Sec. 553.

(1) An authorizing body is not required to issue a contract to any person or entity. Schools of excellence contracts shall be issued on a competitive basis taking into consideration the resources available for the proposed school of excellence, the population to be served by the proposed school of excellence, the educational goals to be achieved by the proposed school of excellence, and the applicant's track record, if any, in operating public school academies or other public schools.

(2) If a person or entity applies to the board of a school district for a contract to organize and operate 1 or more schools of excellence within the boundaries of the school district and the board does not issue the contract, the person or entity may petition the board to place the question of issuing the contract on the ballot to be decided by the school electors of the school district. The petition shall contain all of the information required to be in the contract application under section 552 and shall be signed by a number of school electors of the school district equal to at least 5% of the total number of school electors of that school district. The petition shall be filed with the school district filing official. If the board receives a petition meeting the requirements of this subsection, the board shall have the question of issuing the contract placed on the ballot at its next regular school election held at least 60 days after receiving the petition. If a majority of the school electors of the school district voting on the question vote to issue the contract, the board shall issue the contract.

(3) Within 10 days after issuing a contract for a school of excellence, the authorizing body shall submit to the superintendent of public instruction a copy of the contract.

(4) An authorizing body shall adopt a resolution establishing the method of selection, length of term, and number of members of the board of directors of each school of excellence subject to its jurisdiction. The resolution shall be written or amended as necessary to include a requirement that each member of the board of directors must be a citizen of the United States.

(5) A contract issued to organize and administer a school of excellence shall contain at least all of the following:

(a) The educational goals the school of excellence is to achieve and the methods by which it will be held accountable. The educational goals shall include demonstrated improved pupil academic achievement for all groups of pupils. To the extent applicable, the pupil performance of a school of excellence shall be assessed using at least a Michigan education assessment program (MEAP) test or the Michigan merit examination under section 1279g, as applicable.

(b) A description of the method to be used to monitor the school of excellence's compliance with applicable law and its performance in meeting its targeted educational objectives.

(c) A description of the process for amending the contract during the term of the contract.

(d) All of the matters set forth in the application for the contract.

(e) Procedures for revoking the contract and grounds for revoking the contract, including at least the grounds listed in section 561.

(f) A description of and address for the proposed physical plant in which the school of excellence will be located. An authorizing body may include a provision in the contract allowing the board of directors of the school of excellence to operate the same configuration of age or grade levels at more than 1 site if each configuration of age or grade levels and each site identified in the contract are under the direction and control of the board of directors.

(g) Requirements and procedures for financial audits. The financial audits shall be conducted at least annually by a certified public accountant in accordance with generally accepted governmental auditing principles.

(h) A certification, signed by an authorized member of the school of excellence board of directors, that the school of excellence will comply with the contract and all applicable law.

(i) A requirement that the board of directors shall ensure compliance with the requirements of 1968 PA 317, MCL 15.321 to 15.330.

(j) A requirement that the board of directors shall prohibit specifically identified family relationships between members of the board of directors, individuals who have an ownership interest in or who are officers or employees of an educational management organization involved in the operation of the school of excellence, and employees of the school of excellence. The contract shall identify the specific prohibited relationships consistent with applicable law.

(k) A requirement that the board of directors of the school of excellence shall make information concerning its operation and management available to the public and to the authorizing body in the same manner as is required by state law for school districts.

(l) A requirement that the board of directors of the school of excellence shall collect, maintain, and make available to the public and the authorizing body, in accordance with applicable law and the contract, at least all of the following information concerning the operation and management of the school of excellence:

(i) A copy of the contract issued by the authorizing body for the school of excellence.

(ii) A list of currently serving members of the board of directors of the school of excellence, including name, address, and term of office; copies of policies approved by the board of directors; board meeting agendas and minutes; copy of the budget approved by the board of directors and of any amendments to the budget; and copies of bills paid for amounts of $10,000.00 or more as they were submitted to the board of directors.

(iii) Quarterly financial reports submitted to the authorizing body.

(iv) A current list of teachers and school administrators working at the school of excellence that includes their individual salaries as submitted to the registry of educational personnel; copies of the teaching or school administrator's certificates or permits of current teaching and administrative staff; and evidence of compliance with the criminal background and records checks and unprofessional conduct check required under sections 1230, 1230a, and 1230b for all teachers and administrators working at the school of excellence.

(v) Curriculum documents and materials given to the authorizing body.

(vi) Proof of insurance as required by the contract.

