Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the School Board Training topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Panel to rework school board training bill after questions on fiscal notes and local control
Summary
House Bill 77 would add FOIA, rules-of-order and code-of-conduct topics to required training for new school board members; sponsors and education groups supported the change while DSBA raised concerns about mandatory training and the lack of an attached fiscal note.
Representative Morrison presented House Bill 77 as a measure to expand mandatory training for school board members. ‘‘Currently, school board members are already required per Delaware code to receive training on special education due process and financial responsibility,’’ he said. HB 77 would add three topics: FOIA, best practices for conduct of meetings (including rules of order) and the state code of conduct for public employees.
Supporters included Taylor Hawk of the Delaware State Education Association and Kendall Massett of the Delaware Charter Schools Network. Massett said governance training reduces board dysfunction and cited existing state law that requires governance plans and periodic FOIA training for board members. Hawk told the committee that HB 77 ‘‘will ensure there is consistency and accountability related to these requirements.’’
The Delaware School Boards Association opposed the bill in its current form, saying board members already receive training through DSBA programs and that mandating additional topics increases burdens. The Controller General’s office told the committee the fiscal note was indeterminable on first review because training needs depend on turnover and the number of new board members; the office provided counts used in that explanation (97 elected seats and 21 appointed seats statewide, and many charter volunteers).
The committee did not complete a final recorded release vote for HB 77 during the hearing; the sponsor indicated he would walk the bill for signatures.
Why it matters: The bill would standardize training expectations for board members across districts and charters, aiming to improve governance and public accountability. Opponents said much of the training is already offered and questioned adding a statutory mandate.
What’s next: Sponsor will walk the bill for signatures; Controller General said it will re-evaluate the fiscal note if turnover implies a local expenditure requirement.
