1971-24 Requesting FL Legislature to Revise School LawsRESOLUTION N0. 24-71
A RESOLUTION OF THE VILLAGE COUNCIL OF NORTH PALM BEAC}{,
FLORIDA, REQUESTING THE MEMBERS OF THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE TO REVISE
FLORIDA LAWS SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR SMALLER AND MORE MANAGEABLE SCHOOL
' DISTRICTS RESPONSIVE TO THE LOCAL RESIDENTS; REQUESTING THE FLORIDA
LEGISLATURE TO INSTITUTE INITIATIVE, REFERENDUM AND RECALL FOR SCHOOL
BOARD MEMBERS; AND TO MAKE T}}E POSITION OF SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT AN
APPOINTIVE POSITION WITH ADMINISTRATIVE POWERS ONLY
WHEREAS, the well-being of school age children is a vital
concern of the members of the Village Council; and
W}{ERF,AS, school children in the Village of North Palm Beach
}lave their elementary school, junior high school and senior high school
controlled by the Palm Beach County Board of Public Instruction, w}iich
covers an area so large as to apparently hinder effective management
oi' the schools; and
' WHEREAS, recent School Board decisions and proposals have
been contrary to the best interests of the school children of North
Palm Beach, and in fact of all Palm Beach County, from an educational,
safety and community viewpoint; and
WHEREAS, the recommendations set forth hereafter are time-
honored, successful governmental policies which can effectively
protect the public and the school children from abusive and in-
effective policies;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE VILLAGE COUNCIL OF
NORTH PALM BEACH, FLORIDA:
Section 1. The members of the Florida Legislature are
' hereby requested to revise the State Constitution and State Statutes
concerning the operation of schools in Florida as follows:
A. School boundaries should be based on municipal
boundaries and/or on population at a much lower level than the
population of Palm Beach County. Local voters should have the
option of making reciprocal school housing agreements with adjacent
school districts, and the school system in Florida should be confined
to local communities or combinations thereof and not county-wide.
' B. Each school district or cooperative district as set
fort} above should be governed by an elected school board, chosen
from qualified local residents.
C. Procedures should be enacted to permit elected school
board members to be recalled from office; to permit school board
legislation to be initiated by the voters in the school district,
and to require referendum on school board measures if required by
the electorate. Suggested legislation to accomplish this is contained
in the Village of North Palm Beach Charter and similar governmental
charters throughout the State of Florida. A copy of these provisions
is attached to this Resolution.
D. The superintendent of schools for each school district
should be appointed by the school board. The school board should be
the sole legislative authority and set the school policy, while the
superintendent of schools should be the chief administrative officer
of the school system and administer the policies of the board, such as
is done in the city manager form of government prevalent throughout
t}ie State of Florida. Legislation should insure that the superintendent
of schools should not make policy decisions and the school board should
not administer its policies. Definite spheres should be established
so that the school board and the superintendent complement each other,
creating workable, responsible school programs which can provide the
finest possible education for school age children, not only in North
Palm Beach but throughout Palm Beach County and the State of Florida.
' Section 2. The Village Clerk is hereby directed to forward
certified copies of this Resolution to all members of the Palm Beach
County Delegation to the Florida Legislature; to the members of the
Palm Beach County Board of Public Instruction; to the Superintendent
of Schools of Palm Beach County; and to such other persons or officers
as may be directed by the Village Council of North Palm Beach, Florida.
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PASSED AND ADOPTED THIS 9TH DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 1971.
/s/ H. Mallory Privett, Jr.
MAYOR
ATTEST:
/s/ Lawrence J. Robbins
Deputy Village Clerk
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