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2009 SESSION
093384504Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That § 22.1-79 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:
§ 22.1-79. Powers and duties.
A school board shall:
1. See that the school laws are properly explained, enforced and observed;
2. Secure, by visitation or otherwise, as full information as possible about the conduct of the public schools in the school division and take care that they are conducted according to law and with the utmost efficiency;
3. Care for, manage and control the property of the school division and provide for the erecting, furnishing, equipping, and noninstructional operating of necessary school buildings and appurtenances and the maintenance thereof by purchase, lease, or other contracts;
4. Provide for the consolidation of schools or redistricting of school boundaries or adopt pupil assignment plans whenever such procedure will contribute to the efficiency of the school division;
5. Insofar as not inconsistent with state statutes and regulations of the Board of Education, operate and maintain the public schools in the school division and determine the length of the school term, the studies to be pursued, the methods of teaching and the government to be employed in the schools;
6. In instances in which no grievance procedure has been
adopted prior to January 1, 1991, establish and administer by July 1, 1992, a
grievance procedure for all school board employees, except the division superintendent
and those employees covered under the provisions of Article 2 (§ 22.1-293 et
seq.) and Article 3 (§ 22.1-306 et seq.) of Chapter 15 of this title, who have
completed such probationary period as may be required by the school board, not
to exceed 18 months. The grievance procedure shall: (i)
afford a timely and fair method of the resolution of disputes arising between
the school board and such employees regarding dismissal, suspension, or other
disciplinary actions and shall; (ii) be consistent with the
provisions of the Board of Education's procedures for adjusting grievances; and
(iii) provide reasonable
time limitations for the grievant to submit an initial complaint and to appeal
each decision through the steps of the grievance procedure, which shall correspond generally or be equivalent to the time prescribed for
response at each step; except that there shall be no right to a
hearing before a fact-finding panel;
7. Perform such other duties as shall be prescribed by the Board of Education or as are imposed by law;
8. Obtain public comment through a public hearing not less than 10 days after reasonable notice to the public in a newspaper of general circulation in the school division prior to providing (i) for the consolidation of schools; (ii) the transfer from the public school system of the administration of all instructional services for any public school classroom or all noninstructional services in the school division pursuant to a contract with any private entity or organization; or (iii) in school divisions having 15,000 pupils or more in average daily membership, for redistricting of school boundaries or adopting any pupil assignment plan affecting the assignment of 15 percent or more of the pupils in average daily membership in the affected school. Such public hearing may be held at the same time and place as the meeting of the school board at which the proposed action is taken if the public hearing is held before the action is taken. If a public hearing has been held prior to the effective date of this provision on a proposed consolidation, redistricting or pupil assignment plan which is to be implemented after the effective date of this provision, an additional public hearing shall not be required;
9. (Expires July 1, 2010) At least annually, survey the school division to identify critical shortages of teachers and administrative personnel by subject matter, and report such critical shortages to the Superintendent of Public Instruction and to the Virginia Retirement System; however, the school board may request the division superintendent to conduct such survey and submit such report to the school board, the Superintendent, and the Virginia Retirement System; and
10. Ensure that the public schools within the school division are registered with the Department of State Police to receive from the State Police electronic notice of the registration or reregistration of any sex offender within that school division pursuant to § 9.1-914.