Series 1655: Educational Finance Commission Docket Files. 1953-1993.
Education, Dept. of (RG 50).

Series 1655: Educational Finance Commission Docket Files. 1953-1993.
Education, Dept. of (RG 50).

      At the extraordinary Session of 1953, the Legislature abolished the more than 2,000 school districts which were in existence at that time and charged the Educational Finance Commission with the reorganization of the State into school districts which would improve the efficiency of the education of children and the operation of the schools. This reorganization was to be accomplished by July 1, 1957. Appeals of the redistricting plans and transfer agreements between school districts continued to be forwarded long after the legislative mandated completion date.

      A docket file was created in the office of the Educational Finance Commission when it received an official request from a county/district for the reorganization, consolidation, and reconstitution of a school district. Types of documents included in the request may be: the order of the requesting board, a copy of the notice from the local newspaper and proof of publication, the certificate of public meeting, the declaration of intent for filing as a legal notice and proof of publication, the resolution from the board of trustees, the brief of reorganization and long range plan, pictures of the various schools in the district, maps of proposed districts, and surveys of the proposed districts.

      The index to the Docket files in box 18913 must be consulted first to determine the docket number for a particular county and school district. Dockets should be reviewed with all adjacent affected districts for related materials as considered by the Commission. Additionally, the appeals and transfer agreements should be reviewed for more updated information.