SB619

Senate Bill 619 establishes a formal process for 'isolated schools'—those that were previously annexed or consolidated into larger school districts—to detach and reestablish themselves as independent school districts. To initiate this process, a petition must be submitted with the signatures of at least 350 registered voters or 51% of residents within the boundaries of the isolated school. The bill sets forth requirements for verifying these petitions and holding a local election to confirm the desire to detach. It details the governance structure for these new districts, requiring a five-member locally elected board of directors. Furthermore, the bill creates specific mechanisms for calculating state funding, determining millage rates, and transferring ownership of facilities, equipment, and assets from the parent district to the newly formed isolated school district. Finally, it outlines management options for these districts, including options for directors hired locally or appointed by the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education.