What's happening
This bill requires that any superintendent contract changes made between a school district's annual and organizational meetings must be approved by a two-thirds board majority.
Why it matters
Raises the threshold for contract changes with superintendents. during a critical period, making it harder for a simple board majority to approve potentially controversial or rushed agreements about superintendent pay or benefits between annual and organizational school board meetings.
Reduces the risk of backroom deals or last-minute changes. to superintendent contracts, increasing accountability and transparency for decisions that can have long-term financial and leadership impacts on the district.
Empowers minority voices on school boards. by requiring a two-thirds majority, ensuring that significant contract decisions have broader support and are less likely to be made without consensus.
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Headline styles
Tighten Superintendent Contract Approvals
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to education
- Referred to education
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Tighten Superintendent Contract Approvals
In Assembly Committee · Education · Sponsor Fred Thiele
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
S. 4815 A. 6310
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
SENATE - ASSEMBLY
March 2, 2017
IN SENATE -- Introduced by Sen. LAVALLE -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Education
IN ASSEMBLY -- Introduced by M. of A. THIELE -- read once and referred to the Committee on Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to approval of contracts with superintendents of schools
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 1711 of the education law is amended by adding a new subdivision 3-a to read as follows:
3-a. Any contract, amendment thereto, contract extension, or agreement of any kind with a superintendent for salary, compensation or benefits entered into during the period between the annual meeting of the district and the subsequent organizational meeting shall be approved by a two-thirds majority of such board.
§ 2. Section 2507 of the education law is amended by adding a new subdivision 1-a to read as follows:
1-a. Any contract, amendment thereto, contract extension, or agreement of any kind with a superintendent for salary, compensation or benefits entered into during the period between the annual meeting of the district and the subsequent organizational meeting shall be approved by a two-thirds majority of such board.
§ 3. This act shall take effect on the sixtieth day after it shall have become a law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD08095-01-7
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the education law, in relation to approval of contracts with superintendents of schools
Purpose
To require a 2/3 majority vote by school boards approving a superintendent's contract when the vote is taken between the date of the school board elections and the seating of the new board.
Summary of provisions
This bill adds sections 1711(3-a) and 2507(1-a) to the education laws and provides: Any contract, amendment thereto, contract extension, or agreement of any kind with a superintendent for salary or fringe benefits entered into during the period between the annual meeting of the district and the subsequent organizational meeting shall be approved by a two thirds majority of such board.
Justification
Superintendents are the chief executive officers of school districts and must work closely with the school board to efficiently run a district. The practice of entering into long term contracts which may run as long as 5 years by a lame duck school board should require more than a majority vote. This bill requires that in those situations, a 2/3 majority vote would be required.
Legislative history
2015-16 S.329/A.150; 2013-14 S.1763/A.1225; 2011-12 S.5860.
Fiscal implications
None to the State.
Effective date
This act shall take effect on the sixtieth day after it shall have become law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.