; and
21.01.3 The
employment status of each administrator by name, gender, and race before the
administrative annexation or administrative consolidation, which school
employed the administrator before administrative consolidation, and his or her
employment status in the receiving district or the resulting
district.
21.02 The
Division of Elementary and Secondary Education shall develop or approve a
survey to be used by the resulting or receiving districts to capture perceptual
data from parents and students regarding their opinions on:
21.02.1 Opportunities for inclusion or
participation in the resulting or receiving district; and
21.02.2 The efforts, if any, that were made
to include parents from the affected district in the receiving or resulting
district's activities, including, but not limited to, parent-teacher
associations, booster clubs, and parent involvement committees.
Source: Ark. Code Ann. § 6-13-1611
22.00
ACADEMIC SUPPORT
CENTERS
22.01 The purpose of
Ark. Code Ann. § 6-13-1612 and Section 22.00 of these rules is to:
22.01.1 Prevent students who attend
administratively consolidated or administratively annexed schools from
returning home to communities with little or no opportunities for supplemental
academic support;
22.01.2 Increase
opportunities for access to library materials, academic resource materials, and
educational technology for these students within their local communities;
and
22.01.3 Help advance academic
performance for these students by providing opportunities for homework and
tutorial assistance based on the Arkansas academic standards.
22.02 An academic support center
may be established in communities whose schools have been closed by
administrative consolidation or administrative annexation under Title 6,
Chapter 13, Subchapter 16 of the Arkansas Code to fulfill the objectives
identified in Ark. Code Ann. § 6-13-1612(a) and Section 22.00 of these
rules.
22.03 The Division of
Elementary and Secondary Education shall report annually to the House Interim
Committee on Education and the Senate Interim Committee on Education regarding
the establishment of academic support centers and their effectiveness.
Source: Ark. Code Ann. § 6-13-1612
CHAPTER 4
: CONSOLIDATION AND
ANNEXATION INCENTIVE FUNDING
23.00
DEFINITIONS APPLICABLE TO CONSOLIDATION AND ANNEXATION INCENTIVE
FUNDING
For the purposes of Sections 23.00 through 25.00 of these rules, the
following definitions apply:
23.01 "Annexation" includes both Annexation
and Administrative Annexation as defined in Section 3.00 of these
Rules.
23.02 "Consolidation"
includes both Consolidation and Administrative Consolidation as defined in
Section 3.00 of these Rules.
23.03
"Foundation Funding" means an amount of money specified by the General Assembly
for each school year to be expended by school districts for the provision of an
adequate education for each student.
23.04 "Per Student Foundation Funding Amount"
means a dollar amount established by the General Assembly to be multiplied by
the ADM of the previous school year for the district foundation
funding.
23.05 "Funding Factor"
means a factor established by the Division of Elementary and Secondary
Education (Division) to ensure that the calculated funding does not exceed the
funds available for consolidation/annexation incentive funding.
24.00
GUIDELINES FOR THE DISTRIBUTION
OF CONSOLIDATION AND ANNEXATION INCENTIVE FUNDING
24.01 The distribution of consolidation and
annexation incentive funding is dependent upon appropriation and funding by the
Arkansas General Assembly.
24.02
Consolidation/annexation incentive funding shall be determined as follows:
24.02.1 One hundred percent (100%) of the
incentive allowance computed as provided in these rules shall be in addition to
the school district's aid the first year of consolidation/annexation. The
second year of consolidation/annexation the district shall receive fifty
percent (50%) of the consolidation/annexation incentive funding received by the
district in the previous year in addition to other state aid. Beginning in the
third year and each year thereafter no consolidation/annexation incentive
funding shall be provided. The consolidation/annexation incentive is intended
to supplement the customary state aid the districts would have received had the
consolidation/annexation not occurred.
24.02.2 For those school districts not
required to be consolidated/annexed in the current school year, if two (2)
districts consolidate or one (1) district is annexed to another school
district, multiply the prior year ADM of the smaller district by the per
student foundation funding amount, then by the funding factor, where the
minimum ADM applicable is one hundred (100) and the maximum ADM applicable is
three hundred (300).
24.02.3 For
those school districts required to be consolidated/annexed in the current
school year, if two (2) districts consolidate or one (1) district is annexed to
another school district, multiply the prior year ADM of the smaller district by
the per student foundation funding amount, then by the funding factor, where
the minimum ADM applicable is one hundred (100) and the maximum ADM applicable
is three hundred (300).
24.02.4 For
those school districts not required to be consolidated/annexed in the current
school year, if three (3) districts consolidate or two (2) districts are
annexed to a third school district, multiply the total prior year ADM of the
two (2) smaller districts by the per student foundation funding amount, then by
the funding factor, where the minimum ADM applicable is one hundred (100) and
the maximum ADM applicable is four hundred (400).
