CHAPTER 70
An Act to amend and reenact §2.2-1502.1 of the Code of
Virginia, relating to school efficiency reviews; scope and costs.
[H 557]
Approved March 1, 2016
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That §2.2-1502.1 of the Code of Virginia is amended and
reenacted as follows:
§2.2-1502.1. School efficiency review program.
A. From such funds as may be appropriated or otherwise
received for such purpose, and upon written request by a local school board or
the division superintendent, the Director shall initiate a review of the
relevant school division's central operations. Such review shall identify
best practices followed by the division that may be shared with other divisions
statewide, examine noninstructional expenditures, and identify
opportunities to improve operational efficiencies and reduce costs for the
division and. The review shall include but not be limited to
examinations of (i) overhead divisional administration, (ii)
human resources, (iii) procurement educational service delivery costs,
(iv) facilities use and management, (v) financial management, (vi)
transportation, (vii) technology planning management, and (viii)
energy management food services. Such review shall not address the
effectiveness of the educational services being delivered by the division
and shall not constitute a division-level academic review as required by §
22.1-253.13:3.
B. School divisions shall pay 25 percent of the cost of the
school efficiency review in the fiscal year immediately following the
completion of the final school efficiency review report. Additionally,
commencing with reviews completed in fiscal year 2007, partial recovery of the
cost of individual reviews shall be made in the fiscal year beginning not less
than 12 months and not more than 24 months following the release of a final
efficiency review report for an individual school division. Such additional
recovery may occur if the affected school division superintendent or
superintendent's designee has not certified that at least half the
recommendations have been initiated or at least half of the equivalent savings
of such efficiency review have been realized. Lacking such certification the
school division shall reimburse the state for 25 percent of the cost of the
school efficiency review. Such reimbursement shall be paid into the general
fund of the state treasury. The Department of Planning and Budget shall provide
the format for such certification.
C. All agencies, authorities, and institutions of the
Commonwealth shall cooperate and provide assistance as the Director may
request.
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