Connecticut House Bill HB05553

Connecticut 2015 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/20/15
• Refer: 1/20/15

Caption

An Act Concerning The Rules Governing Regional Board Of Education Meetings.

Impact

This bill alters existing statutes that dictate how regional boards of education can operate, potentially streamlining decision-making procedures in situations where not all towns are represented. By reducing the necessity for complete attendance, the bill could enable boards to function more effectively and respond promptly to issues, particularly when certain municipalities cannot participate. This flexibility may be especially important in ensuring that educational governance is not stalled due to attendance requirements.

Summary

House Bill 05553 seeks to amend the rules governing the meetings of regional boards of education. Specifically, the bill targets the requirement that at least one member from each member town must be present for any action to be taken. The proposed legislation suggests that if a member town has been completely absent from two consecutive board meetings, this requirement should be suspended. Actions can then be taken by the present members provided a quorum is still met, thus allowing some flexibility in decision-making processes.

Contention

Potential points of contention surrounding HB 05553 may revolve around the implications of suspending the requirement for member town attendance. Critics could argue that this could lead to decisions being made without the input from all affected parties, ultimately undermining collaborative governance principles. On the other hand, supporters may assert that the bill offers practical solutions to prevent gridlock in educational decision-making, particularly when towns face legitimate challenges that prevent attendance.