Sec. 523.
(1) An authorizing body is not required to issue a contract to any entity. Urban high school academy contracts shall be issued on a competitive basis taking into consideration the resources available for the proposed urban high school academy, the population to be served by the proposed urban high school academy, and the educational goals to be achieved by the proposed urban high school academy. In evaluating if an applicant is qualified, the authorizing body shall examine the proposed performance standards, proposed academic program, financial viability of the applicant, and the ability of the proposed board of directors to meet the contract goals and objectives. An authorizing body shall give priority to applicants that demonstrate all of the following:
(a) The proposed school will operate at least all of grades 9 through 12 within 5 years after beginning operation.
(b) The proposed school will occupy a building or buildings that are newly constructed or renovated after January 1, 2003.
(c) The proposed school has a stated goal of increasing high school graduation rates.
(d) The proposed school has received commitments for financial and educational support from the entity applying for the contract.
(e) The entity that submits the application for a contract has net assets of at least $50,000,000.00.
(2) A contract issued to organize and administer an urban high school academy shall contain at least all of the following:
(a) The educational goals the urban high school academy is to achieve and the methods by which it will be held accountable. The educational goals shall include demonstrated improved pupil academic achievement for all groups of pupils. To the extent applicable, the pupil performance of an urban high school academy shall be assessed using at least a Michigan education assessment program (MEAP) test or the Michigan merit examination developed under section 1279g, as applicable.
(b) A description of the method to be used to monitor the urban high school academy's compliance with applicable law and its performance in meeting its targeted educational objectives.
(c) A description of the process for amending the contract during the term of the contract. An authorizing body may approve amendment of the contract with respect to any provision contained in the contract.
(d) A certification, signed by an authorized member of the urban high school academy board of directors, that the urban high school academy will comply with the contract and all applicable law.
(e) Procedures for revoking the contract and grounds for revoking the contract.
(f) A description of and address for the proposed building or buildings in which the urban high school academy will be located.
(g) Requirements and procedures for financial audits. The financial audits shall be conducted at least annually by an independent certified public accountant in accordance with generally accepted governmental auditing principles.
(h) A requirement that the board of directors shall ensure compliance with the requirements of 1968 PA 317, MCL 15.321 to 15.330.
(i) A requirement that the board of directors shall prohibit specifically identified family relationships between members of the board of directors, individuals who have an ownership interest in or who are officers or employees of an educational management company involved in the operation of the urban high school academy, and employees of the urban high school academy. The contract shall identify the specific prohibited relationships consistent with applicable law.
(j) A requirement that the board of directors of the urban high school academy shall make information concerning its operation and management available to the public and to the authorizing body in the same manner as is required by state law for school districts.
(k) A requirement that the board of directors of the urban high school academy shall collect, maintain, and make available to the public and the authorizing body, in accordance with applicable law and the contract, at least all of the following information concerning the operation and management of the urban high school academy:
(i) A copy of the contract issued by the authorizing body for the urban high school academy.
(ii) A list of currently serving members of the board of directors of the urban high school academy, including name, address, and term of office; copies of policies approved by the board of directors; board meeting agendas and minutes; copy of the budget approved by the board of directors and of any amendments to the budget; and copies of bills paid for amounts of $10,000.00 or more as they were submitted to the board of directors.
(iii) Quarterly financial reports submitted to the authorizing body.
(iv) A current list of teachers working at the urban high school academy that includes their individual salaries as submitted to the registry of educational personnel; copies of the teaching certificates or permits of current teaching staff; and evidence of compliance with the criminal background and records checks and unprofessional conduct check required under sections 1230, 1230a, and 1230b for all teachers and administrators working at the urban high school academy.
(v) Curriculum documents and materials given to the authorizing body.
(vi) Proof of insurance as required by the contract.
(vii) Copies of facility leases or deeds, or both, and of any equipment leases.
(viii) Copies of any management contracts or services contracts approved by the board of directors.
(ix) All health and safety reports and certificates, including those relating to fire safety, environmental matters, asbestos inspection, boiler inspection, and food service.
(x) Any management letters issued as part of the annual financial audit under subdivision (g).
(xi) Any other information specifically required under this act.
(l) A requirement that the authorizing body must review and may disapprove any agreement between the board of directors and an educational management company before the agreement is final and valid. An authorizing body may disapprove an agreement described in this subdivision only if the agreement is contrary to the contract or applicable law.
