Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 691-2-.06 - State Charter School Sites and Facilities
(1) Sites
and Facilities in General. All state charter schools must ensure a safe and
healthy school environment that creates a conducive learning environment and
protects the well-being of students and employees. Each state charter school
must comply with all applicable laws, rules, regulations, and provisions of its
charter contract relating to the school's site and facilities or any material
modifications thereto.
(2) Site and
Facility Approval. All state charter schools must obtain a site code, facility
code, and school code from the Georgia Department of Education (GaDOE) prior to
utilizing any site or facility for serving students. Each state charter school
is responsible for adhering to the process or procedures outlined by GaDOE for
the issuance of site codes, facility codes, and school codes.
(3) Required Documents.
(a) Any state charter school that utilizes a
facility it does not own shall execute a written lease or rental agreement with
the appropriate party to use the facility as a charter school. State charter
schools must submit the final draft lease or rental agreement to the SCSC
Executive Director prior to executing any lease or rental agreement. State
charter schools must submit any amendment to a lease or rental agreement to the
SCSC Executive Director prior to executing the amendment.
(b) Any state charter school that purchases a
facility using proceeds from a loan, bond, or other form of debt shall submit
the loan, bond, or other financing agreement to the SCSC Executive Director
thirty (30) days before closing on the facility's purchase.
(c) Any state charter school that intends to
use, lease, occupy, purchase, remodel, or renovate a site, building, or
facility through an arrangement with an Education Service Provider (ESP) shall
enter a written agreement for such use, lease, occupancy, purchase, remodel, or
renovation. State charter schools shall submit a final draft of the written
agreement required by this subsection to the SCSC Executive Director and
receive prior written approval before executing the agreement.
(d) Each state charter school shall obtain
and display a Certificate of Occupancy for its facility prior to occupancy.
Each state charter school shall maintain a valid Certificate of Occupancy
throughout its entire charter term.
(e) Each state charter school shall prepare a
safety plan in accordance with O.C.G.A. §
20-2-1185 and must submit such
plan to the local emergency management agency that oversees the area in which
the school is located no later than July 1 each year of its charter
term.
(f) Each state charter school
shall secure adequate insurance coverage prior to occupancy and maintain
adequate coverage throughout the charter term.
(4) Changing Facilities. A state charter
school shall not change facilities without prior written approval from the SCSC
Executive Director.
(a) To change facilities
means to change the physical location of a charter school building, facility,
or site.
(b) A majority vote of the
state charter school governing board is required to authorize negotiations to
purchase, dispose of, or lease property.
(c) A state charter school shall notify the
SCSC no later than twenty-four (24) hours after a vote pursuant to (4)(b)
occurs.
(d) A charter school shall
not begin negotiations to change facilities less than ten (10) months prior to
the beginning of a new school year, except as expressly authorized in writing
by the SCSC Executive Director.
(e)
A state charter school changing facilities shall adhere to all applicable
provisions of this Rule and all SCSC facility requirements.
(5) Adding or Expanding Facilities. A state
charter school shall not add or expand facilities during the term of its
charter contract without prior written approval from the SCSC Executive
Director. The addition or expansion of facilities must be consistent with the
SCSC's rules, guidance, and policies regarding school expansion and
replication. A state charter school adding or expanding facilities during the
charter term shall adhere to all applicable provisions of this Rule and SCSC
facility requirements. State charter schools utilizing multiple sites or
facilities must comply with all open enrollment requirements described in
O.C.G.A. §
20-2-2066 and SCSC Rule
691-2-.05.
(6) Safety and Security. Each state charter
school must take reasonable steps to ensure the safety and security of
students, employees, and visitors, including but not limited to, ensuring the
facility is clean and in good repair; remediating any visible safety concerns
in a timely manner; and taking steps to protect the campus from potential
intrusion.
(7) Asbestos
Remediation. All state charter schools must comply with the Asbestos Hazard
Emergency Response Act (AHERA) and the terms of any applicable asbestos
remediation plan.
(8) Onsite
Inspection. Each state charter school shall allow the SCSC and its staff to
conduct onsite inspections of any and all facilities or property either owned
or utilized by the charter school. The SCSC or its staff may conduct such
onsite inspections without prior notification to the charter school.
(9)
Compliance. Failure to
comply with the requirements of this Rule may result in one or more of the
following:
(a) additional oversight by the
SCSC;
(b) point deductions on the
SCSC Comprehensive Performance Framework (CPF);
(c) probation;
(d) suspension; or,
(e) recommendation for
termination.
Notes
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