Code of Vermont Rules › Agency 22 - DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION › Sub-Agency 000 - GENERAL › Chapter 008 - SCHOOL DISTRICT ORGANIZATION › Section 22 000 008 - SCHOOL DISTRICT ORGANIZATION

Current through June, 2024
3100 STATEMENT OF
				PURPOSE.
The state Board of Education firmly believes that the school
				  districts of Vermont should be organized so as to provide the maximum
				  educational opportunities for pupils in grades K-12 or 1-12 consistent with
				  administrative and financial effectiveness and efficiency.
3200 SUPERVISORY UNIONS.
Section 3210 Statutory Authority
16 VSA
				  §
												261;
				  16 VSA §
												262; 16 VSA §§ 263-266;
				  16 VSA §
												267; 16 VSA § 301-303; 16 VSA
				  §§ 321-325.
Section
				3220 Supervisory Union Adjustments
3221. Procedure.
3221.1 Adjustments may be requested by a
				member district(s), or initiated by the state Board of Education.
3221.2 A school district may petition
				following a vote, complying with
				16 VSA
				§
													261(b), in favor of
				adjustment.
3221.3 Following a
				request to adjust, the petitioning district shall conduct a "needs assessment"
				which should indicate what educational services are presently provided and what
				educational services would be provided under the the proposed
				adjustment.
3221.4 The needs
				assessment will be conducted by the state Department of Education if the state
				Board of Education initiates the request. The Department of Education shall
				obtain a response from affected school districts.
3221.5 The state Board of Education will
				consider action on a request following receipt of the above
				information.
3321.6 In no case will
				adjustments occur within supervisory unions until July 1 following the annual
				supervisory union meeting following state Board of Education action.
3222. Agreement.
School districts involved in a supervisory union adjustment
				  must agree to the following:
3222.1 To
				maintain a K-12 or 1-12 educational continuum to the extent
				practicable.
3222.2 That all
				existing programs or equivalent services currently provided through local
				financial effort shall continue to be provided in all districts affected for a
				minimum of three (3) years from the effective date of the adjustment.
3222.3 The Department of Education shall
				report to the state Board of Education as to district agreement on and
				compliance with the conditions. Failure to comply could result in a reversion
				to the original organizational pattern.
3223. Needs Assessment.
Supervisory unions shall be organized to the extent
				  practicable to offer a comprehensive program of instruction in kindergarten or
				  grade one through twelve which meet the needs of children. Factors to be
				  considered in the needs assessment shall include the educational programs and
				  services to meet the needs of regular and exceptional children and support
				  services and programs. Needs assessments shall be conducted according to
				  procedures developed by the Department of Education.
3223.1 The supervisory union shall provide
				educational and administrative leadership and supervision at a reasonable cost
				consistent with local taxable wealth and state and federal financial
				support.
3234.2 A supervisory union
				shall be a contiguous geographic unit with consideration given to whether there
				are community characteristics that will assist in deciding its
				boundary.
Section
				3230 Vacancy of Superintendency
3231. Notification
The chair of a supervisory union/district board shall notify
				  the Commissioner of Education as soon as the board becomes aware of an
				  impending vacancy in the superintendency of the supervisory
				  union/district.
3232.
				Recruitment Initiated
Within two calendar weeks of notification by the supervisory
				  union/district board chair the Commissioner shall advise the chair that either
				  of the following applies:
3232.1. The
				process of recruiting a new superintendent may proceed, or
3232.2. The Commissioner will recommend to
				the state board that the supervisory union/district be placed under state board
				consideration for supervisory union change. The Commissioner may authorize the
				recruitment for and hiring of an interim superintendent for a specified time
				period if necessary to fill a vacancy. However, the supervisory union/district
				board may not hire a permanent superintendent until the state board has
				completed its deliberations regarding changes, if any, in the supervisory
				union/district.
Section
				3240 Superintendent
3241.
				Qualifications. A superintendent shall be certified in accordance with state
				law (see section 5000 of this manual).
Section 3250 Fiscal Operations
3250.1 Accounting.
Accounting systems will meet governmental generally accepted
				  accounting principles for state and local governments and will follow, at a
				  minimum, the code structure contained in the Handbook for Financial Accounting
				  of Vermont School Systems: Financial Code Classification system. (
				  16 VSA
				  164(15) )
3250.2 Receipt of Grant Funds.
To receive grant federal or state funds, entities
				  must:
(a) have the approval of the
				governing board;
(b) be an eligible
				recipient under the applicable state and/or federal regulations;
(c) file an application form with the
				department of Education;
(d) meet
				reporting requirements as to forms and timelines;
(e) have the chief administrative officer
				sign all forms;
(f) expend funds
				within state and/or federal grant regulations;
(g) meet all state and federal audit
				requirements;
(h) return any funds
				cited as expenditures/reve-nues not meeting program regulations. (
				16 VSA
				164(15) )
3250.3 Employment of Personnel.
Each supervisory union shall employ or contract with a
				  persons qualified by education and/or experience to maintain the accounting
				  system on a double entry, accrual, or modified accrual basis in accordance with
				  governmental generally accepted accounting principles. (
				  16 VSA
				  261a(7) )
Section 3260 Definition of
				Enrolled Pupils
3260.1 For the purpose of
				calculating a member school district's proportionate share of the
				superintendent's salary and expenses and the other expenses of the supervisory
				union pursuant to 16 VSA 301, unless otherwise agreed upon, the term "enrolled
				pupil" means that actual number of students enrolled in the school as of the
				40th day of school. Special and vocational education pupils shall be counted
				for the purposes of calculation proportionate share in the same manner as set
				forth above.