House Bill 296 Summary

• Requires the State Department of Education to study and report by November 1, 2016 on consolidating multiple school districts within counties into single countywide districts to improve educational efficiency and opportunities.

• Mandates that effective July 1, 2018, all municipal separate, consolidated, line consolidated, and special municipal school districts shall be abolished and joined into one countywide school district per county with a single county board of education and appointed county superintendent.

• Establishes that county boards of education shall have five members elected by supervisors districts, with special elections held in November 2018 for two-year terms, followed by regular elections every four years thereafter starting in November 2020.

• Transfers all real and personal property of abolished school districts to the countywide district and continues levying taxes on property of abolished districts to pay outstanding bonds and indebtedness.

• Prohibits the closing of school facilities or buildings as a result of the consolidation and exempts consolidated districts under academic or fiscal distress from such sanctions for three years after the merger takes effect.