MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

1999 Regular Session

To: Education; Appropriations

By: Representatives Barnett (92nd), Bozeman, Green (96th), Hudson, Jennings, Ketchings, Livingston, Malone, McCoy, Moak, Nettles, Roberson, Weathersby, Williams

AN ACT TO CREATE THE MISSISSIPPI SCHOOL OF FINE ARTS; TO DEFINE CERTAIN TERMS USED IN THE ACT; TO PROVIDE THAT THE SCHOOL SHALL BE A RESIDENTIAL FACILITY FOR ARTISTICALLY TALENTED ELEVENTH AND TWELFTH GRADE STUDENTS; TO PROVIDE THAT THE SCHOOL SHALL BE GOVERNED BY THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION; TO REQUIRE THE BOARD TO DEVELOP A PLAN FOR THE OPENING, OPERATION AND FUNDING OF THE SCHOOL TO BE PRESENTED TO THE 2000 LEGISLATURE; TO AUTHORIZE THE BOARD TO HIRE A DIRECTOR OF THE SCHOOL; TO REQUIRE THE BOARD TO DEVELOP RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE SCHOOL AND TO PREPARE THE ANNUAL BUDGET FOR THE SCHOOL; TO AUTHORIZE THE BOARD TO ACCEPT CONTRIBUTIONS FOR THE SUPPORT OF THE SCHOOL; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. As used in this act, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings ascribed in this section unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

(a) "Board" means the State Board of Education.

(b) "School" means the Mississippi School of Fine Arts.

SECTION 2. (1) There is created the Mississippi School of Fine Arts, which shall be a residential school for eleventh and twelfth grade high school students located on the campus of Whitworth College in Brookhaven, Mississippi. The purpose of the school shall be to provide a more challenging educational experience for artistically talented and gifted students of the state to develop their full potential, and the school's curriculum and admissions policies shall reflect that purpose.

(2) The 2000-2001 school year shall be the first year that the school shall admit students for enrollment, which shall be limited to students in the eleventh grade during the school's first year. Beginning with the 2001-2002 school year, the school shall enroll students in the eleventh and twelfth grades.

SECTION 3. (1) The school shall be governed by the State Board of Education. The board shall develop a plan relating to the opening, operation and funding of the school to be presented to the Legislature during the 2000 Regular Session. The plan shall include an equitable and reasonable plan for student recruitment without regard to race, creed or color.

(2) The State Superintendent of Public Education may appoint an advisory panel to assist the board in developing the plan relating to the school. The panel shall be comprised of citizens who have been supporters of the cultural and educational advancement of the youth of the state and of educators and professionals representing the areas of dance, creative writing, music, theater arts, visual arts and academics. In addition, one (1) member of the panel shall be the fine arts specialist employed by the State Department of Education, and one (1) member shall be a representative of the Mississippi Arts Commission.

(3) The board may utilize the staff of the State Department of Education and other state agencies as may be required for the implementation of this act. The department may employ any personnel deemed necessary by the board for assisting in the development and implementation of the plan relating to the opening, operation and funding of the school. The board also may contract or enter into agreements with other agencies or private entities which it deems necessary to carry out its duties and functions relating to the opening and operation of the school.

SECTION 4. Subject to the availability of funding appropriated therefor, the board may hire a director of the school, who shall serve at the will and pleasure of the board. The director shall be the chief administrative officer of the school and shall administer the school in accordance with the policies established by the board. The director shall be responsible for those administrative duties and functions prescribed by the board, and the board, in its discretion, may delegate to the director such powers and duties as it deems appropriate.

SECTION 5. The board shall be the exclusive governing body of the school and shall promulgate rules and regulations required for the administration and operation of the school. The emphasis of the school shall be on the education and training of students in the fine arts, but this emphasis shall not preclude the teaching of those liberal arts and science courses deemed necessary by the board to provide students with a well-rounded education. The programs of study at the school may not conflict with those programs available to students at the Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science.

SECTION 6. The board shall prepare the annual budget for the school. For the operation and support of the school, the board may receive contributions, donations, gifts, bequests of money, other forms of financial assistance and property, equipment, materials or manpower from persons, foundations, trust funds, corporations, organizations and other sources, public or private, to be expended and utilized by the board in carrying out this act.

SECTION 7. All expenditures for the school must be authorized by the board. The expenditures shall be paid by the State Treasurer on warrants issued by the State Fiscal Officer, and the State Fiscal Officer shall issue his warrants upon requisition signed by the proper person, officer or officers.

SECTION 8. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 1999.