24.02.5 For those school districts required
to be consolidated/annexed in the current school year, if three (3) districts
consolidate or two (2) smaller districts are annexed to another school
district, multiply the prior year ADM of the smaller district by the per
student foundation funding amount, then by the funding factor, where the
minimum ADM applicable is one hundred (100) and the maximum ADM applicable
three hundred (300).
24.02.6 For
those school districts not required to be consolidated/annexed in the current
school year, if four (4) or more districts consolidate or three (3) or more
districts are annexed to another school district, multiply the total prior year
ADM of all except the largest district by the per student foundation funding
amount, then by the funding factor, where the minimum ADM applicable is one
hundred (100) and the maximum ADM applicable is five hundred (500).
24.02.7 For those school districts required
to be consolidated/annexed in the current school year, if four (4) or more
districts consolidate or three (3) or more districts are annexed to another
school district, multiply the prior year ADM of the smaller district by per
student the foundation funding amount, then by the funding factor, where the
minimum ADM applicable is one hundred (100) and the maximum ADM applicable is
three hundred (300).
24.02.8 If a
district is annexed by multiple school districts, the incentive funding shall
be computed as in Sections 24.02.1 through 24.02.7 above. The incentive funding
shall then be prorated among the receiving districts based upon the percentage
of the annexed district's ADM received by each receiving district.
25.00
GENERAL
REQUIREMENTS
25.01
Consolidation/annexation incentive funding shall be distributed to either the
resulting district(s) established after consolidation or the receiving
district(s) after annexation.
25.02
Any district that has received consolidation/annexation incentive funds and
subsequently dissolves shall be liable to the Division of Elementary and
Secondary Education for the full or apportioned amount of incentive funding
received if any of the following conditions result due to the dissolution:
25.02.1 Districts are formed with
substantially the same boundaries as the former districts prior to
consolidation or annexation;
25.02.2 The ability of any district to
desegregate or remain desegregated is inhibited;
25.02.3 The ability of the State to ensure
that students are provided a quality education in an efficient manner is
inhibited.
25.03 Any
repayment due, as required in Section 25.02 above, shall be paid from the
assets of the district prior to dissolution of the district. The Division of
Elementary and Secondary Education may withhold, from any state funding due the
district, the amount of repayment funds or a portion thereof.
25.04 In the event full repayment is not made
as required under Section 25.02 above, the Division of Elementary and Secondary
Education shall withhold from those districts that are formed as a result of
the dissolution, future state funding in the amount of the repayment owed. The
repayment shall be apportioned among the districts on a per ADM basis unless
the Division determines that such apportionment would be inequitable. In such
case, the State Board shall apportion the repayment among the districts upon an
equitable basis.
26.00
STATE
BOARD HEARING PROCEDURES - VOLUNTARY CONSOLIDATIONS AND
ANNEXATIONS
26.01 All
persons wishing to testify before the State Board shall first be placed under
oath by the Chairperson of the State Board.
26.02 The spokesperson(s) for the petitioning
school districts shall have a total of twenty (20) minutes to present the
school districts' remarks. The State Board may allow more than twenty (20)
minutes if necessary.
26.03 The
spokesperson(s) for any individual or group of citizens that opposes the
petition shall have a total of twenty (20) minutes to present the remarks of
the individual or group of citizens. The State Board may allow more than twenty
(20) minutes if necessary.
26.04
The spokesperson(s) for the petitioning school districts shall have a total of
ten (10) minutes to present closing remarks to the State Board. The State Board
may allow more than ten (10) minutes if necessary.
26.05 The spokesperson(s) for any individual
or group of citizens that opposes the petition shall have a total of ten (10)
minutes to present closing remarks to the State Board. The State Board may
allow more than ten (10) minutes if necessary.
26.06 The State Board shall then discuss,
deliberate and vote upon the matter of approving or denying the school
districts' petition.
26.07 If it
deems necessary, the State Board may take the matter under advisement and
announce its decision at a later date, provided that all discussions,
deliberations and votes upon the matter take place in a public
hearing.
26.08 The State Board
shall issue a written order concerning the matter.
27.00
STATE BOARD HEARING PROCEDURES -
INVOLUNTARY CONSOLIDATIONS AND ANNEXATIONS
27.01 All persons wishing to testify before
the State Board shall first be placed under oath by the Chairperson of the
State Board.
27.02 The
spokesperson(s) for the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education shall
have a total of twenty (20) minutes to present the Division's remarks. The
State Board may allow more than twenty (20) minutes if necessary.
