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Responsibility far Operation of Schools During Merger <br />^ In reviewing other jurisdictions' merger studies and plans, appears to be some <br />variation and flexibility <br />^ Examples include: <br />. Existing school boards continue to operate for some defined period <br />. Either through the end of the current fiscal year or until the effective date of <br />merger <br />. Interim board may be appointed by BOCC far a period of time, perhaps one <br />fiscal/academic year <br />. Focus on decisions that must be made and implemented no later than the <br />effective date of merger <br />. Composition of board tailored to specific circumstances of individual mergers <br />. Typical far merger plan to specify that certain number of interim board <br />members will be appointed from existing boards and that the Board of <br />Commissioners may decide to appoint one or more members of their choosing <br />to the interim board <br />Selection of Superintendent for Merged System <br />^ Merger plans reviewed by staff reserved selection of a superintendent for a newly <br />merged system to the interim board of education and the newly created permanent <br />board of education <br />^ No role for the Board of County Commissioners or the existing school boards <br />State Funding of Merged System <br />^ Merged units continue to receive existing State allotments of funds for two fiscal years <br />following the effective date of merger for the following functions: <br />. Central office administration <br />. Vocational education <br />. Special needs <br />. Limited English proficiency (LEP) <br />^ Far example, although there would be only one superintendent position in a newly <br />merged unit, State funding would continue for two years for any other superintendent <br />positions that may have existed in the other school systems prior to merger <br />Role of State Board of Education in Commissioner Initiated Merger <br />^ State Board's critical role is to review and approve the merger plan <br />^ Process far approval <br />^ Board of Commissioners adopts a merger plan and transmits it to the State Board <br />for consideration at its next meeting <br />^ Typically, merger plan reviewed and approved within two meetings of the State <br />Board <br />^ Approval of merger plan has effect of law <br />At this time, OCS Superintendent Dr. Shirley Garraway spoke. <br />Programmatic Considerations <br />Superintendent Garraway said that she met with Superintendent Pedersen and they <br />realized that they first needed to establish a common understanding of what areas to <br />address. They initially met with instructional staff to assist them in the template to report <br />