Section 392-340-00701. Regional committee decision making.

(1) The regional committee shall give consideration to all of the criteria in RCW 28A.315.015 (2)(a) through (d) and 28A.315.205 (4)(a) through (e) when reviewing the proposed transfer of territory:

(2) The boundaries of the school districts affected by a proposed change in school district organization shall be contiguous to one another.

(3) When considering student educational opportunities under RCW 28A.315.205 (4)(a), the regional committee shall not consider one set of test scores alone as a sufficient basis to make a judgment about student educational opportunities. Test scores in the district affected by the proposed transfer of territory shall be looked at in context, including over time and by disaggregating the scores by student subgroups.

(4) "Communities affected" under RCW 28A.315.205 (4)(c), include all citizens living within the territory proposed to be transferred, all other citizens residing within the school district from which the proposed territory will be transferred, all citizens residing within the school district to which the proposed territory will be transferred.

(5) When considering "geographic accessability" under RCW 28A.315.205 (4)(d), the regional committee shall consider, but is not limited to the following factors:

(a) Mountains, hills, valleys, wasteland, and related geographic and man-made features, which either enhance or impede travel.

(b) Rivers, lakes, canals, and other natural or man-made waterways and bodies of water, which either enhance or impede travel.

(c) The extent and nature of roads, highways, ferries, and traffic patterns.

(d) Climatic conditions.

(e) Time required to travel to and from school.

(6) After considering all factors, the regional committee shall make one judgment on geographic accessibility, regardless of how many individual components may apply to the particular transfer of territory petition.

(7) Each regional committee shall use the same criterion checklist included in the Guide to Changing School District Boundaries and published on the superintendent of public instruction web site.

(8) If a regional committee needs to continue a public hearing or schedule more than one additional hearing on a proposed transfer of territory, each such hearing is subject to public notice requirements.

(9) Regional committees shall use the decision format (motion) included in the Guide to Changing School District Boundaries and published on the superintendent of public instruction web site.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 28A.525.020. WSR 09-03-053, § 392-340-00701, filed 1/13/09, effective 2/13/09. Statutory Authority: RCW 28A.305.130 (5), (10), 28A.315.015 (2)(e), 28A.315.175, 28A.315.195(4), 28A.315.205(3). WSR 06-17-038, amended and recodified as § 392-340-00701, filed 8/8/06, effective 9/8/06. Statutory Authority: RCW 28A.305.130(10), 28A.315.015 (2)(e), 28A.315.175, 28A.315.195. WSR 05-19-112, § 180-24-00701, filed 9/20/05, effective 10/21/05. Statutory Authority: Chapter 28A.315 RCW. WSR 03-23-040, § 180-24-00701, filed 11/12/03, effective 12/13/03. Statutory Authority: 1999 c 315, partial veto and chapter 28A.315 RCW. WSR 99-24-125, § 180-24-00701, filed 12/1/99, effective 1/1/00.]

RCW 28A.525.020. WSR 09-03-053, § 392-340-00701, filed 1/13/09, effective 2/13/09. Statutory Authority: RCW 28A.305.130 (5), (10), 28A.315.015 (2)(e), 28A.315.175, 28A.315.195(4), 28A.315.205(3). WSR 06-17-038, amended and recodified as § 392-340-00701, filed 8/8/06, effective 9/8/06. Statutory Authority: RCW 28A.305.130(10), 28A.315.015 (2)(e), 28A.315.175, 28A.315.195. WSR 05-19-112, § 180-24-00701, filed 9/20/05, effective 10/21/05. Statutory Authority: Chapter 28A.315 RCW. WSR 03-23-040, § 180-24-00701, filed 11/12/03, effective 12/13/03. Statutory Authority: 1999 c 315, partial veto and chapter 28A.315 RCW. WSR 99-24-125, § 180-24-00701, filed 12/1/99, effective 1/1/00.