Montana HB606: Revise school district reorganization laws

What the bill says

An act generally revising education laws related to school district reorganization; creating a pathway for various types of school districts to reorganize to form a unified k-12 school district; requiring county superintendents of schools to modify school district boundaries when necessary to accommodate reorganizations; replacing the word consolidation with reorganization as applicable in education laws; amending sections 20-3-205, 20-3-302, 20-3-312, 20-3-342, 20-6202, 20-6-314, 20-6-410, 20-6-411, 20-6-413, 20-6-414, 20-6-423, 20-6-424, 20-6-704, 20-9-311, and 20-9502, mca…

From the engrossed text:

AN ACT GENERALLY REVISING EDUCATION LAWS RELATED TO SCHOOL DISTRICT REORGANIZATION; CREATING A PATHWAY FOR VARIOUS TYPES OF SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO REORGANIZE TO FORM A UNIFIED K-12 SCHOOL DISTRICT; REQUIRING COUNTY SUPERINTENDENTS OF SCHOOLS TO MODIFY SCHOOL DISTRICT BOUNDARIES WHEN NECESSARY TO ACCOMMODATE REORGANIZATIONS; REPLACING THE WORD CONSOLIDATION WITH REORGANIZATION AS APPLICABLE IN EDUCATION LAWS; AMENDING SECTIONS 20-3-205, 20-3-302, 20-3-312, 20-3-342, 20-6202, 20-6-314, 20-6-410, 20-6-411, 20-6-413, 20-6-414, 20-6-423, 20-6-424, 20-6-704, 20-9-311, AND 20-9502, MCA; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. WHEREAS, rural schools serve as the foundation of Montana's rural communities, providing educational, social, and economic stability; and WHEREAS, ensuring administrative efficiencies and financial sustainability will help preserve the viability of small rural schools for future generations; and WHEREAS, collaboration among students, families, and educators fosters a stronger, more effective learning environment; and WHEREAS, school district reorganization does not equate to school closures but rather promotes resource-sharing and operational efficiency; and WHEREAS, aligning district boundaries will expand educational opportunities, enhance school choice, and address tax inequities associated with out-of-district attendance; and WHEREAS, unified K-12 school districts provide a seamless educational experience, ensuring curricular consistency and student success from kindergarten through high school graduation; and WHEREAS, the Montana Legislature upholds the principle of local governance in education, recognizing the authority of elected school district trustees as enshrined in Article X, section 8, …