JOINT SCHOOL DISTRICTS — SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN TWO OR MORE EDUCATIONAL SERVICE DISTRICTS

RCW 28A.323

in effect

RCW 28A.323.010 Joint school districts — Defined — Designation.

Any school district composed of territory lying in more than one county shall be known as a joint school district, and shall be designated by number in accordance with rules and regulations promulgated under *RCW 28A.305.150 . Any school district composed of territory lying in more than one county shall be known as a joint school district, and shall be designated by number in accordance with rules and regulations promulgated under *RCW 28A.305.150 .

RCW 28A.323.040 Joint school districts — Designation of county to which joint school district belongs.

For all purposes essential to the maintenance, operation, and administration of the schools of a district, including the apportionment of current state and county school funds, the county in which a joint school district shall be considered as belonging shall be as designated by the superintendent of public instruction. Prior to making such designation, the superintendent of public instruction shall hold at least one public hearing on the matter, at which time the recommendation of the joint school district shall be presented and, in addition to such recommendation, the superintendent shall consider the following prior to its designation: (1) Service needs of such district; (2) Availability of services; (3) Geographic location of district and servicing agencies; and (4) Relationship to contiguous school districts. For all purposes essential to the maintenance, operation, and administration of the schools of a district, including the apportionment of current state and county school funds, the county in which a joint school district shall be considered as belonging shall be as designated by the superintendent of public instruction. Prior to making such designation, the superintendent of public instruction shall hold at least one public hearing on the matter, at which time the recommendation of the joint school district shall be presented and, in addition to such recommendation, the superintendent shall consider the following prior to its designation: (1) Service needs of such district; (2) Availability of services; (3) Geographic location of district and servicing agencies; and (4) Relationship to contiguous school districts.

RCW 28A.323.050 Joint school districts — Elections for director.

The registered voters residing within a joint school district shall be entitled to vote on the office of school director of their district. Jurisdiction of any such election shall rest with the county auditor of the county administering such joint district as provided in RCW 28A.323.040 . At each general election, or upon approval of a request for a special election as provided for in RCW 29A.04.330 , such county auditor shall: (1) See that there shall be at least one polling place in each county; (2) At least twenty days prior to the elections concerned, certify in writing to the superintendent of the school district the number and location of the polling places established by such auditor for such regular or special elections; and (3) Do all things otherwise required by law for the conduct of such election. It is the intention of this section that the qualified electors of a joint school district shall not be forced to go to a different polling place on the same day when other elections are being held to vote for school directors of their district. The registered voters residing within a joint school district shall be entitled to vote on the office of school director of their district. Jurisdiction of any such election shall rest with the county auditor of the county administering such joint district as provided in RCW 28A.323.040 . At each general election, or upon approval of a request for a special election as provided for in RCW 29A.04.330 , such county auditor shall: (1) See that there shall be at least one polling place in each county; (2) At least twenty days prior to the elections concerned, certify in writing to the superintendent of the school district the number and location of the polling places established by such auditor for such regular or special elections; and (3) Do all things otherwise required by law for the conduct of such election. It is the intention of this section that the qualified electors of a joint school district shall not be forced to go to a different polling place on the same day when other elections are being held to vote for school directors of their district.

RCW 28A.323.060 Joint school districts — Directors — Vacancies.

A vacancy in the office of director of a joint district shall be filled in the manner provided by *RCW 28A.315.530 for filling vacancies, such appointment to be valid only until a director is elected and qualified to fill such vacancy at the next regular district election. A vacancy in the office of director of a joint district shall be filled in the manner provided by *RCW 28A.315.530 for filling vacancies, such appointment to be valid only until a director is elected and qualified to fill such vacancy at the next regular district election.

RCW 28A.323.070 Joint school districts — Powers and duties.

A joint school district and the officers thereof shall possess all the powers and be subject to all of the duties vested in or imposed upon other school districts of the same class and upon the officers thereof, except as otherwise provided by law. Whenever the laws relating to school districts shall provide for any action by a county officer, such action, if required to be performed in behalf of a joint school district, shall be performed by the proper officer of the county to which the joint district belongs, except as otherwise provided by law. A joint school district and the officers thereof shall possess all the powers and be subject to all of the duties vested in or imposed upon other school districts of the same class and upon the officers thereof, except as otherwise provided by law. Whenever the laws relating to school districts shall provide for any action by a county officer, such action, if required to be performed in behalf of a joint school district, shall be performed by the proper officer of the county to which the joint district belongs, except as otherwise provided by law.

RCW 28A.323.080 Joint school districts — Assessed valuation — Certification.

It shall be the duty of the assessor of each county, a part of which is included within a joint school district, to certify annually to the auditor of the assessor's county and to the auditor of the county to which the joint district belongs, for the board of county commissioners thereof, the aggregate assessed valuation of all taxable property in the assessor's county situated in such joint school district, as the same appears from the last assessment roll of the assessor's county. It shall be the duty of the assessor of each county, a part of which is included within a joint school district, to certify annually to the auditor of the assessor's county and to the auditor of the county to which the joint district belongs, for the board of county commissioners thereof, the aggregate assessed valuation of all taxable property in the assessor's county situated in such joint school district, as the same appears from the last assessment roll of the assessor's county.

RCW 28A.323.090 Joint school districts — Levy of tax.

The amount of tax to be levied upon the taxable property of that part of a joint school district lying in one county shall be in such ratio to the whole amount levied upon the property in the entire joint district as the assessed valuation of the property lying in such county bears to the assessed valuation of the property in the entire joint district. The amount of tax to be levied upon the taxable property of that part of a joint school district lying in one county shall be in such ratio to the whole amount levied upon the property in the entire joint district as the assessed valuation of the property lying in such county bears to the assessed valuation of the property in the entire joint district.

RCW 28A.323.100 Joint school districts — Levy of tax — Remittance to district treasurer.

Upon receipt of the aforesaid certificate, it shall be the duty of the county legislative authority of each county to levy on all taxable property of that part of the joint school district which lies within the county a tax sufficient to raise the amount necessary to meet the county's proportionate share of the estimated expenditures of the joint district, as shown by the certificate of the educational service district superintendent of the district to which the joint school district belongs. Such taxes shall be levied and collected in the same manner as other taxes are levied and collected, and the proceeds thereof shall be forwarded monthly by the treasurer of each county, other than the county to which the joint district belongs, to the treasurer of the county to which such district belongs and shall be placed to the credit of said district. The treasurer of the county to which a joint school district belongs is hereby declared to be the treasurer of such district. Upon receipt of the aforesaid certificate, it shall be the duty of the county legislative authority of each county to levy on all taxable property of that part of the joint school district which lies within the county a tax sufficient to raise the amount necessary to meet the county's proportionate share of the estimated expenditures of the joint district, as shown by the certificate of the educational service district superintendent of the district to which the joint school district belongs. Such taxes shall be levied and collected in the same manner as other taxes are levied and collected, and the proceeds thereof shall be forwarded monthly by the treasurer of each county, other than the county to which the joint district belongs, to the treasurer of the county to which such district belongs and shall be placed to the credit of said district. The treasurer of the county to which a joint school district belongs is hereby declared to be the treasurer of such district.

RCW 28A.323.110 Condensed compliance reports — Second-class districts.

Any compliance reporting requirements as a result of laws in this chapter that apply to second-class districts may be submitted in accordance with RCW 28A.330.250 . Any compliance reporting requirements as a result of laws in this chapter that apply to second-class districts may be submitted in accordance with RCW 28A.330.250 .

Source: WA Statutes (Official Site)URL: https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=28A.323&full=trueFetched: 6/29/2026