MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

1998 Regular Session

To: Education

By: Senator(s) Ferris

Senate Bill 2201

(As Passed the Senate)

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 37-3-4, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO DELETE THE REQUIREMENT THAT THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION APPROVE ANY CONTINUING EDUCATION COURSE FOR SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS WHICH IS CONDUCTED BY THE MISSISSIPPI SCHOOL BOARDS ASSOCIATION AND TO FULLY AUTHORIZE SUCH SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS TO TAKE COURSEWORK OFFERED BY THE ASSOCIATION IN ORDER TO SATISFY SAID COURSEWORK REQUIREMENTS; TO AMEND SECTION 37-7-306, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO CLARIFY THAT ANY SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER FAILING TO COMPLETE THE BASIC COURSE OF TRAINING CONDUCTED BY THE SCHOOL EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT INSTITUTE OF THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION SHALL BE SUBJECT TO REMOVAL FROM OFFICE; 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) Subject to the extent of appropriations available for such purpose, the School Executive Management Institute of the State Department of Education * * * shall prepare and conduct courses of training for basic * * * 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 Mississippi School Boards Association shall be responsible for preparing and conducting courses of training for 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 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 * * * education courses and the time and place such courses are to be conducted shall be determined by the School Executive Management Institute; 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 the basic course, and the Mississippi School Boards Association shall issue certificates of completion to those school board members who complete the continuing education course. All costs and expenses for preparing and conducting the basic * * * education courses provided for in subsection (5) of this section shall be paid out of any funds which are made available to the institute upon authorization and appropriation by the Legislature.

 * * *

(6) The School Executive Management Institute of the State Department of Education, or the Mississippi School Boards Association with the oversight of the State Board of Education, 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; 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. All costs and expenses for preparing and conducting the basic and continuing education courses provided for in subsection (6) of this section shall be paid out of any funds which are made available to the institute upon authorization and appropriation by the Legislature.

Upon approval by the State Board of Education, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld, a qualified education provider may provide any and all of the required courses of training for elementary and secondary school principals as required under this subsection. It is the intent of the Legislature to promote enhanced educational training opportunities for administrators and to promote cooperative programs with established and recognized professional organizations.

(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. Section 37-7-306, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

37-7-306. (1) Every school board member selected after July 1, 1993, shall be required to complete a basic course of training and education for local school board members, in order for board members to carry out their duties more effectively and be exposed to new ideas involving school restructuring. Such basic course of training approved by the State Board of Education shall be conducted by the School Executive Management Institute of the State Department of Education * * *. Upon completion of the basic course of training, the School Executive Management Institute shall file a certificate of completion for such school board member with the office of the local school board. In the event that a board member fails to complete such training within six (6) months of his selection, or six (6) months from April 15, 1993, such board member shall no longer be qualified to serve and shall be removed from office.

(2) In addition to meeting the requirements of subsection (1) of this section, after taking office, each school board member shall be required to file annually in the office of the school board a certificate of completion of a course of continuing education conducted by the Mississippi School Boards Association.

(3) Upon the failure of any local school board member to file with the school board the certificate of completion of the basic course of training as provided in subsection (1) * * * of this section, such school board member shall be removed from office.

SECTION 3. The Attorney General of the State of Mississippi is hereby directed to submit this act, immediately upon approval by the Governor, or upon approval by the Legislature subsequent to a veto, to the Attorney General of the United States or to the United States District Court for the District of Columbia in accordance with the provisions of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, as amended and extended.

SECTION 4. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after the date it is effectuated under Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, as amended and extended.