MS HB667

State Board of Education gains discretion to delegate powers to receive and hold property, real and personal property gifts, bequests to administrative staff of the State Department of Education, Mississippi School for the Blind, or Mississippi School for the Deaf.

Effective July 1, 2021, all administrative and licensed instructional employees at the Mississippi School for the Blind and Mississippi School for the Deaf must enter into written employment contracts; employees transfer from State Personnel Board authority to school employment with no interruption of retirement system or health insurance benefits.

State Board of Education may set qualifications for these employees and determine if contracts are exempt from Public Procurement Review Board requirements; employment subject to superintendent's will and pleasure.

State Board of Education included in definition of "school board" for purchasing purposes when acting on behalf of the Mississippi School for the Blind and Mississippi School for the Deaf; both schools exempted from certain public procurement review requirements effective July 1, 2021.

Similar employment contract and personnel provisions applied to Mississippi School of the Arts employees effective July 1, 2020, including State Board authority to set qualifications and contract exemptions.