SF 231

as introduced - 87th Legislature (2011 - 2012) Posted on 02/23/2012 08:33am

A bill for an act
relating to education; establishing a public residential high school for science,
technology, engineering, and mathematics; proposing coding for new law in
Minnesota Statutes, chapter 124D.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

new text begin [124D.1105] MINNESOTA SCHOOL OF SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY,
ENGINEERING, AND MATHEMATICS.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Governance. new text end

new text begin The board of the Minnesota School of Science,
Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics consists of 15 persons. The board members
include:
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new text begin (1) one member selected by the speaker of the house;
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new text begin (2) one member selected by the senate majority leader;
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new text begin (3) one member selected by the governor;
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new text begin (4) one member selected by the president of the University of Minnesota;
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new text begin (5) one member selected by the chancellor of Minnesota State Colleges and
Universities;
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new text begin (6) two members selected by the Minnesota High Tech Association;
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new text begin (7) two members selected by LifeScience Alley;
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new text begin (8) two members selected by the BioBusiness Alliance of Minnesota; and
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new text begin (9) four members selected by Minnesota Educators of the Gifted and Talented.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Terms, compensation, and other. new text end

new text begin The membership terms, compensation,
removal of members, and filling of vacancies are governed by section 15.0575. A member
may serve not more than two consecutive terms.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Powers and duties of board. new text end

new text begin (a) The board has the powers needed to care
for, manage, and control the Minnesota School of Science, Technology, Engineering, and
Mathematics, and all its real and personal property. The powers include, but are not
limited to, those listed in this subdivision.
new text end

new text begin (b) The board may employ and discharge necessary employees, and contract for
other services to ensure the efficient operation of the Minnesota School of Science,
Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics.
new text end

new text begin (c) The board may receive and award grants. The board may establish a charitable
foundation and accept, in trust or otherwise, any gift, grant, bequest, or devise for
educational purposes and hold, manage, invest, and dispose of them and the proceeds
and income of them under the terms and conditions of the gift, grant, bequest, or devise
and its acceptance. The board must adopt internal procedures to administer and monitor
aids and grants.
new text end

new text begin (d) The board may establish or coordinate evening, continuing education, extension,
and summer programs for teachers and pupils.
new text end

new text begin (e) The board may identify pupils with demonstrated or potential talent in science,
technology, engineering, or mathematics.
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new text begin (f) The board must provide an interdisciplinary academic and humanities program
for up to 300 11th and 12th grade pupils with demonstrated or potential talent in science,
technology, engineering, or mathematics. It also must provide, to the extent human and
financial resources permit:
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new text begin (1) intensive science, technology, engineering, and mathematics seminars for one or
two weeks for pupils in grades 9 through 12;
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new text begin (2) summer science, technology, engineering, and mathematics institutes for pupils
in grades 9 through 12;
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new text begin (3) mentor and extension programs in regional sites; and
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new text begin (4) teacher education programs for curriculum delivery.
new text end

new text begin (g) The board may determine the location for the Minnesota School of Science,
Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics and any additional facilities related to the
school, including the authority to lease a temporary facility.
new text end

new text begin (h) The board must enroll pupils on an equal basis from each congressional district.
new text end

new text begin (i) The board may establish task forces as needed to advise the board on policies and
issues. The task forces expire as provided in section 15.059, subdivision 6.
new text end

new text begin (j) The board may request assistance and services from the commissioner of
education.
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new text begin (k) The board may enter into contracts with other public and private agencies
and institutions for residential and building maintenance services if it determines that a
contractor, in contrast to the board, can provide more efficient and less expensive services.
The board may also enter into contracts with public or private agencies and institutions,
school districts or combinations of school districts, or service cooperatives to provide
supplemental educational instruction and services.
new text end

new text begin (l) The board may provide or contract for other services and programs by and for
the Minnesota School of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics that, in the
board's determination, serve the school's purposes.
new text end

