North Dakota School Boards Association
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NDSBA STANDING RESOLUTIONS

November 2011

 
NDSBA Standing Resolutions are adopted by the Delegate Assembly and are uniquely legislative.  They are dropped after four years unless brought to the Delegate Assembly for reconsideration.  NDSBA Beliefs and Policies are permanent philosophical, legislative, and operational statements established by the Delegate Assembly.  They are amended only by the action of that Assembly.  In order to view NDSBA's total legislative platform, please access both Standing Resolutions and Beliefs and Policies.

Major Categories - Click to go directly to that category

A. Funding

 E. Negotiations

B. Finance other than Funding

F. Program

C. Standards and Accountability 

 G. Board Authority and Board Meetings

D. Personnel 

 Resolution Format
Each resolution is coded to indicate status:
- These are less than four years old and STAND as a position of NDSBA. 
- These will be four years old in 2012 and are scheduled to be DROPPED from standing resolutions unless brought to the floor by the Governmental Affairs Committee or a delegate and readopted by the 2012 Delegate Assembly.

- These have had significant LEGISLATIVE or staff action and will be dropped or amended.

A.  FUNDING
1. PROPERTY TAX INITIATED MEASURE.  NDSBA shall oppose efforts to eliminate local property taxation in North Dakota.
      Adopted in 2011.
2. FEDERAL IMPACT AID FUNDING.  NDSBA shall support full funding by the federal government for federally impacted schools.
      Adopted in 2011.
3. NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND ASSESSMENTS.  NDSBA shall meet with the ND Department of Public Instruction and formally request that they develop and submit to the Department of Education for approval a growth model to measure Adequate Yearly Progress in the state of North Dakota which follows the principles of No Child Left Behind and encourage DPI to offer state assessments in the spring rather than the fall.
      Adopted in 2007; amended and readopted in 2011.
4. NON-EDUCATION FUNDS TO PROVIDE FOR SAFETY ISSUES INCLUDING SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS AND HEALTH AND NURSING SERVICES.   NDSBA shall seek legislation that commits additional non-education resources to provision of these necessary services so school districts may continue to provide for educational needs of students and receive support necessary to continue these very important non-educational services necessary to ensure safety and health of all students in the state of North Dakota.
      Adopted in 2007; readopted in 2011.
5. K-12 FUNDING ADEQUACY.  NDSBA will take a lead role in discussions on what a commitment to "adequate funding" requires of the state to meet its obligation to its students.
      Adopted in 2003; readopted in 2007 and 2011.
6. TEACHERS' FUND FOR RETIREMENT AND PUBLIC EMPLOYEES' RETIREMENT SYSTEM.  NDSBA shall support TFFR and PERS contribution increases as long as there are no enhancements to benefits until the plans are at least 90 percent funded and only if accompanied by employee contribution increases, benefit concessions, and adequate state funding to cover employer contribution increases in addition to normal foundation aid increases.
      Adopted in 2010.
7. EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION. NDSBA shall support separate state funding for preschool programs meeting prescribed standards.
      Adopted in 2010.
8. ND TEACHER OF THE YEAR PROGRAM.  NDSBA shall support providing a line item in DPI’s budget for the North Dakota Teacher of the Year Program. Legislation must include the following directive to DPI: The DPI shall assign responsibility to its department staff to coordinate preparation of application materials, distribution of materials to the selection committee, publicity, and serve as exclusive host of a reception held in the Great Hall in the State Capitol by September 30 at which the Teacher of the Year is announced. The selection committee appointed by the department may not include more than one representative from any education-related organization or association.
      Adopted in 2010.
9. FUNDING ADEQUACY, BOARD TAXING AUTHORITY, AND PROPERTY TAX REDUCTIONS.  NDSBA will support direct state funding of K-12 education at a level adequate to reduce reliance on local property taxes.
      Adopted in 2006; readopted in 2010.
10. AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMMING.  NDSBA will support legislation that will allow all school districts in North Dakota an equal opportunity to participate with after-school programming.
      Adopted in 2006; readopted in 2010.
11. REGIONAL EDUCATION ASSOCIATIONS.  NDSBA shall support the State of North Dakota increasing financial support to REAs that are in place and work toward expanding resources available to these REAs so educational opportunities for students all across the state can be improved.
      Adopted in 2005; amended and readopted in 2009.
12. TAXING AUTHORITY OF THE STATE.  NDSBA shall oppose any attempt to limit the taxing authority of the state.
      Adopted in 2005; readopted in 2009.
13.

PERMANENT MECHANISM TO DISTRIBUTE SURPLUS SPECIAL EDUCATION DOLLARS.  NDSBA shall support efforts to develop an appropriate funding level and provide a mechanism to distribute monies earmarked for special education back to school districts for which it was intended.         

