Regional School District Organization

NEWS:

12/02/2011		Report of the Legislative Commission on School District Collaboration and Regionalization
12/28/2009	Three reports focusing on regional school districts issues have been issued:
		School District Consolidation in Massachusetts: This document provides a brief history of regionalization; explains the complex web of relationships that already exist among districts; looks at some demographic, fiscal, and programmatic factors that might motivate districts to regionalize; and uncovers some lessons from a recent series of regionalization studies. It is also intended as a companion piece to a more in depth report on the outcomes of recent planning studies included in the following document.
		Results of Regional Planning Studies: This report summarizes the individual results of recent planning studies in the context of the district's existing affiliations and compares the current findings with concerns and benefits that have been identified in the past.
		A Study of Central Office Capacity in Regional Districts: This study examines central office staff and their roles or functions in terms of district size. The study was undertaken by the Massachusetts Association of Regional Schools (MARS) at the request of ESE in order to provide factual information for the ongoing discussion about regionalization, consolidation, and collaboration among small districts in which the question of central office capacity has been raised repeatedly.
07/03/2009		Advisory Memorandum on FY10 Regional School District Budgets
04/27/2009		Franklin County Schools: A 2020 Vision
02/27/2009		Patrick Administration Awards Regional Planning Grants to 12 Communities

Laws and regulations:

• MGL, chapter 71, section 14-16I-- governs all regional districts

• MGL, chapter 74-- governs vocational programs

• ESE regulations on regional districts:603 CMR 41.00

Professional organizations:

• MARS: Massachusetts Association of Regional Schools

• MAVA: Massachusetts Association of Vocational Administrators

• MASC: Massachusetts Association of School Committees

Formation and amendments:

MGL c.71, s.14B outlines the process for establishing and amending a regional school district agreement. All regional school district agreements and amendments to those agreements must be approved by the Commissioner of Education in accordance with the law and regulation noted above. Communities interested in forming a regional school district or regional school districts interested in amending their regional school district agreement or admitting a new member should contactChristine M. Lynchby e-mail at clynch@doe.mass.edu or by phone at 781-338-6520.

    Forming a Regional School District: This document may be used as a guide for those interested in exploring the formation of a regional school district.

Amendment Process:

• A complete copy of the latest approved agreement and any proposed amendment must be submitted to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education for review prior to receiving local approval

• Final approval by the Commissioner will be subject to legal approval and receipt of all authorized local votes

• A new or amended agreement must be approved by DESE and member communities prior to December 31 of any given year in order for the agreement to be in effect on July 1 of the following fiscal year

Budget Process:

•    Developing the Regional Budget

•    Preparing Member Assessments: Guidance for Regional School Districts

•    Advisory on Regional School District Stabilization Funds

Information and Statistics:

• Listing of Regional School Districts

  •   Academic Regions

  •   Vocational Regions

•   School district organization fact sheet

• School district organization charts

  •   Enrollment by type of district

  •   Type of Academic School Districts

  •   Configuration of 351 Cities and Towns in Massachusetts

Superintendency Unions

Chapter 71, Section 61 (http://www.mass.gov/legis/laws/mgl/71-61.htm.) of the Massachusetts General Laws allows the school committees of two or more towns to join together to form a union school committee. The organization of the union school committee is governed by statute, as are its powers, which are limited to the authority to employ a superintendent of schools, school physicians, school nurses, clerical and secretarial personnel, special teachers, and supervisors. All other powers and responsibilities are retained by the local school committees of the member towns. There are 16 superintendency unions in Massachusetts, comprised of 48 member towns. Currently, 33 of the municipal districts participating in superintendency unions also are members of regional school districts that hire the same superintendent and central office staff. For information on Superintendency Unions, contactChristine M. Lynchat 781-338-6520 or at clynch@doe.mass.edu.

  Article on Superintendency Unions

Tuitioning Arrangements

In accordance with provisions of Chapter 71, sections 1, 4 and 6, the following list of public school districts are permitted by the Board of Education not to maintain certain public schools and to tuition their students to other school districts for the school year 20010-20011 .

   List of Towns approved to tuition certain grade levels of students to other school districts.

In accordance with provisions of Chapter 71, sections 1, 4 and 6, the following list of public school districts are permitted by the Board of Education not to maintain certain public schools and to tuition their students to other school districts for the school year 20010-20011 .