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F I S C A L I M P A C T R E P O R T
SPONSOR Begaye
ORIGINAL DATE
LAST UPDATED
2/27/2007
HM 51
SHORT TITLE Study Local School Board Hiring Policies
SB
ANALYST Aguilar
ESTIMATED ADDITIONAL OPERATING BUDGET IMPACT (dollars in thousands)
FY07
FY08
FY09 3 Year
Total Cost
Recurring
or Non-Rec
Fund
Affected
Total
**
Indeterminate
(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)
** See Fiscal Implications
SOURCES OF INFORMATION
LFC Files
SUMMARY
Synopsis of Bill
House Memorial 51 notes a number of legislative findings regarding recent issues statewide
where superintendents have been released by school boards prior to the end of their contracts as
well as concerns with regard to school board ethics and fiscal responsibility. The memorial
requests the Public Education Department study the hiring policies and practices of local school
boards in the state to determine what works and does not.
The memorial further requests the department determine and report the cost of contract buyouts
during the 2006-2007 school year, examine contract duration options under current law, identify
ethical; constitutional or legal issues when local school boards, before they leave office, offer
multi-year contracts to superintendents in a school election year.
The memorial requests the department study and recommend options for changing the law
regarding the hiring, firing and disciplining of superintendents and local school board members.
The memorial directs a report be provided to LESC no later than November 1, 2007.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS
PED notes funding for this study is generally not included in the agency budget. It is unclear as
to the total amount needed to complete the study and prepare interim and final reports.