(m) A requirement that the board of directors shall demonstrate all of the following to the satisfaction of the authorizing body with regard to its pupil admission process:
(i) That the urban high school academy has made a reasonable effort to advertise its enrollment openings.
(ii) That the urban high school academy has made the following additional efforts to recruit pupils who are eligible for special education programs and services to apply for admission:
(A) Reasonable efforts to advertise all enrollment openings to organizations and media that regularly serve and advocate for individuals with disabilities within the boundaries of the intermediate school district in which the urban high school academy is located.
(B) Inclusion in all pupil recruitment materials of a statement that appropriate special education services will be made available to pupils attending the school as required by law.
(iii) That the open enrollment period for the urban high school academy is for a duration of at least 2 weeks and that the enrollment times include some evening and weekend times.
(n) A requirement that the board of directors shall prohibit any individual from being employed by the urban high school academy in more than 1 full-time position and simultaneously being compensated at a full-time rate for each of those positions.
(o) A requirement that, if requested, the board of directors shall report to the authorizing body the total compensation for each individual working at the urban high school academy.
(p) The term of the contract and a description of the process and standards for renewal of the contract at the end of the term. The standards for renewal shall include increases in academic achievement for all groups of pupils as measured by assessments and other objective criteria as the most important factor in the decision of whether or not to renew the contract.
(3) An urban high school academy shall comply with all applicable law, including all of the following:
(a) The open meetings act, 1976 PA 267, MCL 15.261 to 15.275.
(b) The freedom of information act, 1976 PA 442, MCL 15.231 to 15.246.
(c) 1947 PA 336, MCL 423.201 to 423.217.
(d) 1965 PA 166, MCL 408.551 to 408.558.
(e) 1978 PA 566, MCL 15.181 to 15.185.
(f) 1968 PA 317, MCL 15.321 to 15.330.
(g) The uniform budgeting and accounting act, 1968 PA 2, MCL 141.421 to 141.440a.
(h) The revised municipal finance act, 2001 PA 34, MCL 141.2101 to 141.2821.
(i) The federal no child left behind act of 2001, Public Law 107-110, 115 Stat. 1425.
(j) Sections 1134, 1135, 1146, 1153, 1263(3), 1267, 1274, and 1280.
(k) Laws concerning participation in state assessments, data collection systems, state level student growth models, state accountability and accreditation systems, and other public comparative data collection required for public schools.
(4) An urban high school academy and its incorporators, board members, officers, employees, and volunteers have governmental immunity as provided in section 7 of 1964 PA 170, MCL 691.1407. An authorizing body and its board members, officers, and employees are immune from civil liability, both personally and professionally, for any acts or omissions in authorizing or oversight of an urban high school academy if the authorizing body or the person acted or reasonably believed he or she acted within the authorizing body's or the person's scope of authority.
(5) An urban high school academy is exempt from all taxation on its earnings and property. Unless the property is already fully exempt from real and personal property taxes under the general property tax act, 1893 PA 206, MCL 211.1 to 211.155, property occupied by an urban high school academy and used exclusively for educational purposes is exempt from real and personal property taxes levied for school operating purposes under section 1211, to the extent exempted under that section, and from real and personal property taxes levied under the state education tax act, 1993 PA 331, MCL 211.901 to 211.906. Instruments of conveyance to or from an urban high school academy are exempt from all taxation, including taxes imposed by 1966 PA 134, MCL 207.501 to 207.513. An urban high school academy may not levy ad valorem property taxes or any other tax for any purpose.
(6) An urban high school academy may acquire by purchase, gift, devise, lease, sublease, installment purchase agreement, land contract, option, or any other means, hold, and own in its own name buildings and other property for school purposes, and interests therein, and other real and personal property, including, but not limited to, interests in property subject to mortgages, security interests, or other liens, necessary or convenient to fulfill its purposes. For the purposes of condemnation, an urban high school academy may proceed under the uniform condemnation procedures act, 1980 PA 87, MCL 213.51 to 213.75, excluding sections 6 to 9 of that act, MCL 213.56 to 213.59, or other applicable statutes, but only with the express, written permission of the authorizing body in each instance of condemnation and only after just compensation has been determined and paid.
History: Add. 2003, Act 179, Imd. Eff. Oct. 3, 2003 ;-- Am. 2009, Act 205, Imd. Eff. Jan. 4, 2010 ;-- Am. 2011, Act 277, Eff. Mar. 28, 2012
Last modified: October 10, 2016