It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
SECTION 1. Section 16-45-6 of the General Laws in Chapter 16-45 entitled "Regional Vocational Schools" is hereby amended to read as follows:
{ADD 16-45-6. Powers additional to previous authority. -- ADD} (a) The powers herein delegated and authorized for the state board of regents for elementary and secondary education and department of elementary and secondary education shall be in addition to those previously authorized by any other general or public law.
(b) The governance, funding and programming of the William M. Davies Jr. Vocational Technical school shall be in accordance with the rules and regulations formulated by the Board of Regents for Elementary and Secondary Education pursuant to title 42, chapter 35.
(c) The purpose of this act is to restructure the system of career and technical schools in Rhode Island for the benefit of the students, the economy, and the general welfare. The paramount aim is to enable the schools to make more significant contributions in providing the state's students with the career preparation they need to compete and succeed in the world of today and of the future. To ensure student success, a system of model career and technical schools will be established and supported. These schools will provide: integrated academic and vocational curricula, up-to-date technology, programs to meet the varying needs of all students, and strong links to business,industry, postsecondary education, and the community.
(d) There shall be a system of state operated career and technical schools serving geographic areas of the state. Students attending these regional schools will do so on a full time basis with the costs for their education at the regional school fully funded by the state.
These schools shall be operated as local education agencies and each shall be governed by a board of trustees. With the exception of those powers and duties reserved by the director, the commissioner and the board of regents, the board of trustees shall have the powers and duties of school committees. The Davies School shall be the first school operated under the provisions of this chapter and shall be renamed the William M. Davies, Jr. Career and Technical High School.
(e) The board of regents shall appoint the members of the board of trustees from nominations made by the commissioner. The chairperson shall also be selected in this manner. The regents shall determine the number, qualifications, and terms of office of members of the board of trustees. The board of trustees will be broadly representative of the local communities served by each school as well as the larger statewide workforce interests.
The board of regents shall establish strategic directions for the career and technical education system that are consistent with the state's economic development plans, workforce requirements, and educational priorities and learner outcomes established by the regents.
The board of regents shall provide parameters for the overall budget requests, approve the budget and otherwise participate in budget development as required in subsection (i).
(f) The commissioner shall recommend parameters for the overall budget requests, recommend a budget and otherwise participate in budget development as required in subsection (i).
The commissioner shall approve the process for selection of a director of each regional school. The commissioner shall develop a plan for statewide implementation of the provisions of this chapter to be presented to the board of regents not later than June 1, 1992.
(g) The board of trustees shall meet monthly and serve without compensation. {ADD Nine (9) members of the board of trustees shall be required to attend teacher appeal hearings conducted pursuant to section 16-13-4. ADD} The board of trustees shall have broad policy making authority for the operation of the school consistent with subsection (e) as well as the following powers and duties:
(1) To identify the educational needs of the communities in the district.
(2) To develop educational policies to meet the needs of students in the communities served by the school district.
(3) To appoint a director of its regional school to serve as its chief executive officer and to approve assistant and associate directors from nominations made by the director.
(4) To provide policy guidance and otherwise participate in budget development as required in subsection (i).
(5) To develop staffing policies which ensure that all students are taught by educators of the highest possible quality.
(h) The director will serve at the pleasure of the board of trustees with the initial appointment to be for a period of not more than three (3) years, provided, however, that the term and conditions of employment be subject to the approval of the board of regents.
It is the responsibility of the director to manage and operate the school on a day-to-day basis. The director's duties shall include the following:
(1) To be responsible for the entire care, supervision, and management of the Career and Technical High School.
(2) To recommend to the board of trustees educational policies to meet the needs of the district, and to implement policies established by the board of trustees.
(3) To present nominations to the board of trustees for assistant and associate directors and to appoint all other school personnel.
(4) To provide for the evaluation of all school district personnel.
(5) To establish a school-based management approach for decision making for the operation of the school.
(6) To prepare a budget and otherwise participate in budget development as required in subsection (i), and to authorize purchases consistent with the adopted school district budget.
(7) To report to the board of trustees on a regular basis the financial condition and operation of the school, and to report annually on the educational progress of the school.
(8) To establish appropriate advisory committees as needed to provide guidance on new directions and feedback on the operation of the school.
(i) With policy guidance from the board of trustees and extensive involvement of the administrators and faculty in the school, the director of each regional school shall annually prepare a budget. The board of trustees will approve the budget and transmit it to the commissioner. The board of regents, upon recommendation of the commissioner, shall provide parameters for the overall budget request. Based on review and recommendation by the commissioner, the regents shall approve the total budget and incorporate it into their budget request to the governor and to the general assembly. Line item budgeting decisions shall be the responsibility of the director.
(j) Nothing in this section shall be deemed to limit or otherwise interfere with the rights of teachers and other school employees to bargain collectively pursuant to chapters 9.3 and 9.4 of title 28 or to allow the board of trustees or the director to abrogate any agreement by collective bargaining. Employees at the William M. Davies School shall continue to be state employees and the bargaining units which are presently established at the school shall remain intact.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.