MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

1998 Regular Session

To: Education

By: Senator(s) Ferris

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 37-3-4, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO DELETE THE REQUIREMENT THAT THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION APPROVE ANY BASIC OR CONTINUING EDUCATION COURSE FOR SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS OR PRINCIPALS WHICH IS CONDUCTED BY THE MISSISSIPPI SCHOOL BOARDS ASSOCIATION AND TO FULLY AUTHORIZE SUCH SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS AND PRINCIPALS TO TAKE COURSEWORK OFFERED BY THE ASSOCIATION IN ORDER TO SATISFY SAID COURSEWORK REQUIREMENTS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. Section 37-3-4, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

37-3-4. (1) There is hereby established on July 1, 1984, within the State Department of Education, the School Executive Management Institute. The director shall be appointed by the State Board of Education upon recommendation by the State Superintendent of Public Education. The State Superintendent of Public Education shall, with the approval of the State Board of Education, assign sufficient staff members from the State Department of Education to the institute.

(2) It shall be the purpose and duty of the institute to conduct thorough empirical studies and analyses of the school management needs of the local school districts throughout the state, to make recommendations to the State Board of Education regarding standards and programs of training that aid in the development of administrative and management skills of local school administrators, and to conduct such programs related to these purposes as they are implemented under guidelines established by the State Board of Education.

(3) The State Board of Education shall develop and implement through the School Executive Management Institute a program for the development of administrative and management skills of local school administrators under which all local school administrators shall be required to participate. Subject to the extent of appropriations available for such purpose, the School Executive Management Institute or the Mississippi School Boards Association shall be required to offer courses at least twice a year on the uses of technology to principals, superintendents and other administrative personnel. These courses shall relate to the application of technology to learning, as well as administrative problems.

(4) The institute shall have an advisory board composed of ten (10) qualified members appointed by the State Board of Education after consultation with the State Superintendent of Public Education. This advisory board will offer recommendations to the institute on the types of training to be instituted and supported. The membership of said advisory board shall be composed of the following members: two (2) to be appointed from each congressional district, three (3) school administrators, one (1) representative of public junior colleges within the state, one (1) representative of a school of education in an institution of higher learning within the state, two (2) local school board members, one (1) classroom teacher and two (2) lay persons. In making the initial appointments, three (3) members shall be appointed for a term of one (1) year, three (3) members shall be appointed for a term of two (2) years, two (2) members shall be appointed for a term of three (3) years, and two (2) members shall be appointed for a term of four (4) years. Thereafter, all members shall be appointed for a term of four (4) years. The advisory board shall meet when called by the director, but in no event fewer than three (3) times per year. The members of the advisory board shall be compensated at a per diem rate as authorized by Section 25-3-69 and be reimbursed for actual and necessary expenses as authorized by Section 25-3-41.

(5) * * * The School Executive Management Institute of the State Department of Education, or the Mississippi School Boards Association * * *, at least twice a year, shall prepare and conduct courses of training for basic and continuing education for the local school board members of this state, in order for board members to carry out their duties more effectively and be exposed to new ideas involving school restructuring. The basic course shall be known as the "School Board Member Training Course" and shall consist of at least twelve (12) hours of training. The continuing education course shall be known as the "Continuing Education Course for School Board Members" and shall consist of at least six (6) hours of training. The content of the basic and continuing education courses and the time and place such courses are to be conducted shall be determined by the School Executive Management Institute or the Mississippi School Boards Association, as the case may be; provided, however, that to the extent practicable, such training sessions shall be held within geographical proximity of local districts in order that travel times and costs shall not be prohibitive. The curriculum of such training sessions shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

(a) The role of the local board;

(b) School leadership;

(c) Financial management;

(d) School restructuring;

(e) Innovations in school management;

(f) Human relations;

(g) Multicultural and multiethnic relations; and

(h) Crisis management.

The institute shall issue certificates of completion to those school board members who complete such courses conducted by the institute. All costs and expenses for preparing and conducting the basic and continuing education courses by the institute shall be paid out of any funds which are made available to the institute upon authorization and appropriation by the Legislature.

 * * * The * * * Mississippi School Boards Association shall issue certificates of completion to those school board members who show evidence of completion of such basic course or continuing education courses conducted by the association.

(6) The School Executive Management Institute of the State Department of Education, or the Mississippi School Boards Association * * *, at least twice a year, shall prepare and conduct required courses of training for continuing education for the elementary and secondary school principals of this state, in order for principals to carry out their duties more effectively and be exposed to new ideas involving school management. The continuing education course shall be known as the "Continuing Education Course for Principals" and shall consist of at least six (6) hours of training. The content of the continuing education courses and the time and place such courses are to be conducted shall be determined by the School Executive Management Institute or the Mississippi School Boards Association, as the case may be; provided, however, that to the extent practicable, such training sessions shall be held within geographical proximity of local districts in order that travel times and costs shall not be prohibitive. The curriculum of such training sessions shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

(a) School leadership;

(b) Financial management;

(c) Innovations in school management;

(d) Student psychology;

(e) Student health issues;

(f) Student drug abuse;

(g) Human relations;

(h) Multicultural and multiethnic relations; and

(i) Crisis management.

The institute shall issue certificates of completion to those principals who complete such courses conducted by the institute. All costs and expenses for preparing and conducting the basic and continuing education courses by the institute shall be paid out of any funds which are made available to the institute upon authorization and appropriation by the Legislature.

The Mississippi School Boards Association shall issue certificates of completion to those principals who show evidence of completion of such basic and continuing education courses conducted by the association.

(7) In the event any school district meets Level 4 or 5 accreditation requirements, the State Board of Education may, in its discretion, exempt the school superintendents, principals and other administrators of such school district from the provisions of this section.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 1998.