Code Section

41326.  

(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this code, the acceptance by a school district of an apportionment made pursuant to Section 41320 that exceeds an amount equal to 200 percent of the amount of the reserve recommended for that school district under the standards and criteria adopted pursuant to Section 33127 constitutes the agreement by the school district to the conditions set forth in this article. Before applying for an emergency apportionment in the amount identified in this subdivision, the governing board of a school district shall discuss the need for that apportionment at a regular or special meeting of the governing board of the school district and, at that meeting, shall receive testimony regarding the apportionment from parents, exclusive representatives of employees of the school district, and other members of the community. For purposes of this article, “qualifying school district” means a school district that accepts a loan as described in this subdivision.

(b) The county superintendent of schools shall assume all the legal rights, duties, and powers of the governing board of a qualifying school district. The county superintendent of schools, with concurrence from both the Superintendent and the president of the state board or his or her designee, shall appoint an administrator from a pool of candidates identified and vetted by the County Office Fiscal Crisis and Management Assistance Team pursuant to subdivision (c) to exercise the authority described in this subdivision in accordance with all of the following:

(1) The administrator shall serve under the direction and supervision of the county superintendent of schools, with concurrence from both the Superintendent and the president of the state board or his or her designee, until terminated by the county superintendent of schools, with concurrence from both the Superintendent and the president of the state board or his or her designee, at their discretion.

(2) The administrator shall have recognized expertise in management and finance.

(3) To facilitate the appointment of the administrator and the employment of necessary staff, this section is exempt from the requirements of Article 6 (commencing with Section 999) of Chapter 6 of Division 4 of the Military and Veterans Code and Part 2 (commencing with Section 10100) of Division 2 of the Public Contract Code.

(4) Notwithstanding any other law, if an employee of the state or the office of the county superintendent of schools is appointed to act as administrator pursuant to this section, the administrator, if he or she is an employee of the state or the office of the county superintendent of schools, is an employee of the qualifying school district during the tenure of his or her appointment, but shall remain in the same retirement system under the same plan that has been provided by his or her employment with the state or the office of the county superintendent of schools. Upon the expiration or termination of the appointment, the employee shall have the right to return to his or her former position, or to a position at substantially the same level as that position, with the state or the office of the county superintendent of schools. The time served in the appointment shall be counted for all purposes as if the administrator had served that time in his or her former position with the state or the office of the county superintendent of schools.

(5) Except for an individual appointed as an administrator by the county superintendent of schools who is described in and subject to paragraph (4), the administrator shall be a member of the State Teachers’ Retirement System, if qualified, for the period of service as administrator, unless he or she elects in writing not to become a member. A person who is a member or retirant of the State Teachers’ Retirement System at the time of appointment shall continue to be a member or retirant of the system for the duration of the appointment. If the administrator chooses to become a member or is already a member, the administrator shall be placed on the payroll of the qualifying school district for purposes of providing appropriate contributions to the system. The Superintendent may also require the administrator to be placed on the payroll of the qualifying school district for purposes of remuneration, other benefits, and payroll deductions.

(6) For purposes of workers’ compensation benefits, the administrator is an employee of the qualifying school district, except that an administrator described in and subject to paragraph (4) may be deemed an employee of the state or office of the county superintendent of schools, as applicable.

(7) The qualifying school district shall add the administrator as a covered employee of the qualifying school district for all purposes of errors and omissions liability insurance policies.

(8) The salary and benefits of the administrator shall be established by the county superintendent of schools, with concurrence from both the Superintendent and the president of the state board or his or her designee, and paid by the qualifying school district.

(9) The county superintendent of schools or the administrator may employ, on a short-term basis and at the expense of the qualifying school district, any staff necessary to assist the administrator, including, but not limited to, a certified public accountant.

(10) The administrator may do all of the following:

(A) Implement substantial changes in the fiscal policies and practices of the qualifying school district, including, if necessary, the filing of a petition under Chapter 9 (commencing with Section 901) of Title 11 of the United States Code for the adjustment of indebtedness.

(B) Revise the educational program of the qualifying school district to reflect realistic income projections and pupil performance relative to state standards.

(C) Encourage all members of the school community to accept a fair share of the burden of the fiscal recovery of the qualifying school district.

(D) Consult, for the purposes described in this subdivision, with the governing board of the qualifying school district, the exclusive representatives of the employees of the qualifying school district, parents, and the community.

