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| 4 | 4 | | |
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| 5 | 5 | | 2025 -- H 5835 |
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| 6 | 6 | | ======== |
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| 7 | 7 | | LC001251 |
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| 8 | 8 | | ======== |
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| 9 | 9 | | S T A T E O F R H O D E I S L A N D |
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| 10 | 10 | | IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY |
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| 11 | 11 | | JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2025 |
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| 12 | 12 | | ____________ |
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| 13 | 13 | | |
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| 14 | 14 | | A N A C T |
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| 15 | 15 | | RELATING TO EDUCATION -- THE PAUL W. CROWLEY RHODE ISLAND STUDENT |
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| 16 | 16 | | INVESTMENT INITIATIVE |
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| 17 | 17 | | Introduced By: Representatives Kislak, Hull, Sanchez, Batista, Potter, and Ajello |
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| 18 | 18 | | Date Introduced: February 28, 2025 |
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| 19 | 19 | | Referred To: House Education |
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| 20 | 20 | | |
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| 21 | 21 | | |
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| 22 | 22 | | It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: |
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| 23 | 23 | | SECTION 1. Chapter 16-7.1 of the General Laws entitled "The Paul W. Crowley Rhode 1 |
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| 24 | 24 | | Island Student Investment Initiative [See Title 16 Chapter 97 — The Rhode Island Board of 2 |
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| 25 | 25 | | Education Act]" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following sections: 3 |
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| 26 | 26 | | 16-7.1-5.3. Establishment of school-based councils and a central advisory board. 4 |
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| 27 | 27 | | In order to promote stronger relationships and foster even further effective communication 5 |
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| 28 | 28 | | between local schools, the communities they serve, and the Providence public school board, there 6 |
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| 29 | 29 | | shall be established school-based councils at each public school in the city, and a central advisory 7 |
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| 30 | 30 | | board consisting of a member from each school-based council, to work advise and promote better 8 |
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| 31 | 31 | | communication with, the Providence public school board. 9 |
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| 32 | 32 | | 16-7.1-5.4. Alternative local school control for school-based management in 10 |
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| 33 | 33 | | Providence using school-based councils. 11 |
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| 34 | 34 | | Upon transfer of control of PPSD to the City of Providence, or at an earlier date as a part 12 |
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| 35 | 35 | | of an agreed upon transition plan, PPSD shall form local elected school-based councils at each 13 |
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| 36 | 36 | | PPSD school. These local school-based councils shall remain in place unless and until the city 14 |
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| 37 | 37 | | charter commission recommends a change in governance structure for PPSD. 15 |
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| 38 | 38 | | 16-7.1-5.5. Definitions for school-based councils in the city of Providence. 16 |
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| 39 | 39 | | As used in this section and in §§ 16-7.1-5.3, 16-7.1-5.4, 16-7.1-5.6, 16-7.1-5.7, 16-7.1-5.8, 17 |
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| 40 | 40 | | 16-7.1-5.9, and 16-57.1-5.10: 18 |
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| 41 | 41 | | |
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| 42 | 42 | | |
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| 43 | 43 | | LC001251 - Page 2 of 6 |
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| 44 | 44 | | (1) “Building” means the physical locus of the school, sometimes colloquially referred to 1 |
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| 45 | 45 | | as the “brick and mortar” building; provided, in a school that operates a remote, virtual or tele-2 |
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| 46 | 46 | | program, the term shall also include any students enrolled in and persons working within that 3 |
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| 47 | 47 | | program. 4 |
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| 48 | 48 | | (2) “Board” or “PPSB” means the Providence public school board. 5 |
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| 49 | 49 | | (3) “Central advisory board” means the body established pursuant to § 16-7.1-5.10. 6 |
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| 50 | 50 | | (4) “Commissioner” means the commissioner of elementary and secondary education. 7 |
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| 51 | 51 | | (5) “Department” means the department of elementary and secondary education. 8 |
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| 52 | 52 | | (6) “District” or “PPSD” means the Providence public school district. 9 |
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| 53 | 53 | | (7) “School-based council” means a school-based governance body, operated and located 10 |
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| 54 | 54 | | at the local school level, within a single school building, as described in § 16-7.1-5.6. 11 |
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| 55 | 55 | | 16-7.1-5.6. School-based council. 12 |
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| 56 | 56 | | (a) Except when otherwise authorized by the Providence public school board, the 13 |
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| 57 | 57 | | composition of the school-based council, which shall be in every single school building, shall be 14 |
