MS HB838

State Board of Education and Department of Finance and Administration shall jointly develop rules to establish a Central School District Shared Services Office System in each county consolidating procurement, purchasing, transportation, information technology, child nutrition, and other administrative services for all school districts in that county.

Two counties per Congressional District shall pilot the system during the 2013-2014 school year, with optional participation by other school districts beginning in 2014-2015 upon majority vote of county board of supervisors and local school boards.

Participating school districts must utilize the Central School District Shared Services Office for purchasing and procurement services and cannot spend appropriated funds on these services through other means; services shall be brought online beginning July 1, 2014, potentially one service at a time.

The Central School District Shared Services Office is authorized to set and charge fees to participating school districts sufficient to cover direct and indirect costs of providing shared services.

Implementation plan must identify potential savings and efficiencies; State Department of Education and Department of Finance and Administration must report to Legislature at 2013 Regular Session with anticipated savings and recommendations for further consolidation of administrative functions.