(E) Consult with, and seek recommendations from, the Superintendent, the county superintendent of schools, and the County Office Fiscal Crisis and Management Assistance Team authorized pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section 42127.8 for purposes described in this article.

(F) Upon approval by the county superintendent of schools, enter into agreements on behalf of the qualifying school district and, subject to any contractual obligation of the qualifying school district, change existing school district rules, regulations, policies, or practices as necessary for the effective implementation of the recovery plans referred to in Sections 41327 and 41327.1.

(G) Request the advice and assistance of the California Collaborative for Educational Excellence.

(c) The County Office Fiscal Crisis and Management Assistance Team, when selecting the pool of candidates for administrator, shall consider candidates’ expertise in management and finance, previous experience mitigating fiscal distress in school districts, and ability to engage meaningfully with the community that the school district serves, and shall provide an opportunity for public input on the selection of the pool of candidates for administrator.

(d) (1) Except as provided for in paragraph (2), the period of time during which the county superintendent of schools exercises the authority described in subdivision (b), the governing board of the qualifying school district shall serve as an advisory body reporting to the administrator appointed pursuant to subdivision (b), and has no rights, duties, or powers, and is not entitled to any stipend, benefits, or other compensation from the qualifying school district.

(2) (A) After one complete fiscal year has elapsed following the qualifying school district’s acceptance of an emergency apportionment, the governing board of the qualifying school district may conduct an annual advisory evaluation of an administrator for the duration of the administratorship.

(B) An advisory evaluation of an administrator shall focus on the administrator’s effectiveness in leading the qualifying school district toward fiscal recovery and improved academic achievement. Advisory evaluation criteria shall be agreed upon by the governing board of the qualifying school district and the administrator before the advisory evaluation. The advisory evaluation shall include, but not be limited to, all of the following:

(i) Goals and standards consistent with Section 41327.1.

(ii) Commendations in the areas of the administrator’s strengths and achievements.

(iii) Recommendations for improving the administrator’s effectiveness in areas of concern and unsatisfactory performance.

(C) An advisory evaluation of an administrator conducted by the governing board of a qualifying school district shall be submitted to the Governor, the Legislature, pursuant to Section 9795 of the Government Code, the Superintendent, the president of the state board or his or her designee, the county superintendent of schools, and the County Office Fiscal Crisis and Management Assistance Team.

(3) Upon the appointment of an administrator pursuant to this section, the district superintendent of schools is no longer an employee of the qualifying school district.

(4) A determination of the severance compensation for the district superintendent of schools shall be made pursuant to subdivision (k).

(e) Notwithstanding Section 35031 or any other law, the administrator, after according the affected employee reasonable notice and the opportunity for a hearing, may terminate the employment of a deputy, associate, assistant superintendent, or other school district level administrator who is employed by a qualifying school district under a contract of employment signed or renewed after January 1, 1992, if the employee fails to document, to the satisfaction of the administrator, that before the date of the acceptance of the emergency apportionment he or she either advised the governing board of the qualifying school district, or his or her superior, that actions contemplated or taken by the governing board of the qualifying school district could result in the fiscal insolvency of the qualifying school district, or took other appropriate action to avert that fiscal insolvency.

(f) The authority of the county superintendent of schools, the Superintendent, the president of the state board or his or her designee, and the administrator, under this section shall continue until all of the following occur:

(1) (A) After one complete fiscal year has elapsed following the qualifying school district’s acceptance of an emergency apportionment as described in subdivision (a), the administrator determines, and so notifies the county superintendent of schools, the Superintendent, and the president of the state board or his or her designee, that future compliance by the qualifying school district with the recovery plans approved pursuant to paragraph (2) is probable.

(B) The county superintendent of schools, with concurrence from both the Superintendent and the president of the state board or his or her designee, may return power to the governing board of the qualifying school district for an area listed in subdivision (a) of Section 41327.1 if performance under the recovery plan for that area has been demonstrated to the satisfaction of the county superintendent of schools, with concurrence from the Superintendent.

(2) The county superintendent of schools, with concurrence from the Superintendent, has approved all of the recovery plans referred to in subdivision (a) of Section 41327 and the County Office Fiscal Crisis and Management Assistance Team completes the improvement plans specified in Section 41327.1 and has completed a minimum of two reports identifying the qualifying school district’s progress in implementing the improvement plans.

(3) The administrator certifies that all necessary collective bargaining agreements have been negotiated and ratified, and that the agreements are consistent with the terms of the recovery plans.

(4) The qualifying school district has completed all reports required by the county superintendent of schools and the administrator.

