New Jersey § 18a:13-47

§ 18a:13-47.

a. The boards of education or governing bodies of two or more school districts seeking

to form a limited purpose or all purpose regional district and that wish to apply

for funding under the grant program established pursuant to section 2 of P.L.2021, c. 402 ( C.18A:13-47.2 ) shall jointly submit an application to the division. The application shall identify and designate at least one project coordinator from

one or more participating districts who shall be responsible for overseeing the activities

associated with conducting the feasibility study proposed under the application and

for fulfilling any requirements prescribed by the division in the receipt of a grant

under the program. The application shall also include: (1) copies of the resolutions adopted by all participating boards of education or

governing bodies, as applicable, certifying a commitment to participate in a feasibility

study. An application may propose a feasibility study that would include an analysis of

the inclusion of non-participating districts in a proposed regional district, in which

case the application shall state that the feasibility study will present findings

and recommendations related both to the consolidation of participating districts into

a regional district and alternative findings and recommendations contingent upon the

inclusion of the non-participating districts; (2) a detailed narrative describing the proposed regionalization plan or plans to

be studied, as well as potential areas for educational and fiscal improvement. The feasibility study shall include, but need not be limited to, options to address

issues related to: (a) facility utilization; (b) cost sharing and methods of apportionment, including but not limited to, equalized

valuation, pupil enrollment, or a combination of the two as well as whether such apportionment

should take effect immediately or on a phase-in or transitional basis over a certain

number of years; (c) the allocation of existing school debt and proceeds from the sale of unutilized

or underutilized facilities; (d) projected enrollment trends, including the impact on the demographic breakdown

of the student population, including race, ethnicity, and national origin, and projected

changes in class size; (e) current and projected staffing needs and costs, including retirement and attrition

trends for instructional, administrative, and support staff; (f) an analysis of the differences in the salaries and terms and conditions of employment

in elementary, middle, and high school teachers', administrators', and support staffs'

contracts among the various districts and the distribution of all compensation among

covered employees, including the potential impact of expired contracts moving forward,

which analysis shall be developed by school districts and the majority representatives

of all recognized bargaining units; (g) State aid and tax revenue projections; (h) potential cost savings or increases from regionalization; (i) student seat time and distance traveled, as well as potential increased or reduced

transportation costs; (j) kindergarten through 12 curriculum coordination improvements; (k) potential enrichment of educational programs for students; and ( l ) calculation and methods of apportionment for determining membership on the regional

district board of education among the constituent districts; (3) a description of the intended use of grant funding in supporting the costs associated

with conducting the feasibility study; (4) a demonstration of the boards' or governing bodies' capacities to oversee the

proposed feasibility study; (5) a list of personnel or outside consultants who would be conducting the feasibility

study, which consultants shall be selected in accordance with applicable State law; (6) a plan to incorporate public and stakeholder participation and ideas in the regionalization

study process, which shall include school board members, parents, teachers, administrators,

non-instructional staff, union representatives, municipal officials, and interested

citizens; and (7) any other materials or information as may be required by the division to effectively

evaluate the proposed feasibility study and assess the costs associated with conducting

the feasibility study. b. In order to be eligible to receive a grant under the grant program established

pursuant to section 2 of P.L.2021, c. 402 ( C.18A:13-47.2 ), the boards of education or governing bodies shall demonstrate that the proposed

regionalization: (1) does not, and is not foreseeably likely to, increase or exacerbate the segregation

of students by racial, socioeconomic, disability, or English Language Learner status

as determined by the number and percentage of students enrolled in the school districts

seeking to consolidate or, as applicable, in the school districts from which a school

district is seeking to withdraw; (2) to the maximum extent practicable, will lead to the establishment of a limited

purpose or all purpose regional district; (3) consolidates school districts that are in close geographic proximity of each other. School districts need not be immediately contiguous as long as any geographic separation

is not so large as to contradict the potential for improved efficiency and cost savings; (4) possesses the potential for improved efficiency and cost savings; (5) possesses the potential to advance an enhanced learning environment for participating

districts; (6) coordinates curriculum across schools and grades throughout the proposed limited

purpose or all purpose regional school; and (7) reflects a documented commitment from the participating districts to make good

faith efforts to implement the recommendations of the feasibility study that promote

efficiency and quality of education. c. The Commissioner of Education shall review every application submitted pursuant

to this section, except for an application eligible for preliminary approval pursuant

to subsection b. of section 4 of P.L.2021, c. 402 ( C.18A:13-47.4 ), and shall certify, in writing, that the newly formed or enlarged regional district

will not, and will not be foreseeably likely to, increase or exacerbate segregation

among the districts seeking to regionalize or, as applicable, the school districts

from which a school district is seeking to withdraw and school districts in the surrounding

region as determined by the number and percentage of students affected by such consolidations

or withdrawals.