27.03 The spokesperson(s) for any individual
or group of citizens that opposes the annexation or consolidation shall have a
total of twenty (20) minutes to present the remarks of the individual or group
of citizens. The State Board may allow more than twenty (20) minutes if
necessary.
27.04 The
spokesperson(s) for the Division shall have a total of ten (10) minutes to
present closing remarks to the State Board. The State Board may allow more than
ten (10) minutes if necessary.
27.05 The spokesperson(s) for any individual
or group of citizens that opposes the annexation or consolidation shall have a
total of ten (10) minutes to present closing remarks to the State Board. The
State Board may allow more than ten (10) minutes if necessary.
27.06 The State Board shall then discuss,
deliberate and vote upon the matter of approving or denying the school
districts' petition.
27.07 If it
deems necessary, the State Board may take the matter under advisement and
announce its decision at a later date, provided that all discussions,
deliberations and votes upon the matter take place in a public
hearing.
27.08 The State Board
shall issue a written order concerning the matter.
CHAPTER 5
: WAIVERS
28.00
MINIMUM SCHOOL DISTRICT SIZE
WAIVER
28.01 A school
district that is placed on the consolidation list published by the Division of
Elementary and Secondary Education under § 6-13-1602(2) may annually
request a waiver from the average daily membership requirement of three hundred
fifty (350) students from the State Board of Education.
28.02 A school district shall submit a
petition for a waiver to the State Board no later than thirty (30) days after
the consolidation list is published. The petition for waiver shall include:
28.02.1 The average daily membership of the
school district in the current school year;
28.02.2 A statement that the school district
is not in probationary status for any violation of the Standards for
Accreditation of Arkansas Pubic Public Schools and School Districts;
28.02.3 A copy of the school district's
current year budget and any fiscal audit conducted within the previous two
years; and
28.02.4 A statement of
assurance that the school district is not currently classified in academic
distress, fiscal distress, or facilities distress.
28.03 The State Board shall render a decision
to either grant or reject a petition for waiver that is received by a school
district within forty-five (45) days of receipt.
28.04 The State Board shall grant a petition
for a waiver if it is demonstrated by the school district that:
28.04.1 The school district is not currently
classified in academic distress, fiscal distress, or facilities
distress;
28.04.2 The school
district is not in probationary status for a violation of the Standards for
Accreditation of Arkansas Public Schools and School Districts;
28.04.3 The academic facilities owned and
operated by the school district are adequate as evidenced by the school
district's facilities master plan; and
28.04.4 It is in the best interest of the
students in the school district to keep the school district open due to the
length of potential time spent on the bus by a student traveling to and from
school should the school district be administratively reorganized, as assured
by the school board of directors of the school district requesting the
waiver.
28.05 The State
Board may revoke a waiver that has been granted to a school district at anytime
if it is found that the conditions under § 6-13-1613(b)(2)(A) and Section
28.04 of these rules change. A hearing shall be conducted using the following
procedures:
28.05.1 All persons wishing to
testify before the State Board shall first be placed under oath by the
Chairperson of the State Board.
28.05.2 The spokesperson(s) for the Division
of Elementary and Secondary Education shall have a total of twenty (20) minutes
to present the Division's remarks. The State Board may allow more than twenty
(20) minutes if necessary.
28.05.3
The spokesperson(s) for the district shall have a total of twenty (20) minutes
to present the district's remarks. The State Board may allow more than twenty
(20) minutes if necessary.
28.05.4
The spokesperson(s) for the Division shall have a total of ten (10) minutes to
present closing remarks to the State Board. The State Board may allow more than
ten (10) minutes if necessary.
28.05.5 The spokesperson(s) for the district
shall have a total of ten (10) minutes to present closing remarks to the State
Board. The State Board may allow more than ten (10) minutes if
necessary.
28.05.6 The State Board
shall then discuss, deliberate and vote upon the matter of revoking the school
districts' waiver.
28.05.7 If it
deems necessary, the State Board may take the matter under advisement and
announce its decision at a later date, provided that all discussions,
deliberations and votes upon the matter take place in a public
hearing.
28.05.8 The State Board
shall issue a written order concerning the matter.
28.06 A school district that is granted a
waiver shall remain listed on the consolidation list that is published annually
by the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education.