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| 58 | 58 | | as follows: 15 |
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| 59 | 59 | | (1) The building principal; 16 |
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| 60 | 60 | | (2) Up to six (6) parents of students in the building; provided that, the term “parent” 17 |
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| 61 | 61 | | includes any parent or legal guardian of children enrolled in the school; 18 |
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| 62 | 62 | | (3) Two (2) teachers in the building; 19 |
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| 63 | 63 | | (4) Two (2) residents of the community served by the school; 20 |
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| 64 | 64 | | (5) In high schools, one full-time student in the building in good academic standing. 21 |
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| 65 | 65 | | (b) The term of office for school-based council members shall be two (2) years, except: 22 |
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| 66 | 66 | | (1) Building principals shall serve for so long as they are building principals; and 23 |
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| 67 | 67 | | (2) Student members shall serve for one year. 24 |
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| 68 | 68 | | 16-7.1-5.7. Selection of membership. 25 |
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| 69 | 69 | | (a) Members of the school-based council shall be selected as follows: 26 |
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| 70 | 70 | | (1) The principal shall be an automatic appointment by virtue of the position. 27 |
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| 71 | 71 | | (2) A parent member, which includes both a parent and a guardian, shall be selected from 28 |
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| 72 | 72 | | among all parents and guardians of students enrolled in the building, provided, a parent or guardian 29 |
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| 73 | 73 | | may nominate themselves or be nominated by another parent or guardian for membership, and shall 30 |
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| 74 | 74 | | be elected by parents and guardians; 31 |
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| 75 | 75 | | (3) Teacher members shall be selected from an election of all school staff members in the 32 |
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| 76 | 76 | | building; 33 |
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| 77 | 77 | | (4) Resident members from the community shall be nominated by the other members of 34 |
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| 78 | 78 | | |
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| 79 | 79 | | |
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| 80 | 80 | | LC001251 - Page 3 of 6 |
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| 81 | 81 | | the school-based council provided that a resident member shall be a resident of Providence; and 1 |
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| 82 | 82 | | (5) Student members shall be elected by the student body. 2 |
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| 83 | 83 | | (b) In April of each school year, the schools shall develop a list of candidates for whom 3 |
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| 84 | 84 | | elections are required for that year for membership on the school-based council. In the following 4 |
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| 85 | 85 | | May, all elections required for membership on the school-based council shall be conducted. 5 |
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| 86 | 86 | | (c) The school-based council shall convene an organizational meeting no later than June 6 |
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| 87 | 87 | | 15th following the election, and shall meet at least two (2) more times during the ensuing academic 7 |
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| 88 | 88 | | year. 8 |
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| 89 | 89 | | 16-7.1-5.8. General powers and duties of school-based councils. 9 |
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| 90 | 90 | | (a) School-based councils shall have the following general powers and duties: 10 |
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| 91 | 91 | | (1) Approve a school improvement plan and submit the plan to the PPSB; 11 |
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| 92 | 92 | | (2) At least twice a year, the principal shall publicly report to the entire school community 12 |
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| 93 | 93 | | on the progress and problems of implementing the school improvement plan. The school 13 |
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| 94 | 94 | | community shall be afforded the opportunity to make recommendations regarding the school 14 |
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| 95 | 95 | | improvement plan; 15 |
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| 96 | 96 | | (3) Approve an expenditure plan and submit the plan to the PPSB. The expenditure plan 16 |
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| 97 | 97 | | shall be consistent with and subject to the terms of any contract for services with a third party 17 |
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| 98 | 98 | | entered into by the PPSB. The expenditure plan shall also be consistent with applicable law, 18 |
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| 99 | 99 | | collective bargaining agreements, PPSD policies and standards. The expenditure plan shall be 19 |
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| 100 | 100 | | administered by the principal; 20 |
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| 101 | 101 | | (4) Approve transfer allocations within funds via a super majority, which means fifty 21 |
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| 102 | 102 | | percent (50%) of the council plus two (2) more; provided that, such transfer is approved by the 22 |
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| 103 | 103 | | principal and is consistent with applicable law and collective bargaining agreements; 23 |
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| 104 | 104 | | (5) Convene at least two (2) well-publicized meetings annually to present the proposed 24 |
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| 105 | 105 | | expenditure plan and the school improvement plan to the school community. At these meetings, 25 |
