SECTION 22. (a) There shall be a special commission to study and make recommendations concerning the long-term fiscal health of rural school districts that are facing or may face declining student enrollment.
The commission shall consist of: 1 member who shall be appointed by the president of the senate, who shall serve as co-chair; 1 member who shall be appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives, who shall serve as co-chair; 1 member who shall be appointed by the minority leader of the senate; 1 member who shall be appointed by the minority leader of the house of representatives; the deputy commissioner of the division of local services within the department of revenue or a designee; the secretary of education or a designee; the commissioner of elementary and secondary education or a designee, 1 member who shall be appointed by and from the Rural Policy Advisory Commission; and 7 members appointed by the governor, 1 of whom shall be a representative of the Massachusetts Association of Regional Schools, Inc., 1 of whom shall be a representative of the Massachusetts Association of School Committees, Inc., 1 of whom shall be a representative of the Massachusetts Teachers Association, 1 of whom shall be a representative of the American Federation of Teachers, Massachusetts; 1 of whom shall be a representative of the Massachusetts Association of School Business Officials, Inc., 1 of whom shall be a representative of the Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents, Inc. and 1 of whom shall be a researcher from a public university with expertise in the area of rural school policy. A majority of the commission’s members shall be residents of areas served by rural school districts. Members shall not receive compensation for their services but may receive reimbursement for reasonable expenses incurred in carrying out their responsibilities as members of the commission. The commissioner of elementary and secondary education shall furnish reasonable staff and other support for the work of the commission.
(b) In making its recommendations, the commission shall consider: (i) long-term economic, demographic and student enrollment trends and projections in communities that are rural or experiencing population decline; (ii) long-term fiscal trends in school districts experiencing declining student enrollment; (iii) an analysis of the fiscal health of regional school districts and the impact of regionalization on each contributing municipality, especially in low-income and middle-income areas, including funding impacts on each contributing municipality; (iv) the impact of the rural school aid grant program established in item 7061-9813 of chapter 154 of the acts 2018 and any need to expand the program to address student enrollment decline; and (v) best policies and practices in other states.
The commission shall make recommendations for: (i) improving and expanding the rural school aid grant program and feasibility of including a low and declining student enrollment factor within the existing rural school aid formula; (ii) establishing and including a low and declining student enrollment factor within the foundation budget; (iii) expanding the use of technology to deliver instruction; (iv) enabling operating efficiencies; (v) exploring the use of shared services; (vi) optimizing schools and school districts; (vii) encouraging improvement of fiscal health and educational outcomes; and (viii) other matters related to educational opportunities in rural areas subject to the discretion of the commission. The commission shall include with its recommendations any cost estimates and feasibility associated with the commission’s recommendations.
The commission shall also consider and incorporate into its recommendations the findings of: (i) the department of elementary and secondary education’s 2018 report titled “Fiscal Conditions in Rural School Districts” that was filed pursuant to section 127 of chapter 47 of the acts of 2017; and (ii) the report of the special commission on improving efficiencies relative to student transportation that was filed pursuant to section 77 of chapter 154 of the acts of 2018.
(c) The commission shall hold not less than 5 public meetings and may hold additional hearings and other forums that it considers necessary. The commission shall file its report and recommendations with the clerks of the senate and the house of representatives, the chairs of the joint committee on education and the rural policy advisory commission not later than December 1, 2020.
https://malegislature.gov/Laws/SessionLaws/Acts/2019/Chapter132