Source: Ark. Code Ann. § 6-13-1613
APPENDIX A
ATTACHMENTS PERTAINING TO ANNEXATIONS AND CONSOLIDATIONS OF
SCHOOL DISTRICTS (NON-ADMINISTRATIVE)
BEFORE THE ARKANSAS STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION IN THE MATTER OF THE
ANNEXATION OF ________________ SCHOOL DISTRICT(S) OF _____________ COUNTY INTO
THE ___________________ SCHOOL DISTRICT OF __________________
COUNTY:
PETITION FOR ANNEXATION
COMES NOW the __________________ School District(s) of ___________
County and the __________________ School District of ____________ County
(Petitioners), acting by and through their respective Superintendent(s) duly
authorized, pursuant to Ark. Code Ann. § 6-13-1401 et seq., and petition
the Arkansas State Board of Education (Board) to approve the annexation of the
petitioning affected school district(s) into the petitioning receiving
_____________ School District, and hereby would submit to the Board as
follows:
1. Pursuant to Ark. Code Ann. § 6-13-1401 et seq., the Petitioners
hereby submit and incorporate in this petition as Exhibit A attached hereto,
proof of legally binding local board resolutions to annex the __________ School
District(s) into the receiving ___________ School District as approved by a
majority of the members of the local boards of education of the respective
Petitioners.
2. The Petitioners hereby submit and incorporate in this petition as
Exhibit B attached hereto, proof of public notice of intent to petition this
Board to annex the Petitioners into the receiving _____________ School
District. Said public notice of intent to annex (was)(was not) published in the
local newspaper(s) of general circulation (or in a state newspaper of daily
circulation if local newspaper does not exist on weekly basis) of the affected
districts for a time period of no less than once a week for two (2) consecutive
weeks immediately prior to the filing of this petition with this Board.
3. The Petitioners submit that at the proper school election following
the petitioned annexation, the receiving __________ School District shall elect
____ local board members in compliance with Ark Code Ann. §§
6-13-1416 and 6-13-1417.
4. The Petitioners submit that their respective school districts are
geographically contiguous or that the Board should approve the petitioned
non-contiguous annexation because the annexation will result in (a) the overall
improvement in the educational benefit to students in all of the school
districts involved, or (b) will provide a significant advantage in
transportation costs or service to all of the school districts involved based
on the following factual reasons:
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
5. The Petitioners submit that they hereby request through the State
Board, an Attorney General Opinion declaring whether the petitioned annexation
will or will not hamper, delay or in any manner negatively affect the
desegregation of another school district or districts in this state. Upon
receipt, the resulting opinion shall be incorporated herein and attached hereto
as Exhibit C.
6. Pursuant to Ark. Code Ann. § 6-13-1401 et seq., the Petitioners
hereby submit and declare that the effective date of this petitioned annexation
shall be July 1, and that there shall be only one local school board and one
local superintendent of the receiving ________________ School District.
7. The Petitioners hereby submit an affidavit of facts by the
superintendent of the affected school district(s), which is incorporated as
Exhibit D, concerning the relevant status of any federal court-ordered
supervision or jurisdiction of desegregation cases involving the affected
districts.
8. The Petitioners hereby submit and incorporate in this petition as
Exhibit E attached hereto, the written agreement required by Ark. Code Ann.
§ 6-13-1416.
WHEREFORE, Petitioners request that the Board approve the annexation of
the ____________ School District(s) of _____________ County into the receiving
_______________ School District of ______________ County; that it issue an
Order dissolving the affected school district(s) and establishing the receiving
__________ School District; that it issue an Order establishing the boundary
lines of the receiving school district; and that it file its Order with the
County Clerks of __________ and ___________ Counties, Arkansas, with the
Secretary of State and with the Arkansas Geographic Information Systems
Office.
Respectfully submitted,
________________ School District
______________ County
By: ________________________________
Superintendent Date
______________________________
President, School Board Date
______________ School District
______________ County
By: _______________________________
Superintendent Date
_______________________________
President, School Board Date
BEFORE THE ARKANSAS STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION
IN THE MATTER OF THE CONSOLIDATION OF _________________ SCHOOL
DISTRICT(S) OF _____________ COUNTY AND THE ___________________ SCHOOL DISTRICT
OF __________________ COUNTY:
PETITION FOR CONSOLIDATION
COMES NOW the __________________ School District(s) of ___________
County and the __________________ School District of ____________ County
(Petitioners), acting by and through their respective Superintendent(s) duly
authorized, pursuant to Ark. Code Ann. § 6-13-1401 et seq., and petition
the Arkansas State Board of Education (Board) to approve the consolidation of
the Petitioners into the resulting _____________ School District, and hereby
would submit to the Board as follows:
1. Pursuant to Ark. Code Ann. § 6-13-1401 et seq., the Petitioners
hereby submit and incorporate in this petition as Exhibit A attached hereto,
proof of legally binding local board resolutions to consolidate the __________
and ____________ School District(s) into the resulting ___________ School
District as approved by a majority of the members of the local boards of
education of the respective Petitioners.
