Washington State School for the Blind RCWs

(Sample of some of the state laws pertaining to WSSB)

 

RCW 72.40.010
Schools established -- Purpose -- Direction.

There are established at Vancouver, Clark County, a school which shall be known as the state school for the blind, and a separate school which shall be known as the state school for the deaf. The primary purpose of the state school for the blind and the state school for the deaf is to educate and train hearing and visually impaired children.

     The school for the blind shall be under the direction of the superintendent with the advice of the board of trustees. The school for the deaf shall be under the direction of the superintendent and the board of trustees.

[2002 c 209 § 1; 1985 c 378 § 11; 1959 c 28 § 72.40.010. Prior: 1913 c 10 § 1; 1886 p 136 § 1; RRS § 4645.]

RCW 72.40.020
State
school for the blind -- Appointment of superintendent -- Qualifications.

The governor shall appoint a superintendent for the state school for the blind. The superintendent shall have a masters degree from an accredited college or university in school administration or blind education, five years of experience teaching blind students in the classroom, and three years administrative or supervisory experience in programs for blind students.

[1985 c 378 § 13; 1979 c 141 § 247; 1959 c 28 § 72.40.020. Prior: 1909 c 97 p 258 § 5; RRS § 4649.]

RCW 72.40.022
Superintendent of the state school for the blind -- Powers and duties.

In addition to any other powers and duties prescribed by law, the superintendent of the state school for the blind:

     (1) Shall have full control of the school and the property of various kinds.

     (2) May establish criteria, in addition to state certification, for teachers at the school.

     (3) Shall employ members of the faculty, administrative officers, and other employees, who shall all be subject to chapter 41.06 RCW, the state civil service law, unless specifically exempted by other provisions of law.

     (4) Shall establish the course of study including vocational training, with the assistance of the faculty and the advice of the board of trustees.

     (5) May establish new facilities as needs demand.

     (6) May adopt rules, under chapter 34.05 RCW, as deemed necessary for the government, management, and operation of the housing facilities.

     (7) Shall control the use of the facilities and authorize the use of the facilities for night school, summer school, public meetings, or other purposes consistent with the purposes of the school.

     (8) May adopt rules for pedestrian and vehicular traffic on property owned, operated, and maintained by the school.

     (9) Shall purchase all supplies and lease or purchase equipment and other personal property needed for the operation or maintenance of the school.

     (10) Except as otherwise provided by law, may enter into contracts as the superintendent deems essential to the purpose of the school.

     (11) May receive gifts, grants, conveyances, devises, and bequests of real or personal property from whatever source, as may be made from time to time, in trust or otherwise, whenever the terms and conditions will aid in carrying out the programs of the school; sell, lease or exchange, invest, or expend the same or the proceeds, rents, profits, and income thereof except as limited by the terms and conditions thereof; and adopt rules to govern the receipt and expenditure of the proceeds, rents, profits, and income thereof.

     (12) May, except as otherwise provided by law, enter into contracts the superintendent deems essential for the operation of the school.

     (13) May adopt rules providing for the transferability of employees between the school for the deaf and the school for the blind consistent with collective bargaining agreements in effect.

     (14) Shall prepare and administer the school's budget consistent with RCW 43.88.160 and the budget and accounting act, chapter 43.88 RCW generally, as applicable.

     (15) May adopt rules under chapter 34.05 RCW and perform all other acts not forbidden by law as the superintendent deems necessary or appropriate to the administration of the school.

[2002 c 209 § 2; 1993 c 147 § 1; 1985 c 378 § 15.]

RCW 72.40.024
Superintendents -- Additional powers and duties.

In addition to the powers and duties under RCW 72.40.022 and 72.40.023, the superintendent of each school shall:

     (1) Monitor the location and educational placement of each student reported to the superintendents by the educational service district superintendents;

     (2) Provide information about educational programs, instructional techniques, materials, equipment, and resources available to students with visual or auditory impairments to the parent or guardian, educational service district superintendent, and the superintendent of the school district where the student resides; and

     (3) Serve as a consultant to the office of the superintendent of public instruction, provide instructional leadership, and assist school districts in improving their instructional programs for students with visual or hearing impairments.

[2002 c 209 § 4; 1993 c 147 § 2; 1985 c 378 § 17.]

RCW 72.40.040
Who may be admitted.

(1) The schools shall be free to residents of the state between the ages of three and twenty-one years, who are blind/visually impaired or deaf/hearing impaired, or with other disabilities where a vision or hearing disability is the major need for services.

     (2) The schools may provide nonresidential services to children ages birth through three who meet the eligibility criteria in this section, subject to available funding.

     (3) Each school shall admit and retain students on a space available basis according to criteria developed and published by each school superintendent in consultation with each board of trustees and school faculty: PROVIDED, That students over the age of twenty-one years, who are otherwise qualified may be retained at the school, if in the discretion of the superintendent in consultation with the faculty they are proper persons to receive further training given at the school and the facilities are adequate for proper care, education, and training.

     (4) The admission and retention criteria developed and published by each school superintendent shall contain a provision allowing the schools to refuse to admit or retain a student who is an adjudicated sex offender except that the schools shall not admit or retain a student who is an adjudicated level III sex offender as provided in RCW 13.40.217(3).

RCW 72.40.060
Duty of school districts.

It shall be the duty of all school districts in the state, to report to their respective educational service districts the names of all visually or hearing impaired youth residing within their respective school districts who are between the ages of three and twenty-one years.

[1985 c 378 § 21; 1975 1st ex.s. c 275 § 151; 1969 ex.s. c 176 § 97; 1959 c 28 § 72.40.060. Prior: 1909 c 97 p 258 § 6; 1897 c 118 § 252; 1890 p 497 § 1; RRS § 4650.]

