6-13-629. Training and instruction — Reimbursement.

6-13-629. Training and instruction — Reimbursement. (a)(1)(A) A member of a local school district board of directors who has served on the board of directors for twelve (12) or more consecutive months shall obtain no less than six (6) hours of training and instruction by December 31 of each calendar year. (B)(i) A member of a school district board of directors elected for an initial or noncontinuous term shall obtain no less than nine (9) hours of training and instruction by December 31 of the calendar year following the year in which the member is elected. (ii) The hours of training or instruction required under subdivision (a)(1)(B)(i) of this section shall include training or instruction on how to read and interpret an audit report under subdivision (a)(3)(A)(ii)(c) of this section. (2)(A) The superintendent of each school district shall annually prepare a report of the training hours each school board member received the previous calendar year and those carried forward from a previous year that were eligible to be counted towards the previous year to be presented to the board at the board's regular January meeting. (B) Members who fail to receive or carry forward the required number of training hours shall be: (i) Permitted thirty (30) days from the date of the January board meeting to complete the deficient training hours; and (ii) Suspended from participating in official business, except for school board training, until the board member obtains the deficient training hours. (C) A board member who fails to cure the board member's training hours deficiency within the thirty (30) days provided in subdivision (a)(2)(B) of this section shall be removed from the board and the board member's position shall be filled in accordance with § 6-13-611 unless: (i) The board member's failure to receive the required training was due to military service of the board member; or (ii) The board member provides a written sworn statement from the board member's treating physician stating that the board member's failure to receive the required training was due to a serious medical condition. (D) A board member who provides the necessary documentation under subdivision (a)(2)(C) of this section shall have until December 31 of the year following the year the board member failed to receive the required hours of training to receive both the hours of training under subdivision (a)(1) of this section for the current year and those the board member failed to obtain the previous year. (E) The board shall not appoint the board member who failed to receive the required hours of training to fill the vacant position on the board that resulted from the board member's failure to receive the required hours of training. (3)(A) The training and instruction required under this section shall include: (i) Topics relevant to school laws and school operations; (ii) The powers, duties, and responsibilities of the members of the board of directors, including without limitation: (a) Legal requirements, including without limitation: (1) The items listed or required by the Legislative Joint Auditing Committee under § 6-1-101; and (2) Other financial laws, rules, or federal regulations designated by the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education; (b) Role differentiation; (c) Financial management, including without limitation how to read and interpret an audit report; and (d) Improving student achievement; and (iii)(a) Information regarding school safety and student discipline.(b) A member shall be required to complete the program in subdivision (a)(3)(A)(iii)(a) of this section only one (1) time. (B) The training or instruction on how to read and interpret an audit report shall be conducted: (i) By a person who: (a) Is licensed to practice accounting by the Arkansas State Board of Public Accountancy; (b) Has prior experience in conducting a school district financial audit; (c) Is not an employee of Arkansas Legislative Audit unless the training or instruction is conducted for the boards of directors of multiple school districts; and (d) Is not the person conducting the annual audit or other financial audit of the school district unless the training or instruction is presented in a large group setting sponsored by a statewide or regional organization that is attended by multiple school districts; (ii) Under the consultation or supervision of an individual who qualifies under subdivision (a)(3)(B)(i) of this section as part of a program that is provided: (a) By an institution of higher education located in Arkansas; (b) From instruction sponsored or approved by the Department of Education; or (c) By an in-service training conducted by or through the Arkansas School Boards Association; and (iii) By electronic means or in person, or both. (4) Hours of training and instruction obtained in excess of the minimum requirements each year may accumulate and be carried forward from year to year. (5) This instruction may be received from an institution of higher education in this state, from instruction sponsored or approved by the Department of Education, or by an in-service training program conducted by or through the Arkansas School Boards Association. (6) A school district shall maintain a record of hours of training and instruction for board members, which may be in the form of an attested, cumulative annual report from the training providers and which shall be subject to verification and inspection during the school district's annual audit. (b) Local school district boards of directors are authorized to pay per diem and other necessary expenses from funds belonging to the school district and to reimburse school district board directors for expenses incurred in attending in-service workshops, conferences, and other courses of training and instruction required in completing the training and instruction as required in subsection (a) of this section. (c)(1) The State Board of Education shall promulgate rules, which may be included in the Standards for Accreditation of Arkansas Public Schools and School Districts, requiring that a statement of the hours of training and instruction obtained by each member of a school district board of directors in the preceding year be: (A) Part of the comprehensive school plan and goals; (B) Published in the same way that other components of the comprehensive school plan and goals are required to be published; and (C) Made a part of the annual school performance report under § 6-15-1402. (2) The State Board of Education shall promulgate rules as necessary to carry out the provisions and intent of this section.