REQUIRE INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL DISTRICT ELECTIONS
House Bill 4338
Sponsor: Rep. Ruth Johnson
Committee: Education
Complete to 8-5-03
A SUMMARY OF HOUSE BILL 4338 AS INTRODUCED 3-12-03
House Bill 4338 would amend the Revised School Code to require that intermediate school districts elect their school board members.
The bill specifies that beginning with the June 2004 annual school election, all intermediate school districts be under the supervision and control of an intermediate school board consisting of seven members popularly elected. If an intermediate school district (or ISD) did not have a popularly elected school board when this new provision was enacted into law, then its first popularly elected board would be elected at the June 2004 annual school election. On July 1, 2004, the new board would take over the supervision and control of the ISD and the previous board would be dissolved.
The bill also specifies that beginning with the June 2004 school election, a member of a board of a constituent school district would not be eligible for election or appointment to membership on the intermediate school. Further, beginning July 1, 2004, a member of an intermediate school board could not hold any other elective public office including, but not limited to, office as a member of the board of a constituent district. If a member of an intermediate board violated this subsection, the member would forfeit his or her office as a member of the intermediate board. In addition, House Bill 4338 would require that beginning July 1, 2004, all officers of the intermediate school board be members of the intermediate school board. Currently, only the president and vice-president must be members of the intermediate board, while the secretary and treasurer need not be board members.
There are 57 ISDs in Michigan. Currently under the law, some ISD boards are popularly elected, and the Revised School Code contains election protocols that enable ISD board members to place the question of popularly elected ISD boards before all registered voters. However, the members of most intermediate boards are elected biennially by a body of electors composed of one member of the board from each of the ISD’s constituent school districts. House Bill 4338 specifies that the protocol that allows for the optional popular election, as well as the provisions allowing for an election by the constituent school districts, would apply only until there had been an election of a popularly elected ISD board. The bill also specifies that the current language of the law that allows an ISD board composed of constituent board members to govern the dissolution of an ISD would apply only until there had been an election of a popularly elected ISD board. [The bill also changes all references to “dissolution” by inserting the term “disorganization.”]
Finally, the bill specifies that members of the intermediate school board would be elected at the annual school elections of the constituent districts. If a constituent district held its annual election on a date other than the second Monday in June, then an election for the purpose of choosing members of the intermediate school board would be held in that district on the second Monday in June. Currently under the law, at the first election, three members of the intermediate board are elected to a term of six years, two for a term of four years, and two for a term of two years. After the first election, their successors are elected biennially for terms of six years. House Bill 4338 would retain this provision, and specify that the term of office would begin on July 1 following election.
MCL 380.611 et al
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This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House staff for use by House members in their deliberations, and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.