07 LC 33
1754
Senate
Bill 72
By:
Senators Williams of the 19th, Weber of the 40th, Rogers of the 21st, Tolleson
of the 20th, Staton of the 18th and others
A
BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
AN ACT
To
amend Code Section 20-2-290 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating
to organization of schools under the "Quality Basic Education Act," so as to
provide for legislative findings; to authorize the employment of school
administrative managers to conduct the financial and business affairs of a
school; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for
other purposes.
BE
IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION
1.
The
General Assembly finds that principals are frequently called upon to perform
many administrative functions which limit their time and ability to be
thoroughly involved in the curriculum and instructional aspects of the school.
The General Assembly further finds that it may be in the best interests of
schools to disencumber the principal from such time consuming duties which are
unrelated to the direct instruction and achievement of students by authorizing
the employment of school administrative managers to handle the financial and
business operations of the school.
SECTION
2.
Code
Section 20-2-290 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to
organization of schools under the "Quality Basic Education Act," is amended by
revising subsection (a) as follows:
"(a)(1)
The board of education of any local school system is authorized to organize or
reorganize the schools and fix the grade levels to be taught at each school in
its jurisdiction. Local school systems which have organized their schools in
such a manner that facilities house grades six, seven, and eight or grades seven
and eight shall qualify for the middle school program for students in grade
levels so housed. A school which houses grades other than six, seven, or eight
shall only be eligible if it has a full-time principal for grades seven and
eight or six, seven, and eight and another full-time principal for grades above
or below the middle school grades; provided, however, that such schools also
meet all other provisions of this Code section. Schools with students in the
sixth grade shall not be eligible for the middle school program if the sixth
grades are not housed in middle schools which also contain both grades seven and
eight. Further, two or more adjacent local school systems shall qualify for the
middle school program if through their contractual arrangement they jointly meet
the requirements of this Code section and the criteria and standards prescribed
by the state board.
(2)
The board of education of any local school system shall be authorized to employ
school administrative managers in lieu of or in addition to assistant
principals. Such school administrative managers shall not be required to be
certificated by the Professional Standards Commission but shall have such
qualifications as determined by the local board. The duties of school
administrative managers shall be to oversee and manage the financial and
business affairs of the school. The principal shall retain authority over the
curriculum and instructional areas. At the discretion of the local board, the
school administrative manager may report directly to the superindent. In the
event that a local board considers hiring or utilizing school administrative
managers pursuant to this subsection, it shall receive and give all due
consideration to recommendations by the school council as to whether or not to
utilize such position and as to selection of the manager. Existing employers of
the local board shall be eligible to serve as school administrative managers if
they meet other qualifications and requirements established by the local board
for such position. For purposes of earning funds for such positions, school
administrative managers shall be treated in all respects the same as assistant
principals."
SECTION
3.
All
laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.