Legislative Program Review and Investigations Committee
Scope of Study
REGIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICT GOVERNANCE
Combining multiple school districts into a single regional district provides member towns with the means to maximize educational opportunities for their students while controlling costs. State statutes outline a process that allows towns to establish regional districts.
Connecticut has 17 regional school districts that encompass 47 towns and educate over 25,000 students. The first regional district was formed in 1937 and the last district was created in 1986. Most districts (11) were formed between 1950 and 1970.
Concerns have been raised about regional school district governance structures and fiscal oversight. Budget development in regional districts is guided by statutes that require the regional boards to hold a public hearing on their proposed budgets and place the budgets before the districts' voters for approval. After approval is obtained, the regional school board estimates each member town's share of net expenses in the same ratio as the number of students in the town to the total number of students in the district. If a town fails to appropriate the required amount, the statues provide for certain interested parties to petition the Superior Court to compel the town to pay.
Area of Focus
The study would evaluate the impact of the current statutory formula that mandates how the local share of education costs are apportioned among towns that belong to regional school districts. The study would also analyze how regional school districts are governed by examining their statutory authority and their relationship to local legislative bodies, and the state Department of Education.
Areas of Analysis
1) Provide overview of regional school districts in Connecticut
2) Describe process mandated by statute to:
a) establish a regional school district
b) select board members
c) develop and approve budget
d) apportion costs among towns
e) withdraw from a regional school district
3) Discuss scope of authority granted to regional school districts
4) Identify roles, responsibilities, and practices of regional school districts vis-à-vis local legislative bodies and the state Department of Education, including the structure in place to perform fiscal oversight.
5) Analyze impact of local cost allocation formula on towns and identify disparities in local contribution among towns
6) Compare alternative apportionment formulas and impact on local contribution:
a) Consolidated tax base
b) Other models
7) Compare the process used by regional school districts to purchase health insurance to local boards of education
8) Identify state role in promoting regional school districts
Areas Not Included in Analysis
The methodology used to allocate the Educational Cost Sharing grant is excluded from this study.