S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
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5946--B
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
I N S E N A T E
May 16, 2019
___________
Introduced by Sen. MAY -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
printed to be committed to the Committee on Education -- committee
discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted
to said committee -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered
reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to establishing the Syra-
cuse city school district regional STEAM high school to provide
instruction to students in the Onondaga, Cortland and Madison county
BOCES and the central New York region in the areas of science, tech-
nology, engineering, arts and mathematics (STEAM) areas
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Legislative intent. The purpose of this act is to establish
the Syracuse city school district regional STEAM high school. The STEAM
high school shall provide a high school course of instruction for grades
nine through twelve, dedicated to providing expanded learning opportu-
nities to students residing in the Onondaga, Cortland and Madison county
board of cooperative educational services region and central New York,
in the areas of science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics
as well as the core academic areas required for the issuance of high
school diplomas in accordance with the rules and regulations promulgated
by the board of regents. The legislature hereby finds and declares that
the establishment of the STEAM high school is a necessary component to
the development of the greater central New York region of New York state
and a necessary link to fostering the development and advancement of the
arts and emerging technologies. This school will advance the interests
of the central New York region and New York state by engaging students
in rigorous and enriching educational experiences focused on the arts
and emerging technologies, project-based learning and collaboration and
by providing that experience within the context of a business and learn-
ing community for the purpose of directly connecting student learning
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD11786-05-9
S. 5946--B 2
with real world experience in the arts and advanced technical facili-
ties. It is expressly found that the establishment and operation of such
school pursuant to this act is a public purpose.
§ 2. Establishment of Syracuse city school district regional STEAM
high school.
1. A regional science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics
("STEAM") high school may be established by the board of education of
the Syracuse city school district pursuant to this section for students
in grades nine through twelve.
2. Such school shall be governed by the board of education of the
Syracuse city school district. The school shall be subject to all laws,
rules and regulations which are applicable to a public high school
unless otherwise provided for in this act. The school shall be subject
to the oversight of the board of regents and the program shall be audit-
ed in a manner consistent with provisions of law and regulations that
are applicable to other public schools.
3. The board of education of the Syracuse city school district shall
have the responsibility for the operation, supervision and maintenance
of the school and shall be responsible for the administration of the
school, including curriculum, grading, discipline and staffing.
4. The board of education of the Syracuse city school district shall
be authorized to enter into contracts as necessary or convenient to
operate such school.
5. Students attending such school shall continue to be enrolled in
their school district of residence. The Syracuse city school district
shall be responsible for the issuance of a high school diploma to
students who attended the school based on such students' successful
completion of the school's educational program.
6. For purposes of all state aid calculations made pursuant to the
education law, students attending such school shall continue to be
treated and counted as students of their school district of residence.
7. The public school district of residence shall be obligated to
provide transportation, without regard to any mileage limitations,
provided however, for aid reimbursements pursuant to subdivision 7 of
section 3602 of the education law, expenses associated with the trans-
portation of students to and from the STEAM school up to a distance of
thirty miles shall be included.
8. It shall be the duty of the student's district of residence to make
payments as calculated in this act directly to the school district for
each student enrolled in the school. No costs shall be apportioned to
school districts that elect not to participate in such school.
9. The trustees or the board of education of a school district may
enter into a memorandum of understanding with the board of education of
the Syracuse city school district to participate in such school program
for a period not to exceed five years upon such terms as such trustees
or board of education and the board of education of the Syracuse city
school district may mutually agree. Such memorandum of understanding
shall set forth a methodology for the calculation of per pupil tuition
costs that shall be subject to review and approval by the commissioner.
10. Any student eligible for enrollment in grades nine through twelve
of a public school entering into a memorandum of understanding with the
board of education of the Syracuse city school district to enroll
students in the STEAM high school shall be eligible for admission to the
STEAM high school. To the extent that the number of qualified applicants
may exceed the number of available spaces, the school shall grant admis-
sion on a random selection basis, provided that an enrollment preference
S. 5946--B 3
shall be provided to pupils returning to the school in the second or any
subsequent year. The criteria for admission shall not be limited based
on intellectual ability, measures of academic achievement or aptitude,
athletic aptitude, disability, race, creed, gender, national origin,
religion, ancestry, or location of residence. The school shall deter-
mine the tentative enrollment roster, notify the parents, or those in
parental relations to those students, and the resident school district
by April first of the school year preceding the school year for which
the admission is granted.
11. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, the
Syracuse city school district is authorized to transfer ownership of the
Syracuse city school district regional STEAM high school facility to the
county of Onondaga and the county of Onondaga is authorized to assume
such ownership and to enter into a lease for such facility with the
Syracuse city school district. The county of Onondaga may contract for
indebtedness to renovate such facility and any related financing shall
be deemed a county purpose. The county of Onondaga shall transfer
ownership of the regional STEAM high school facility to the city of
Syracuse upon the expiration of the lease.
§ 3. Paragraph a of subdivision 6 of section 3602 of the education law
is amended by adding a new subparagraph 8 to read as follows:
(8) NOTWITHSTANDING ANY OTHER PROVISION OF LAW TO THE CONTRARY, FOR
THE PURPOSE OF COMPUTATION OF BUILDING AID FOR THE RENOVATION AND EQUIP-
PING OF A REGIONAL STEAM HIGH SCHOOL AUTHORIZED FOR OPERATION BY THE
SYRACUSE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT THE BUILDING AID UNITS ASSIGNED TO THIS
PROJECT SHALL REFLECT A BUILDING AID ENROLLMENT OF ONE THOUSAND STUDENTS
AND MULTI-YEAR COST ALLOWANCES FOR THE PROJECT SHALL BE ESTABLISHED AND
UTILIZED TWO TIMES IN THE FIRST FIVE-YEAR PERIOD. SUBSEQUENT MULTI-YEAR
COST ALLOWANCES SHALL BE ESTABLISHED NO SOONER THAN TEN YEARS AFTER
ESTABLISHMENT OF THE FIRST MAXIMUM COST ALLOWANCE AUTHORIZED PURSUANT TO
THIS SUBPARAGRAPH.
§ 4. This act shall take effect immediately.