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| 106 | 106 | | the school-based council shall provide an opportunity for public comment; 26 |
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| 107 | 107 | | (6) Hold an organizational meeting to elect a chairperson, who shall be a parent, and elect 27 |
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| 108 | 108 | | a secretary and establish the regular meeting schedule for the year. The organizational meeting is 28 |
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| 109 | 109 | | to be held no later than June 15 of each year and at least two (2) times thereafter as provided in 29 |
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| 110 | 110 | | §16-7.1-5.7; 30 |
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| 111 | 111 | | (7) Approve fundraising proposals by external organizations using school facilities; 31 |
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| 112 | 112 | | (8) Approve purchases to be made with any internal school accounts funds consistent with 32 |
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| 113 | 113 | | the requirements of the PPSB rules or policies. Additional approval by the PPSB or chief 33 |
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| 114 | 114 | | purchasing officer may also be necessary; 34 |
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| 115 | 115 | | |
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| 116 | 116 | | |
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| 117 | 117 | | LC001251 - Page 4 of 6 |
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| 118 | 118 | | (9) Make recommendations to the principal or academy superintendent for appointments 1 |
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| 119 | 119 | | to fill vacant, additional, or newly created teacher positions at the school; 2 |
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| 120 | 120 | | (10) Make recommendations to the principal or academy superintendent concerning 3 |
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| 121 | 121 | | textbook selection and curriculum development consistent with the system-wide curriculum 4 |
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| 122 | 122 | | objectives contained in the school improvement plan; 5 |
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| 123 | 123 | | (11) Evaluate the allocation of teaching resources and the assignment/deployment of 6 |
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| 124 | 124 | | certified and uncertified staff that is consistent with the instructional objectives listed in the school 7 |
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| 125 | 125 | | improvement plan; 8 |
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| 126 | 126 | | (12) Make recommendations to the principal or superintendent for reallocation of teaching 9 |
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| 127 | 127 | | and non-teaching staff resources based on this evaluation; 10 |
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| 128 | 128 | | (13) Advise the principal or superintendent regarding attendance and disciplinary policies 11 |
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| 129 | 129 | | for the school, consistent with the board's student code of conduct/discipline policy; 12 |
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| 130 | 130 | | (14) Comply with chapter 46 of title 42 ("open meetings"), and chapter 2 of title 38 ("access 13 |
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| 131 | 131 | | to public records") and other applicable state and federal laws, as well as all applicable collective 14 |
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| 132 | 132 | | bargaining agreements, court orders, and board rules and policies; 15 |
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| 133 | 133 | | (15) Make public the names and contact information of its members; 16 |
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| 134 | 134 | | (16) Advise the principal or academy superintendent regarding granting the use of school 17 |
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| 135 | 135 | | facilities such as assembly halls and classrooms for social and educational activities; 18 |
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| 136 | 136 | | (17) Encourage participation of parents and community members in school events and 19 |
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| 137 | 137 | | school volunteer activities; 20 |
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| 138 | 138 | | (18) Provide parents and community members with a forum to discuss important school 21 |
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| 139 | 139 | | and community-related issues and to address school leaders; 22 |
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| 140 | 140 | | (19) Assist school leaders in the identification and development of community resources 23 |
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| 141 | 141 | | for the school and students by reaching out to government agencies, local businesses and 24 |
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| 142 | 142 | | community organizations to obtain information and resources; and 25 |
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| 143 | 143 | | (20) Assist school leaders in the promotion of the school, its staff and students. 26 |
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| 144 | 144 | | (b) A school-based council shall not have the authority: 27 |
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| 145 | 145 | | (1) To reject or alter any collective bargaining agreement or any obligations thereunder 28 |
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| 146 | 146 | | including, but not limited to, payment of wages and benefits; 29 |
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| 147 | 147 | | (2) To eliminate or alter any rights or obligations, as provided in chapter 9.3 of title 28 30 |
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| 148 | 148 | | ("certified school teachers' arbitration") or 9.4 of title 28 ("municipal employees' arbitration") 31 |
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| 149 | 149 | | including, but not limited to, the duty to bargain; and 32 |
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| 150 | 150 | | (3) To hire or terminate school department personnel. 33 |
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| 151 | 151 | | 16-7.1-5.9. Manner of operation. 34 |
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| 152 | 152 | | |