2. The Petitioners hereby submit and incorporate in this petition as
Exhibit B attached hereto, proof of public notice of intent to petition this
Board to consolidate the Petitioners into the resulting _____________ School
District. Said public notice of intent to consolidate (was)(was not) published
in the local newspaper(s) of general circulation (or in state newspaper of
local daily circulation if local newspaper does not exist on weekly basis) of
the affected districts for a time period of no less than once a week for two
(2) consecutive weeks immediately prior to the filing of this petition with
this Board.
3. The Petitioners submit that at the proper school election following
the petitioned consolidation, the resulting __________ School District shall
elect ____ local board members in compliance with Ark. Code Ann. §§
6-13-1416 and 6-13-1417.
4. The Petitioners submit that their respective school districts are
geographically contiguous or that the Board should approve the petitioned
non-contiguous consolidation because the consolidation will result in (a) the
overall improvement in the educational benefits to students in all of the
school districts involved, or (b) will provide a significant advantage in
transportation costs or service to all of the school districts involved based
on the following factual reasons:
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
5. The Petitioners submit that they hereby request through the State
Board, an Attorney General Opinion declaring whether the petitioned
consolidation will or will not hamper, delay or in any manner negatively affect
the desegregation of another school district or districts in this state. Upon
receipt, the resulting opinion shall be incorporated herein and attached hereto
as Exhibit C.
6. Pursuant to Ark. Code Ann. § 6-13-1401 et seq., the Petitioners
hereby submit and declare that the effective date of this petitioned
consolidation shall be July 1, and that there shall be only one local school
board and one local superintendent of the resulting ________________ School
District.
7. The Petitioners hereby submit an affidavit of facts by the
superintendent of the affected school districts, which is incorporated as
Exhibit D, concerning the relevant status of any federal court-ordered
supervision or jurisdiction of desegregation cases involving the affected
districts.
8. The Petitioners hereby submit and incorporate in this petition as
Exhibit E attached hereto, the written agreement required by Ark. Code Ann.
§ 6-13-1416.
WHEREFORE, Petitioners request that the Board approve the consolidation
of the ___________ School District(s) of _________ County and the
______________ School District of ___________ County into the resulting
___________ School District; that it issue an Order dissolving the affected
school districts and establishing the resulting school district; that it issue
an Order establishing the boundary lines of the resulting school district; and
that it file its Order with the County Clerks of the _______________ and
________________ Counties, Arkansas, with the Secretary of State and with the
Arkansas Geographic Information Systems Office.
Respectfully submitted,
______________ School District
______________ County
By: _______________________________
Superintendent Date
_______________________________
President, School Board Date
_________________ School District
______________ County
By: ________________________________
Superintendent Date
________________________________
President, School Board Date
Exhibit A
SCHOOL BOARD RESOLUTION
COMES NOW the __________________ School District Board acting by and
through its Superintendent duly authorized and do herein declare:
A special or regular school board meeting was held on
__________________, 20___, wherein a quorum was present and a majority of the
board membership voted to approve the consolidation/annexation of the
__________________ School District with the _______________________ School
District, and the minutes of said meeting reflect such.
Therefore, this document is to serve as the formal resolution of the
__________________ School District Board of Directors, pursuant to Arkansas
law, that said consolidation/annexation is hereby approved.
___________________________ School District
of _____________________ County
By: ________________________________________
Superintendent Date
By: ________________________________________
President, School Board Date
EXHIBIT D
AFFIDAVIT CONCERNING DESEGREGATION ORDERS
COMES NOW the _______________________________ School District, acting
by and through its Superintendent, and hereby states and represents to the
State Board of Education that, to the best of my knowledge, the
________________________________ School District currently (circle one) (is)(is
not) involved in desegregation litigation in a United States Federal Court or
is under the continuing jurisdiction of a United States Federal Court Order
regarding desegregation of a public school or schools (see "*" at bottom of
affidavit).
Further the affiant sayeth not.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I hereunto set my hand this ______ day of
______________, 20 _____.
___________________________________
Superintendent
COUNTY of ________________
STATE OF ARKANSAS
Sworn and subscribed before me, Notary Public, this ______ day of
________, 20 _____.
___________________________________
Notary Public
My Commission expires: __________________________________
* = If you answered, "is involved in desegregation litigation, etc."
above, please attach a copy of any applicable Court orders or other relevant
documentation.
