Engineering and Technology Teachers should be aware of Chap. 4 of House Bill 1367 which directs corporations to transfer monies from different accounts to “take the actions necessary and desirable to preserve and protect instructional programs, including class sizes, curriculum or program offerings.” Date: February 8, 2010
Chapter 4. Emergency Measures to Maintain Instruction and Learning Programs
Sec. 1. As used in this section, "filing date" refers to the later of March 31, 2010, or the date that is thirty (30) days after the act in which this chapter is initially added becomes law under Section 14 of Article 5 of the Constitution of the State of Indiana after enactment in the 2010 session of the general assembly.
Sec. 2. As used in this chapter, "fund" refers to the instructional services restoration fund established by section 8 of this chapter.
Sec. 3. A school corporation shall take the actions necessary and desirable to preserve and protect instructional programs, including class sizes, curriculum or program offerings, and certificated employee positions and teaching assistants.
Sec. 4. (a) A school corporation shall carry out section 3 of this chapter according to a plan adopted by the governing body of the school corporation. The plan must be adopted by resolution.
(b) The plan must establish the steps that the school corporation will take and the schedule on which the actions will be taken to carry out section 3 of this chapter. The plan, including an amended
plan, must include at least the following determinations:
(1) An evaluation of the cash balances that the school corporation must maintain in 2010 and 2011 to carry out its governmental functions.
(2) An estimate of the additional resources needed to carry out section 3 of this chapter.
(3) A determination of whether the school corporation has maintained or will maintain on the last day of any month in 2010 or 2011:
(A) an unexpended and unencumbered general fund cash balance exceeding eight percent (8%) of the amount appropriated from the school corporation's general fund for the 2010 calendar year; or
(B) an unexpended and unencumbered rainy day fund balance exceeding fifty percent (50%) of the school corporation's rainy day fund balance on January 1, 2010;
(4) A record showing that if the governing body determines that either of the balances described in subdivision (3)(A) or (3)(B) exist or will exist, the governing body has conducted a public hearing and vote on the balances in the school corporation's general fund and rainy day fund to determine whether any part of those balances should be used to carry out section 3 of this chapter.
(5) If the governing body votes against using any part of any balance described in subdivision (3), the governing body must include findings that demonstrate the circumstances that require a balance exceeding the percentage specified in subdivision (3) to be maintained.
(6) A description of steps that will be taken under IC 20-40-8-22 to transfer money from the capital projects fund for the purposes of section 3 of this chapter.
(7) A detailed listing of all expenditure reductions required under section 5 of this chapter and the amount that will be devoted to the purposes of section 3 of this chapter.
(8) A detailed listing of all expenditure reductions required under section 6 of this chapter and the amount that will be devoted to the purposes of section 3 of this chapter.
(9) A description of all other steps that will be taken to carry out section 3 of this chapter and the amount that will be devoted to the purposes of section 3 of this chapter.
Sec. 5. (a) To the extent needed to carry out section 3 of this chapter, a school corporation shall reduce nonessential testing
expenditures and expenditures classified in each category set forth in IC 20-42.5-3-4(a)(3) and IC 20-42.5-3-4(a)(4) by at least:
(1) five percent (5%) for the school year beginning July 1, 2010, and ending June 30, 2011; and
(2) ten percent (10%) for the school year beginning July 1, 2011, and ending June 30, 2012.
(b) Notwithstanding any other law, if any of the expenditures that were reduced or eliminated under subsection (a) would have been payable from a fund other than the general fund or the transportation fund, the school corporation may transfer the amount of the savings from that fund to the general fund to carry out section 3 of this chapter. A transfer permitted under this subsection is in addition to any transfer permitted under IC 20-40-8-22.
(d) A school corporation shall comply with a plan adopted under subsection (b) or (c).
Sec. 6. To the extent needed to carry out section 3 of this chapter, a school corporation shall reduce its expenditures for nonessential testing programs that are not required by federal law or an agency of the federal government during the period beginning July 1, 2010, and ending June 30, 2012, and use the money saved from the reduction in testing expenditures. The tests that may be suspended under this section include the following:
(1) Kindergarten through grade 2 diagnostics.
(2) Grade 3 through 8 acuity tests.
(3) CORE 40 end of course assessments.
(4) PSAT testing, to the extent that the school corporation's expenditures for PSAT testing are not otherwise paid from PSAT program grants distributed by the state.
(5) ISTEP social studies testing.
The state board and the department shall amend its rules and policies as necessary to permit a school corporation to carry out this section and to give guidance on the identification of nonessential testing expenditures that are not listed in subdivisions (1) through (6).
District 1 Spring Meeting Date: January 15, 2010
District 1 Spring Meeting
Where: Hoosier Bat Company, Valparaiso, IN
When: April 10, 2010
Time: 10:00 am (CST)
What: We will begin with a plant tour of Hoosier Bat Company, a small company making a big name for it's self in the major leagues. Following the tour we will adjourn to a local pizza establishment for fellowship and discussion.