(5) The county superintendent of schools, with concurrence from the Superintendent, determines that future compliance by the qualifying school district with the recovery plans approved pursuant to paragraph (2) is probable.

(g) When the conditions stated in subdivision (f) have been met, and at least 60 days after the county superintendent of schools has notified the Legislature, pursuant to Section 9795 of the Government Code, the Department of Finance, the Superintendent, the president of the state board or his or her designee, and the Controller that he or she expects the conditions prescribed pursuant to this section to be met, the governing board of the qualifying school district shall regain all of its legal rights, duties, and powers, except for the powers held by the trustee provided for pursuant to Article 2 (commencing with Section 41320). The parties specified in Section 41320.1 shall appoint a trustee under that section to monitor and review the operations of the qualifying school district until the conditions of subdivision (b) of that section have been met.

(h) Notwithstanding subdivision (g), if the qualifying school district violates a provision of the recovery plans approved by the county superintendent of schools, with concurrence from the Superintendent, pursuant to this article within five years after the trustee appointed pursuant to Section 41320.1 is removed or after the emergency apportionment is repaid, whichever occurs later, or the improvement plans specified in Section 41327.1 during the period of the trustee’s appointment, the county superintendent of schools, with concurrence from both the Superintendent and the president of the state board or his or her designee, may reassume, either directly or through an administrator appointed in accordance with this section, all of the legal rights, duties, and powers of the governing board of the qualifying school district. The county superintendent of schools, with concurrence from both the Superintendent and the president of the state board or his or her designee, shall return to the governing board of the qualifying school district all of its legal rights, duties, and powers reassumed under this subdivision when he or she determines that future compliance with the approved recovery plans is probable, or after a period of one year, whichever occurs later.

(i) Article 2 (commencing with Section 41320) shall apply except as otherwise specified in this article.

(j) It is the intent of the Legislature that the legislative budget subcommittees annually conduct a review of each qualifying school district that includes an evaluation of the financial condition of the qualifying school district, the impact of the recovery plans upon the qualifying school district’s educational program, and the efforts made by the state-appointed administrator to obtain input from the community and the governing board of the qualifying school district.

(k) (1) The district superintendent of schools is entitled to a due process hearing for purposes of determining final compensation. The final compensation of the district superintendent of schools shall be between zero and six times his or her monthly salary. The outcome of the due process hearing shall be reported to the Superintendent and the public. The information provided to the public shall explain the rationale for the compensation.

(2) This subdivision applies only to a contract for employment negotiated on or after June 21, 2004.

(l) (1) When the county superintendent of schools assumes control over a qualifying school district pursuant to subdivision (b), the County Office Fiscal Crisis and Management Assistance Team shall review the fiscal oversight of the qualifying school district by the county superintendent of schools. The County Office Fiscal Crisis and Management Assistance Team may consult with other fiscal experts, including other county superintendents of schools and regional fiscal teams, in conducting this review.

(2) Within three months of the county superintendent of schools assuming control over a qualifying school district, the County Office Fiscal Crisis and Management Assistance Team shall report its findings to the Legislature, pursuant to Section 9795 of the Government Code, and shall provide a copy of that report to the Department of Finance, the Superintendent, and the president of the state board or his or her designee. This report shall include findings as to fiscal oversight actions that were or were not taken and may include recommendations as to an appropriate legislative response to improve fiscal oversight.

(3) In the year following the completion of the report required in paragraph (2), the County Office Fiscal Crisis and Management Assistance Team shall begin annual reviews of the effectiveness of the oversight of the qualifying school district by the county office of education.

(4) If, after performing the duties described in paragraphs (1), (2), and (3), the County Office Fiscal Crisis and Management Assistance Team determines that the county superintendent of schools failed to carry out his or her responsibilities for fiscal oversight as required by this code, the Superintendent, with the concurrence of the president of the state board or his or her designee, may exercise the authority of the county superintendent of schools who has oversight responsibilities for a qualifying school district. The Superintendent and the president of the state board or his or her designee shall further require the county superintendent of schools to demonstrate remediation of deficiencies identified in reports required in paragraphs (2) and (3). If the Superintendent finds, based on the reports required in paragraphs (2) and (3), that the county superintendent of schools failed to appropriately take into account particular types of indicators of financial distress, or failed to take appropriate remedial actions in the qualifying school district, the Superintendent shall further investigate whether the county superintendent of schools failed to take into account those indicators, or similarly failed to take appropriate actions in other school districts with negative or qualified certifications.