APPENDIX B
ATTACHMENTS PERTAINING TO ADMINISTRATIVE ANNEXATIONS AND
CONSOLIDATIONS OF SCHOOL DISTRICTS BEFORE THE ARKANSAS STATE BOARD OF
EDUCATION
IN THE MATTER OF THE ANNEXATION OF ________________ SCHOOL
DISTRICT(S) OF _____________ COUNTY INTO THE ___________________ SCHOOL
DISTRICT OF __________________ COUNTY:
PETITION FOR VOLUNTARY ADMINISTRATIVE ANNEXATION
COMES NOW the __________________ School District(s) of ___________
County and the __________________ School District of ____________ County
(Petitioners), acting by and through their respective Superintendent(s) duly
authorized, pursuant to Ark. Code Ann. § 6-13-1601 et seq., and petition
the Arkansas State Board of Education (Board) to approve the voluntary
administrative annexation of the petitioning affected school district(s) into
the petitioning receiving _____________ School District, and hereby would
submit to the Board as follows:
1. Pursuant to Ark. Code Ann. § 6-13-1601 et seq., the Petitioners
hereby submit and incorporate in this petition as Exhibit A attached hereto,
proof of legally binding local board resolutions to annex the __________ School
District(s) into the receiving ___________ School District as approved by a
majority of the members of the local boards of education of the respective
Petitioners.
2. The Petitioners hereby submit and incorporate in this petition as
Exhibit B attached hereto, (submit only if public notice was published in the
newspaper) proof of public notice of intent to petition this Board to annex the
Petitioners into the receiving _____________ School District. Said public
notice of intent to annex (was)(was not) published in the local newspaper(s) of
general circulation (or in a state newspaper of daily circulation if local
newspaper does not exist on weekly basis) of the affected districts for a time
period of no less than once a week for two (2) consecutive weeks immediately
prior to the filing of this petition with this Board.
3. The Petitioners submit that the average daily membership in each of
the two (2) school years immediately preceding the __________ school year were
_____ and _____ for the __________ School District and ______ and ______ for
the ______________ School District.
4. Pursuant to Ark. Code Ann. § 6-13-1603(b), the Petitioners
submit and incorporate an affidavit of proof as Exhibit C that the previous
average daily membership of the affected school districts was a combined
average daily membership of _______ for the __________ school year, which is an
average daily membership meeting or exceeding three hundred fifty (350) total
students.
5. The Petitioners submit that at the proper school election following
the petitioned annexation, the receiving __________ School District shall elect
____ local board members in compliance with Ark. Code Ann. §§
6-13-1416 and 6-13-1417.
6. The Petitioners submit that their respective school districts are
geographically contiguous or that the Board should approve the petitioned
non-contiguous annexation because the annexation will result in (a) the overall
improvement in the educational benefit to students in all of the school
districts involved, or (b) will provide a significant advantage in
transportation costs or service to all of the school districts involved based
on the following factual reasons:
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
7. The Petitioners submit that they hereby request through the State
Board, an Attorney General Opinion declaring whether the petitioned annexation
will or will not hamper, delay or in any manner negatively affect the
desegregation of another school district or districts in this state. Upon
receipt, the resulting opinion shall be incorporated herein and attached hereto
as Exhibit D.
8. Pursuant to Ark. Code Ann. § 6-13-1601 et seq., the Petitioners
hereby submit and declare that the effective date of this petitioned annexation
shall be July 1, __________, and that there shall be only one local school
board and one local superintendent of the receiving ________________ School
District.
9. If Petitioners are claiming Isolated School status, Petitioners
hereby submit that the _____________ School District(s) qualify as an isolated
school as certified by the attached affidavit of Isolated School Status
incorporated in this petition as Exhibit E attached hereto.
10. The Petitioners hereby submit an affidavit of facts by the
superintendent of the affected school district(s), which is incorporated as
Exhibit F, concerning the relevant status of any federal court-ordered
supervision or jurisdiction of desegregation cases involving the affected
districts.
11. The Petitioners hereby submit and incorporate in this petition as
Exhibit G attached hereto, the written agreement required by Ark. Code Ann.
§ 6-13-1416.
WHEREFORE, Petitioners request that the Board approve the annexation of
the ____________ School District(s) of _____________ County into the receiving
_______________ School District of ______________ County; that it issue an
Order dissolving the affected school district(s) and establishing the receiving
__________ School District; that it issue an Order establishing the boundary
lines of the receiving school district; and that it file its Order with the
County Clerks of __________ and ___________ Counties, Arkansas, with the
Secretary of State and with the Geographic Information Systems Office.
