EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*sb0940*
SENATE BILL 940
F1 2lr3161
By: Senator Hough
Introduced and read first time: February 13, 2022
Assigned to: Rules
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
County Superintendents of Schools – Powers – Approval of Legal Settlements 2
FOR the purpose of providing that a legal settlement made by a county board of education 3
must be approved in writing by the county superintendent of schools to be valid; and 4
generally relating to powers of county superintendents of schools. 5
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 6
Article – Education 7
Section 4–205 8
Annotated Code of Maryland 9
(2018 Replacement Volume and 2021 Supplement) 10
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 11
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 12
Article – Education 13
4–205. 14
(a) In addition to the other powers granted and duties imposed under this article, 15
the county superintendent has the powers and duties set forth in this section. 16
(b) The county superintendent may administer oaths to witnesses in all appeals 17
or cases that come before the county board. 18
(c) (1) Subject to the authority of the State Board under § 2–205(e) of this 19
article, each county superintendent shall explain the true intent and meaning of: 20
(i) The school law; and 21
(ii) The applicable bylaws of the State Board. 22 2 SENATE BILL 940
(2) Subject to the provisions of § 6–203 and Title 6, Subtitle 4 of this article 1
and without charge to the parties concerned, each county superintendent shall decide all 2
controversies and disputes that involve: 3
(i) The rules and regulations of the county board; and 4
(ii) The proper administration of the county public school system. 5
(3) A decision of a county superintendent may be appealed to the county 6
board if taken in writing within 30 days after the decision of the county superintendent. 7
The decision may be further appealed to the State Board if taken in writing within 30 days 8
after the decision of the county board. 9
(d) A contract made by a county board is not valid without the written approval 10
of the county superintendent. 11
(E) A LEGAL SETTLEMENT MAD E BY A COUNTY BOARD IS NOT VALID 12
WITHOUT THE WRITTEN APPROVAL OF THE COUN TY SUPERINTENDENT . 13
[(e)] (F) (1) Acting as the executive officer of the county board, the county 14
superintendent shall: 15
(i) Conduct all correspondence; 16
(ii) Receive all reports from principals and teachers; and 17
(iii) See that all reports are made and submitted properly. 18
(2) The county superintendent shall prepare and submit to the county 19
board for adoption: 20
(i) All reports required of the county board by the State Board or the 21
State Superintendent; and 22
(ii) The annual report to the people of the county required by § 23
5–111(b) of this article. 24
[(f)] (G) The county superintendent: 25
(1) Shall advise teachers as to their further study and professional 26
improvement; 27
(2) Shall develop a program of in–service training for all public school 28
personnel; and 29
SENATE BILL 940 3
(3) May require attendance at an institution of higher education for future 1
certification and professional improvement instead of in–service training. 2
[(g)] (H) The county superintendent and the superintendent’s professional 3
assistants shall: 4
(1) Visit the schools; 5
(2) Observe their management and instruction; 6
(3) Give suggestions for their improvement; 7
(4) Consult with and advise principals and teachers; and 8
(5) Try in every way to awaken public interest and improve educational 9
conditions in the county. 10
[(h)] (I) In accordance with the applicable rules and regulations of the State 11
Board, the county superintendent periodically shall: 12
(1) Evaluate the program of instruction in the public schools of the county; 13
and 14
(2) Report the superintendent’s findings and recommendations to the 15
county board. 16
[(i)] (J) The county superintendent shall prepare and recommend for adoption 17
by the county board: 18
(1) Curriculum guides; 19
(2) Courses of study; 20
(3) Resource material; and 21
(4) Other teaching aids. 22
[(j)] (K) (1) The county superintendent shall prepare lists of the following 23
items needed by the schools: 24
(i) Textbooks; 25
(ii) Supplementary readers; 26
(iii) Materials of instruction; 27
(iv) Visual and auditory aids; 28 4 SENATE BILL 940
(v) Stationery and school supplies; and 1
(vi) School furniture, equipment, and apparatus. 2
(2) The county superintendent shall recommend the purchase and 3
distribution of these items by the county board. 4
[(k)] (L) The county superintendent shall: 5
(1) Take the initiative in the preparation and presentation of the annual 6
school budget; and 7
(2) Seek in every way to secure adequate funds from local authorities for 8
the support and development of the public schools in the county. 9
[(l)] (M) (1) The county superintendent shall recommend to the county board: 10
(i) Condemnation of any school building that is unsanitary and unfit 11
for use; and 12
(ii) Any repairs of or the purchase and sale of land, school sites, or 13
buildings. 14
(2) Subject to the provisions of § 2–303(f) of this article that relate to 15
approval by the State Superintendent, the county superintendent shall prepare all plans 16
and specifications for remodeling an old building or constructing a new building. 17
(3) The county superintendent shall recommend to traffic safety officials of 18
the State Highway Administration or of the county appropriate locations for posting 19
flashing caution signs at or near the site of: 20
(i) A school; 21
(ii) School construction; or 22
(iii) School condemnation. 23
[(m)] (N) The county superintendent shall provide the clerical help that is needed 24
to issue work permits in accordance with § 3–206 of the Labor and Employment Article. 25
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 26
1, 2022. 27