(vii) Copies of facility leases or deeds, or both, and of any equipment leases.

(viii) Copies of any management contracts or services contracts approved by the board of directors.

(ix) All health and safety reports and certificates, including those relating to fire safety, environmental matters, asbestos inspection, boiler inspection, and food service.

(x) Any management letters issued as part of the annual financial audit under subdivision (g).

(xi) Any other information specifically required under this act.

(m) A requirement that the authorizing body must review and may disapprove any agreement between the board of directors and an educational management organization before the agreement is final and valid. An authorizing body may disapprove an agreement described in this subdivision only if the agreement is contrary to contract or applicable law.

(n) A requirement that the board of directors shall demonstrate all of the following to the satisfaction of the authorizing body with regard to its pupil admission process:

(i) That the school of excellence has made a reasonable effort to advertise its enrollment openings.

(ii) That the school of excellence has made the following additional efforts to recruit pupils who are eligible for special education programs and services or English as a second language services to apply for admission:

(A) Reasonable efforts to advertise all enrollment openings to organizations and media that regularly serve and advocate for individuals with disabilities or children with limited English-speaking ability within the boundaries of the intermediate school district in which the school of excellence is located.

(B) Inclusion in all pupil recruitment materials of a statement that appropriate special education services and English as a second language services will be made available to pupils attending the school as required by law.

(iii) That the open enrollment period for the school of excellence is for a duration of at least 2 weeks and that the enrollment times include some evening and weekend times.

(o) A requirement that the board of directors shall prohibit any individual from being employed by the school of excellence in more than 1 full-time position and simultaneously being compensated at a full-time rate for each of those positions.

(p) A requirement that, if requested, the board of directors shall report to the authorizing body the total compensation for each individual working at the school of excellence.

(6) A school of excellence shall comply with all applicable law, including all of the following:

(a) The open meetings act, 1976 PA 267, MCL 15.261 to 15.275.

(b) The freedom of information act, 1976 PA 442, MCL 15.231 to 15.246.

(c) 1947 PA 336, MCL 423.201 to 423.217.

(d) 1965 PA 166, MCL 408.551 to 408.558.

(e) Sections 1134, 1135, 1146, 1153, 1263(3), 1267, and 1274.

(f) Laws concerning participation in state assessments, data collection systems, state level student growth models, state accountability and accreditation systems, and other public comparative data collection required for public schools.

(7) A school of excellence and its incorporators, board members, officers, employees, and volunteers have governmental immunity as provided in section 7 of 1964 PA 170, MCL 691.1407. An authorizing body and its board members, officers, and employees are immune from civil liability, both personally and professionally, for an act or omission in authorizing a school of excellence if the authorizing body or the person acted or reasonably believed he or she acted within the authorizing body's or the person's scope of authority.

(8) A school of excellence is exempt from all taxation on its earnings and property. Unless the property is already fully exempt from real and personal property taxes under the general property tax act, 1893 PA 206, MCL 211.1 to 211.155, property occupied by a school of excellence and used exclusively for educational purposes is exempt from real and personal property taxes levied for school operating purposes under section 1211, to the extent exempted under that section, and from real and personal property taxes levied under the state education tax act, 1993 PA 331, MCL 211.901 to 211.906. Instruments of conveyance to or from a school of excellence are exempt from all taxation including taxes imposed by 1966 PA 134, MCL 207.501 to 207.513. A school of excellence may not levy ad valorem property taxes or another tax for any purpose. However, operation of 1 or more schools of excellence by a school district or intermediate school district does not affect the ability of the school district or intermediate school district to levy ad valorem property taxes or another tax.

(9) A school of excellence may acquire by purchase, gift, devise, lease, sublease, installment purchase agreement, land contract, option, or by any other means, hold, and own in its own name buildings and other property for school purposes, and interests therein, and other real and personal property, including, but not limited to, interests in property subject to mortgages, security interests, or other liens, necessary or convenient to fulfill its purposes. For the purposes of condemnation, a school of excellence may proceed under the uniform condemnation procedures act, 1980 PA 87, MCL 213.51 to 213.75, excluding sections 6 to 9 of that act, MCL 213.56 to 213.59, or other applicable statutes, but only with the express, written permission of the authorizing body in each instance of condemnation and only after just compensation has been determined and paid.

History: Add. 2009, Act 205, Imd. Eff. Jan. 4, 2010 ;-- Am. 2011, Act 277, Eff. Mar. 28, 2012 Popular Name: Act 451