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| 153 | 153 | | |
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| 154 | 154 | | LC001251 - Page 5 of 6 |
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| 155 | 155 | | (a) No action by a school-based council shall be valid unless approved by a vote of a 1 |
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| 156 | 156 | | majority of those present at a meeting with a quorum. A quorum of the full membership of a 2 |
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| 157 | 157 | | school-based council is fifty percent (50%) plus one. 3 |
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| 158 | 158 | | (b) School-based councils may adopt rules, bylaws and policies necessary to conduct their 4 |
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| 159 | 159 | | business in an efficient manner that are not inconsistent with PPSB rules or policies or applicable 5 |
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| 160 | 160 | | state or federal laws. 6 |
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| 161 | 161 | | (c) School-based councils shall annually: 7 |
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| 162 | 162 | | (1) Elect a chairperson who shall be the parent or legal guardian of a child attending the 8 |
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| 163 | 163 | | school, and may elect a vice-chairperson; 9 |
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| 164 | 164 | | (2) Elect a secretary; and 10 |
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| 165 | 165 | | (3) Adopt and publish a calendar of regular meetings. 11 |
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| 166 | 166 | | (d) The provisions of §§ 16-7.1-5.3 through 16-7.1-5.10 shall be deemed specific 12 |
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| 167 | 167 | | provisions applicable to the city of Providence only, and as such shall supersede any provisions to 13 |
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| 168 | 168 | | the contrary which are general provisions including, but not limited to, provisions contained in 14 |
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| 169 | 169 | | chapters 2 and 97 of title 16. 15 |
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| 170 | 170 | | 16-7.1-5.10. Central advisory board. 16 |
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| 171 | 171 | | (a) The purpose of the central advisory board shall be to promote and enhance strong 17 |
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| 172 | 172 | | communication, interaction, and relationships between the individual schools in the PPSD and the 18 |
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| 173 | 173 | | Providence school board. 19 |
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| 174 | 174 | | (b) Each school-based board shall elect from among their members a member to serve as a 20 |
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| 175 | 175 | | member of a central advisory board. Every school in the Providence public school district shall 21 |
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| 176 | 176 | | have a separate member on the central advisory board. The central advisory board shall elect eleven 22 |
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| 177 | 177 | | (11) persons from among its membership to serve as an executive board. The executive board shall 23 |
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| 178 | 178 | | select from among its membership a chair, a vice-chair, and a secretary. The remaining members 24 |
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| 179 | 179 | | of the executive board shall be deemed “delegates.” The executive board shall act as leadership for 25 |
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| 180 | 180 | | the central advisory board. The central advisory board shall act as both a conduit to and in an 26 |
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| 181 | 181 | | advisory capacity to the Providence school board. 27 |
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| 182 | 182 | | (c) Members of the central advisory board shall serve a term of one year. Any member 28 |
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| 183 | 183 | | shall be eligible for reappointment to the central advisory board. 29 |
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| 184 | 184 | | (d) The central advisory board shall meet at least two (2) times during the academic school 30 |
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| 185 | 185 | | year. 31 |
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| 186 | 186 | | SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. 32 |
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| 187 | 187 | | ======== |
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| 188 | 188 | | LC001251 |
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| 189 | 189 | | ======== |
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| 190 | 190 | | |
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| 191 | 191 | | |
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| 192 | 192 | | LC001251 - Page 6 of 6 |
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| 193 | 193 | | EXPLANATION |
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| 194 | 194 | | BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL |
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| 195 | 195 | | OF |
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| 196 | 196 | | A N A C T |
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| 197 | 197 | | RELATING TO EDUCATION -- THE PAUL W. CROWLEY RHODE ISLAND STUDENT |
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| 198 | 198 | | INVESTMENT INITIATIVE |
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| 199 | 199 | | *** |
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| 200 | 200 | | This act would enable local school-based councils to be organized so as to enhance and 1 |
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| 201 | 201 | | promote more school-based management and control, and to enhance communication between the 2 |
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| 202 | 202 | | Providence school board and the individual schools. 3 |
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| 203 | 203 | | This act would take effect upon passage. 4 |
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| 204 | 204 | | ======== |
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| 205 | 205 | | LC001251 |
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| 206 | 206 | | ======== |
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