      Adopted in 2008.
14. STATE TECHNOLOGY INFRASTRUCTURE MAINTENANCE AND OPERATION.  NDSBA believes the cost of maintaining, supporting, and enhancing this system should continue to be financed with state dollars and there should be no transfer of the cost associated with this network back to the local school districts.
      Adopted in 2004; readopted in 2008.
15. STATE FUNDING OF SPECIAL EDUCATION AND GIFTED AND TALENTED PROGRAMS.  NDSBA supports the state ensuring program funding equity and full funding of special education costs to districts including gifted and talented education.
      Adopted in 2004; readopted in 2008.
B. FINANCE OTHER THAN FUNDING
1. SALES AND USE TAX EXEMPTIONS OF SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS.  NDSBA will support the state making supplies and materials purchased by school districts through contracts with contractors for construction projects exempt from sales and use tax.
      Adopted in 2003; readopted in 2007 and 2011.
C. STANDARDS AND ACCOUNTABILITY
1. CURRICULUM CONTENT.  NDSBA shall oppose state or national efforts to further define and mandate specific curriculum content.
      Adopted in 2011.
D. PERSONNEL
1. TEACHER NONRENEWAL. NDSBA will seek legislative changes that would provide that any teacher newly hired after August 15 would be excluded from the continuous contract and would be covered by the provisions of NDCC 15.1-15-12(4).
Adopted in 1995; amended in 1999; amended in 2003.  2005 legislation exempts teachers and administrators (except superintendents) hired after January 1 from nonrenewal rights. Readopted in 2007; amended and readopted in 2011.
2. PAY FOR PERFORMANCE.  NDSBA shall support an alternative compensation plan with appropriate funding. 
Adopted in 2010.
3. HIRING IN DIFFICULT-TO-FILL POSITIONS.  NDSBA shall support legislation that provides flexibility for school boards to hire off the salary schedule, without reference to the negotiated agreement, when necessary to hire in an area required for school approval or accreditation.  
      Adopted in 2005;  amended and readopted in 2009.
E. NEGOTIATIONS
1. REMOVING COMPENSATION FROM NEGOTIATIONS.   NDSBA shall support legislation amending the collective bargaining law to exclude compensation.
      Adopted in 2007; readopted in 2011.
2. COLLECTIVE BARGAINING. NDSBA shall oppose legislation mandating school boards to collectively bargain with employees other than those currently required by 15.1-16-01: “…public school employee(s) licensed to teach by the ESPB or approved to teach by the ESPB and employed primarily as a classroom teacher.”
      Adopted in 2008.
F. PROGRAM
1. NINTH GRADE ALTERNATIVE SCHOOLING. NDSBA shall seek changes in eligibility for attendance in alternative high school programs contained in Agency Rules 67-16.01 from "students must be from the ages of 16 to 21," to "students must be at least at 9th grade level or age 16 and not older than 21."
      Adopted in 2007; readopted in 2011.
2. MANDATORY ATTENDANCE AGE.  NDSBA shall seek legislation requiring the Department of Public Instruction to provide strategies, tools, and funding to identify and assist at-risk students throughout their education experience through the time they graduate or until they reach age 18.
      Adopted in 2006; amended and readopted in 2010.
3. INFORMATION ABOUT JUVENILE OFFENDERS. NDSBA will seek legislation that requires juvenile authorities to inform the principal or other appropriate administrator of a school where a juvenile is or will be enrolled if school attendance is a condition of disposition.
      Adopted in 1996, readopted in 2000. 1997 legislation provides for such notification if the juvenile is adjudicated to have committed certain acts. 2001 legislation allows for school law enforcement units and allows a more free exchange of information but still does not require the juvenile authorities to give information.  Amended and readopted in 2004; readopted in 2008.
G.  BOARD AUTHORITY AND BOARD MEETINGS
1. PUBLISHING MINUTES. NDSBA will support legislation and seek sponsorship for legislation which would amend the requirement that school boards pay to publish minutes as defined in NDCC 15.1-09-31.
      Adopted in 1991, amended and readopted in 1995 and 1999; amended and readopted in 2003; readopted in 2007; amended and readopted in 2011.
2. TAXING AUTHORITY OF SCHOOL BOARDS.  NDSBA shall oppose any attempts to further limit or eliminate the taxing authority of school districts without significant net gains to all districts through state funding sources.
      Adopted in 2005; readopted in 2009.
3. POSTING OF BILLS IN AN ALTERNATE FORMAT. NDSBA shall support state law changes to allow school districts the flexibility to post their bills using an electronic format such as the district's Website.
      Adopted in 2004; amended and readopted in 2008.
H. PRIVATE SCHOOLS/CHARTER SCHOOLS - There are no standing resolutions in this category at this time.
I. ELECTIONS - There are no standing resolutions in this category at this time.
J.  NDSBA  - There are no standing resolutions in this category at this time.
K. MISCELLANEOUS - There are no standing resolutions in this category at this time.
Format to submit proposed resolutions to NDSBA:
RESOLUTION SUBMITTED BY THE ____________ SCHOOL BOARD
A resolution to ............... (wording of resolution)
Whereas ...............
Whereas ...............
Whereas ...............
(explanatory and rationale statements)
Therefore be it resolved that NDSBA ................. (restating of the resolution language)
  (signature)
(title)
(address)
(city, state, zip)
(phone number)