Respectfully submitted,
________________ School District
______________ County
By: ________________________________
Superintendent Date
________________________________
President, School Board Date
________________ School District
______________ County
By: _______________________________
Superintendent Date
_______________________________
President, School Board Date
BEFORE THE ARKANSAS STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION IN THE MATTER OF THE
CONSOLIDATION OF _________________ SCHOOL DISTRICT(S) OF _____________ COUNTY
AND THE ___________________ SCHOOL DISTRICT OF __________________
COUNTY:
PETITION FOR VOLUNTARY ADMINISTRATIVE CONSOLIDATION
COMES NOW the __________________ School District(s) of ___________
County and the __________________ School District of ____________ County
(Petitioners), acting by and through their respective Superintendent(s) duly
authorized, pursuant to Ark. Code Ann. § 6-13-1601 et seq., and petition
the Arkansas State Board of Education (Board) to approve the voluntary
administrative consolidation of the Petitioners into the resulting
_____________ School District, and hereby would submit to the Board as
follows:
1. Pursuant to Ark. Code Ann. § 6-13-1601 et seq., the Petitioners
hereby submit and incorporate in this petition as Exhibit A attached hereto,
proof of legally binding local board resolutions to consolidate the __________
and ____________ School District(s) into the resulting ___________ School
District as approved by a majority of the members of the local boards of
education of the respective Petitioners.
2. The Petitioners hereby submit and incorporate in this petition as
Exhibit B attached hereto, (submit only if public notice was published in the
newspaper) proof of public notice of intent to petition this Board to
consolidate the Petitioners into the resulting _____________ School District.
Said public notice of intent to consolidate (was)(was not) published in the
local newspaper(s) of general circulation (or in state newspaper of local daily
circulation if local newspaper does not exist on weekly basis) of the affected
districts for a time period of no less than once a week for two (2) consecutive
weeks immediately prior to the filing of this petition with this Board.
3. The Petitioners submit that the average daily membership in each of
the two (2) school years immediately preceding the __________ school year were
_____ and _____ for the __________ School District and ______ and _____ for the
__________ School District.
4. Pursuant to Ark. Code Ann. § 6-13-1603(b), the Petitioners
submit and incorporate an affidavit of proof as Exhibit C that the previous
average daily membership of the affected school districts was a combined
average daily membership of ______ for the __________ school year, which is an
average daily membership meeting or exceeding three hundred fifty (350) total
students.
5. Pursuant to Ark. Code Ann. § 6-13-1416, the Petitioners submit
that this petitioned consolidation is pursuant to Ark. Code Ann. §
6-13-1602 and that an interim local board of seven (7) board members in accord
with Ark. Code Ann. § 6-13-1416 shall be established by ________________,
and the interim board shall be made up of board members of the affected former
districts in proportion to the student's population in the former affected
districts.
6. The Petitioners submit that at the first regular school election
following the petitioned consolidation, the resulting __________ School
District shall elect ____ local board members by zoned elections in compliance
with Ark. Code Ann. §§ 6-13-1416 and 6-13-1417.
7. The Petitioners submit that their respective school districts are
geographically contiguous or that the Board should approve the petitioned
non-contiguous consolidation because the consolidation will result in (a) the
overall improvement in the educational benefits to students in all of the
school districts involved, or (b) will provide a significant advantage in
transportation costs or service to all of the school districts involved based
on the following factual reasons:
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
8. The Petitioners submit that they hereby request through the State
Board, an Attorney General Opinion declaring whether the petitioned
consolidation will or will not hamper, delay or in any manner negatively affect
the desegregation of another school district or districts in this state. Upon
receipt, the resulting opinion shall be incorporated herein and attached hereto
as Exhibit D.
9. Pursuant to Ark. Code Ann. § 6-13-1601 et seq., the Petitioners
hereby submit and declare that the effective date of this petitioned
consolidation shall be July 1, __________, and that there shall be only one
local school board and one local superintendent of the resulting
________________ School District.
10. If Petitioners are claiming Isolated School status, Petitioners
hereby submit that the _____________ School District(s) qualify as isolated
schools as certified by the attached affidavit of Isolated School Status
incorporated in this petition as Exhibit E attached hereto.
11. The Petitioners hereby submit an affidavit of facts by the
superintendent of the affected school district, which is incorporated as
Exhibit F, concerning the relevant status of any federal court-ordered
supervision or jurisdiction of desegregation cases involving the affected
districts.
12. The Petitioners hereby submit and incorporate in this petition as
Exhibit G attached hereto, the written agreement required by Ark. Code Ann.
§ 6-13-1416.
WHEREFORE, Petitioners request that the Board approve the consolidation
of the ___________ School District(s) of _________ County and the
______________ School District of ___________ County into the resulting
___________ School District; that it issue an Order dissolving the affected
school districts and establishing the resulting school district; that it issue
an Order establishing the boundary lines of the resulting school district; and
that if file its Order with the County Clerks of the _______________ and
________________ Counties, Arkansas, the Secretary of State and the Arkansas
Geographic Information Systems Office.