new text begin (m) The board may provide for transportation of pupils to and from the Minnesota
School of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics for all or part of the school
year, as the board considers advisable and subject to its rules. Notwithstanding other
law to the contrary, the board may charge a reasonable fee for pupils' transportation.
Every driver who transports pupils under this paragraph must be qualified as a school bus
driver under section 171.321 and related sections. The board may contract for furnishing
authorized transportation under rules established by the commissioner of education
and may purchase and furnish gasoline to a contract carrier for use in performing a
contract for transporting pupils to and from the Minnesota School of Science, Technology,
Engineering, and Mathematics. When the board provides for pupils' transportation, the
route schedules, the bus stop locations, the manner and method of transportation, the
control and discipline of pupils, and any other related matter are within the sole discretion,
control, and management of the board.
new text end

new text begin (n) The board may provide pupils with room and board. If the board provides room
and board, it shall charge a reasonable fee for the room and board. The fee is not subject
to chapter 14 and is not a prohibited fee under sections 123B.34 to 123B.39.
new text end

new text begin (o) The board may establish and set fees for services and programs. If the board sets
fees not authorized or prohibited by the Minnesota public school fee law, it may do so
without complying with the requirements of section 123B.38.
new text end

new text begin (p) The board may apply for all competitive grants administered by state agencies
and other government or nongovernmental entities.
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new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Center account. new text end

new text begin A Minnesota School of Science, Technology,
Engineering, and Mathematics account is established in the special revenue fund in the
state treasury. All money the board collects, including rental income, must be deposited in
the account. Money in the account, including interest earned, is appropriated to the board
for operating its services and programs.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Appeal. new text end

new text begin A parent who disagrees with a board action that adversely
affects the academic program of an enrolled pupil may appeal the board's action to the
commissioner of education within 30 days of the board's action. The decision of the
commissioner shall be binding on the board. The board must inform each pupil and parent
at the time of enrolling of a parent's right to appeal a board action affecting the pupil's
academic program.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 6. new text end

new text begin Employees. new text end

new text begin (a)(1) The board must appoint a director of the Minnesota
School of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics who serves in the
unclassified service.
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new text begin (2) The board must employ, upon the director's recommendation, a coordinator of
resource programs who serves in the unclassified service.
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new text begin (3) The board must employ, upon the director's recommendation, up to six
department chairs that serve in the unclassified service. The chairs must be licensed
teachers unless no licensure exists for the subject area or discipline for which the chair is
hired.
new text end

new text begin (4) The board may employ other necessary employees, upon the director's
recommendation.
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new text begin (5) The board must employ, upon the director's recommendation, an executive
secretary for the director, who serves in the unclassified service.
new text end

new text begin (b) The employees hired under this subdivision and other necessary employees hired
by the board are state employees in the executive branch.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 7. new text end

new text begin Admission and curriculum requirements; generally. new text end

new text begin (a) The board may
adopt rules for admitting and discharging pupils from the full-time programs, rules for
discharging pupils from the dormitory, and rules about operating the center, including the
transporting of pupils. Board rules about admitting pupils are governed by chapter 14.
Board rules about discharging pupils must be consistent with sections 121A.40 to 121A.56,
the Pupil Fair Dismissal Act. Board rules about discharging pupils from the dormitory are
not subject to the Pupil Fair Dismissal Act under sections 121A.40 to 121A.56. Board
rules about pupil discharge and the school's operation are not subject to chapter 14.
new text end

new text begin (b) Proceedings concerning the full-time program for pupils, including admission,
discharge, a pupil's program, and a pupil's progress, are governed by board rules and
are not contested cases under chapter 14.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 8. new text end

new text begin Public postsecondary institutions; providing space. new text end

new text begin A public
postsecondary institution must provide space for Minnesota School of Science,
Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics programs at no cost or at reasonable cost to
the school to the extent space is available at the public postsecondary institution.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 9. new text end

new text begin Purchasing instructional items. new text end

new text begin Notwithstanding chapters 16B and 16C,
the board may procure technical educational equipment for the Minnesota School of
Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics programs using brand designation or
according to board-adopted standards and specifications.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment.
new text end