Referred to Committee on Human Resources and Facilities
SUMMARY--Authorizes formation of public school specializing in science and technology at Stewart Indian School. (BDR S-1385)
FISCAL NOTE: Effect on Local Government: No.
Effect on the State or on Industrial Insurance: No.
EXPLANATION - Matter in italics is new; matter in brackets [ ] is material to be omitted.
AN ACT relating to education; authorizing the formation of a public school specializing in science and technology at the Stewart Indian School; and providing other matters properly relating thereto.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEVADA, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEMBLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1 1. On or before July 1, 1998, the board of trustees of the Carson City school district or the board of trustees of the Douglas County school district, or both, may operate a school at the facility commonly known as the Stewart Indian School in Carson City. The school must specialize in courses of study relating to science and technology. If one school district commences operation of a school pursuant to this subsection, the other school district may, at any time, participate in the operation of the school.
2. If neither the Carson City school district nor the Douglas County school district commences the operation of a school pursuant to subsection 1 before July 1, 1998, a committee desiring to form a public school may submit a written request, on or before July 15, 1998, to the board of trustees of the Carson City school district and the board of trustees of the Douglas County school district to form a school at the Stewart Indian School. A committee to form such a school must consist of at least two licensed teachers. The school must specialize in courses of study relating to science and technology. If more than one such committee requests written permission to form a school, the board of trustees of the Carson City school district and the board of trustees of the Douglas County school district shall evaluate each written request to determine which committee will offer the quality and quantity of educational services relating to science and technology that will best meet the educational needs of pupils who may attend the school.
3. If a school is formed pursuant to subsections 1 or 2, the buildings and grounds division of the department of administration shall lease to each board of trustees of a school district which formed a school pursuant to subsection 1, or to a committee which formed a school pursuant to subsection 2, the school building, gymnasium and parking lot at the Stewart Indian School for the sum of $1 per year for a term continuing so long as the building, gymnasium and parking lot are used for the operation of the school.
Sec. 2 1. A school that is formed pursuant to section 1 of this act shall:
(a) Refrain from charging tuition;
(b) Remain nonsectarian; and
(c) Comply with all laws and regulations relating to discrimination and civil rights.
2. A school that is formed pursuant to section 1 of this act may enter into such contracts as it considers necessary to operate the school, including, without limitation, a contract with the University and Community College System of Nevada to offer courses of study or otherwise provide educational services at the school.
Sec. 3 A school that is formed pursuant to section 1 of this act shall:
1. Comply with all laws and regulations that are generally applicable to the public schools in this state, unless the school has obtained a written waiver from the state board of education for exemption from a specific statute or regulation; or
2. If the formation of charter schools has been specifically authorized by statute, comply with all laws and regulations applicable to charter schools in this state.
Before commencing operation of the school, the operator of the school shall provide written notice to the state board of education of whether it chooses to comply with subsection 1 or 2.
Sec. 4 Before a school that is formed pursuant to section 1 of this act commences operation, the operator of the school shall prescribe the requirements for admission to the school. The requirements must provide that an application for enrollment may be submitted by the parent or legal guardian of any child who resides in this state. The school shall enroll pupils who are eligible for enrollment in the order in which the applications are received. The school shall not determine eligibility for enrollment in the school based on the:
1. Race;
2. Gender;
3. Religion;
4. Ethnicity; or
5. Disability,
of a pupil.
Sec. 5 1. Each pupil who is enrolled in a school that is formed pursuant to section 1 of this act must be included in the count of pupils in the school district in which the pupil resides for the purposes of apportionments and allowances from the state distributive school account pursuant to NRS 387.121 to 387.126, inclusive, unless the pupil is exempt from compulsory attendance and receiving instruction at home pursuant to NRS 392.070.
2. The board of trustees of a school district shall, at the same time and in the same manner as it distributes money to other public schools, distribute money to an operator of a school that is formed pursuant to section 1 of this act in an amount per pupil which is equal to the amount per pupil that is allocated to the other public schools in the school district.
3. To determine the amount of money for distribution to a school that is formed pursuant to section 1 of this act in its first year of operation, the count of pupils enrolled in the school must initially be determined 30 days before the beginning of the school year, based on the number of pupils who have been accepted for enrollment. The count of pupils must be revised on the last day of the first month of the school year, based on the actual number of pupils who are enrolled in the school.
Sec. 6 This act becomes effective on July 1, 1997.