Respectfully submitted,
________________ School District
______________ County
By: _______________________________
Superintendent Date
_______________________________
President, School Board Date
_________________ School District
______________ County
By: ________________________________
Superintendent Date
________________________________
President, School Board Date
Exhibit A
SCHOOL BOARD RESOLUTION
COMES NOW the __________________ School District Board acting by and
through its Superintendent duly authorized and do herein declare:
A special or regular school board meeting was held on
__________________, __________, wherein a quorum was present and a majority of
the membership voted to approve the consolidation/annexation of the
__________________ School District with the _______________________ School
District, and the minutes of said meeting reflect such.
Therefore, this document is to serve as the formal resolution of the
__________________ School District Board of Directors, pursuant to Arkansas
law, that said consolidation/annexation is hereby approved.
___________________________ School District
of _____________________ County
By: ________________________________________
Superintendent Date
By: ________________________________________
President, School Board Date
Exhibit C
AFFIDAVIT OF AVERAGE DAILY MEMBERSHIP
COMES NOW the affiant, _________________, Superintendent of the
_____________________ School District, and having been duly sworn, states under
oath as follows:
1. The average daily membership (ADM) of the _________________ School
District, as that term is defined in Ark. Code Ann. § 6-13-1601(4), was
____________ students for the __________ school year and _____________ students
for the ________ school year.
2. The combined average daily membership of the affected school
districts was ________ for the __________ school year, an average daily
membership meeting or exceeding three hundred fifty (350) total students.
FURTHER, affiant says not.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I hereunto set my hand this _________ day of
________________, __________.
__________________________
Superintendent
County of ___________________
State of Arkansas
Sworn and subscribed before me, Notary Public, this ____________ day of
___________________, __________.
___________________________
Notary Public
My Commission expires:
_____________________
Exhibit E
AFFIDAVIT OF ISOLATED SCHOOL STATUS
Comes the affiant, ________________, Superintendent of the
________________ School District, and having been duly sworn, states under oath
as follows:
1. My name is ___________________. I am the Superintendent of the
__________________ School District.
2. My business address is __________________.
3. I am aware that pursuant to Ark. Code Ann. § 6-20-601 a school
district must meet four (4) of five (5) criteria to qualify as an isolated
school.
4. I am aware that pursuant to Ark. Code Ann. § 6-20-602 an
isolated school must qualify as an isolated school district under Ark. Code
Ann. § 6-20-601 prior to the administrative consolidation or annexation
petitioned for herein.
5. I hereby submit that prior to the effective date of the
administrative consolidation or annexation, the _________________ School
District qualified as an isolated school district and, therefore, is entitled
to the rights and privileges conferred on an isolated school pursuant to Ark.
Code Ann. § 6-20-602.
6. I hereby declare that the __________________ School District
qualifies for isolated status because the school district meets the following
list of at least four (4) of the five (5) criteria of being an isolated school
district: (circle appropriate responses and provide relevant data in the
blanks)
a. There is a distance of twelve (12) miles or more by hard-surfaced
highway from the high school of the district to the nearest adjacent high
school in an adjoining district. The distance is ___________ .
b. The density ratio of transported students is less than three (3)
students per square mile of area. The density ratio is ______________ .
c. The total area of the district is ninety-five (95) square miles or
greater. The total area is __________ square miles.
d. Less than fifty percent (50%) of bus route miles are on
hard-surfaced roads. The percent of bus route miles on hard-surface roads is
____________.
e. There are geographic barriers such as lakes, rivers, and mountain
ranges which would impede travel to schools that otherwise would be appropriate
for consolidation, cooperative programs, and shared services. The geographic
barriers are _____________________.
7. Further the affiant sayeth not.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I hereunto set my hand this __________ day
of
_______________, __________.
______________________________
Superintendent
COUNTY OF ___________________
STATE OF ARKANSAS
Sworn and subscribed before me, Notary Public, this ______________ day
of _______________, __________.
__________________________
Notary Public
My Commission expires:
____________________________
EXHIBIT F
AFFIDAVIT CON CERNING DESEGREGATION ORDERS
COMES NOW the _______________________________ School District, acting
by and through its Superintendent, and hereby states and represents to the
State Board of Education that, to the best of my knowledge, the
________________________________ School District currently (circle one) (is)(is
not) involved in desegregation litigation in a United States Federal Court or
is under the continuing jurisdiction of a United States Federal Court Order
regarding desegregation of a public school or schools (see "*" at bottom of
affidavit).
Further the affiant sayeth not.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I hereunto set my hand this ______ day of
______________, __________.
___________________________________
Superintendent
COUNTY of ________________
STATE OF ARKANSAS
Sworn and subscribed before me, Notary Public, this ______ day of
________,
__________.
___________________________________
Notary Public
My Commission expires:
__________________________________
* = If you answered, "is involved in desegregation litigation, etc."
above, please attach a copy of any applicable Court orders or other relevant
documentation.