RCW 72.40.070
Duty of educational service districts.

It shall be the duty of each educational service district to make a full and specific report of visually or hearing impaired youth to the superintendent of the school for the blind or the school for the deaf, as the case may be and the superintendent of public instruction, annually. The superintendent of public instruction shall report about the hearing or visually impaired youth to the school for the blind and the school for the deaf, as the case may be, annually.

[1985 c 378 § 22; 1979 c 141 § 250; 1975 1st ex.s. c 275 § 152; 1969 ex.s. c 176 § 98; 1959 c 28 § 72.40.070. Prior: 1909 c 97 p 259 § 7; 1897 c 118 § 253; 1890 p 497 § 2; RRS § 4651.]


Board of Trustees RCW’s

RCW 72.41.010
Intention -- Purpose.

It is the intention of the legislature in creating a board of trustees for the state school for the blind to perform the duties set forth in this chapter, that the board of trustees perform needed advisory services to the legislature and to the superintendent of the Washington state school for the blind, in the development of programs for the visually impaired, and in the operation of the Washington state school for the blind.

RCW 72.41.020
Board of trustees -- Membership -- Terms -- Vacancies -- Officers -- Rules and regulations.

There is hereby created a board of trustees for the state school for the blind to be composed of a resident from each of the state's congressional districts now or hereafter existing. Trustees with voting privileges shall be appointed by the governor with the consent of the senate. A representative of the parent-teachers association of the Washington state school for the blind, a representative of the Washington council of the blind, a representative of the national federation of the blind of Washington, one representative designated by the teacher association of the Washington state school for the blind, and a representative of the classified staff designated by his or her exclusive bargaining representative shall each be ex officio and nonvoting members of the board of trustees and shall serve during their respective tenures in such positions.

     Trustees shall be appointed by the governor to serve for a term of five years except that any person appointed to fill a vacancy occurring prior to the expiration of any term shall be appointed within sixty days of the vacancy and appointed only for the remainder of the term.

     One trustee shall be a resident and qualified elector from each of the state's congressional districts. The board shall not be deemed to be unlawfully constituted and a trustee shall not be deemed ineligible to serve the remainder of the trustee's unexpired term on the board solely by reason of the establishment of new or revised boundaries for congressional districts. No voting trustee may be an employee of the state school for the blind, a member of the board of directors of any school district, a member of the governing board of any public or private educational institution, a school district or educational service district administrator, appointed after July 1, 1986, or an elected officer or member of the legislative authority or any municipal corporation.

     The board of trustees shall organize itself by electing a chairman from its members. The board shall adopt a seal and may adopt such bylaws, rules, and regulations as it deems necessary for its own government. A majority of the voting members of the board in office shall constitute a quorum, but a lesser number may convene from time to time and may compel the attendance of absent members in such manner as prescribed in its bylaws, rules, or regulations. The superintendent of the state school for the blind shall serve as, or may designate another person to serve as, the secretary of the board, who shall not be deemed to be a member of the board.

[1993 c 147 § 7; 1985 c 378 § 29; 1982 1st ex.s. c 30 § 13; 1973 c 118 § 2.]

RCW 72.41.040
Powers and duties.

The board of trustees of the state school for the blind:

     (1) Shall monitor and inspect all existing facilities of the state school for the blind, and report its findings to the superintendent;

     (2) Shall study and recommend comprehensive programs of education and training and review the admission policy as set forth in RCW 72.40.040 and 72.40.050, and make appropriate recommendations to the superintendent;

     (3) Shall submit a list of three qualified candidates for superintendent to the governor and shall advise the superintendent about the criteria and policy to be used in the selection of members of the faculty and such other administrative officers and other employees, who shall with the exception of the superintendent all be subject to chapter 41.06 RCW, the state civil service law, unless specifically exempted by other provisions of law. All employees and personnel classified under chapter 41.06 RCW shall continue, after July 1, 1986, to perform their usual duties upon the same terms as formerly, without any loss of rights, subject to any action that may be appropriate thereafter in accordance with the laws and rules governing the state civil service law;

     (4) Shall submit an evaluation of the superintendent to the governor by July 1 of each odd-numbered year and may recommend to the governor that the superintendent be removed for misfeasance, malfeasance, or willful neglect of duty;

     (5) May recommend to the superintendent the establishment of new facilities as needs demand;

     (6) May recommend to the superintendent rules and regulations for the government, management, and operation of such housing facilities deemed necessary or advisable;

     (7) May make recommendations to the superintendent concerning classrooms and other facilities to be used for summer or night schools, or for public meetings and for any other uses consistent with the use of such classrooms or facilities for the school for the blind;

     (8) May make recommendations to the superintendent for adoption of rules and regulations for pedestrian and vehicular traffic on property owned, operated, or maintained by the school for the blind;

     (9) Shall recommend to the superintendent, with the assistance of the faculty, the course of study including vocational training in the school for the blind, in accordance with other applicable provisions of law and rules and regulations;

     (10) May grant to every student, upon graduation or completion of a program or course of study, a suitable diploma, nonbaccalaureate degree, or certificate;

     (11) Shall participate in the development of, and monitor the enforcement of the rules and regulations pertaining to the school for the blind;

     (12) Shall perform any other duties and responsibilities prescribed by the superintendent.

[1985 c 378 § 30; 1973 c 118 § 4.]

RCW 72.41.070
Meetings.

The board of trustees shall meet at least quarterly.

[1993 c 147 § 8; 1973 c 118 § 7.]