House Bill 139 Summary

• Requires the State Department of Education to study consolidating school districts in counties with two or more districts and submit a report by November 1, 2019, including administrative costs, accreditation levels, and consolidation recommendations.

• Abolishes all municipal separate, consolidated, line consolidated, and special municipal school districts effective July 1, 2020, consolidating them into single countywide school districts with one county board of education and one appointed county superintendent.

• Changes county board of education elections to November 2020 and every four years thereafter for four-year terms, with members elected by supervisors districts.

• Transfers all real and personal property of affected school districts to the new countywide district while maintaining liability for existing bonds and debt; prohibits required closure of any school facility.

• Repeals provisions allowing local boards to create or alter school district boundaries and eliminates elected county superintendent positions in favor of appointed superintendents.