Section 8-38-4 - Procedures and guidelines(a) When a consolidation study must be initiated in accordance with section 8-38-3, the superintendent shall submit a written report to the board that the department will initiate a consolidation study and the reasons why a consolidation study is being conducted. Following the submission of such report to the board, the department may conduct the consolidation study.(b) Based upon findings of the consolidation study, the superintendent shall then render a written report to the board, which shall include, but not be limited to, the following considerations: (1) The advantages and disadvantages of consolidation in respect to efficient school administration and providing equal educational opportunity;(2) The adequacy of facilities, equipment, programs, transportation service, and other support services at the school which may be closed and the school to which students may be transferred;(3) Social impact on the children, schools, community and those involved in the consolidation;(4) The net financial savings that may be realized from consolidation, including projections of additional expenditures at the school which may receive transferred students;(5) Potential new residential developments, projected changes in enrollment, and other relevant demographic considerations;(6) Suitability of using portions of the school facilities to accommodate space requirements of other department or state activities; and(7) A suggested timetable for implementation if consolidation is recommended.(c) Upon receiving the report, the board shall review the report and direct the superintendent, who shall designate a department official as the hearing officer, to conduct a public hearing within sixty days of the board's receipt of the report to receive community input on the report. Said report shall be posted on the department's website and hard copies shall be made available for review at the affected school(s). The superintendent shall notify members of the community of the public hearing by placing a notice in a newspaper of general or area circulation in the State and by such other means as the [district] superintendent determines appropriate.(d) The superintendent shall submit a summary of the public hearing and the superintendent's recommendations to the board within thirty days of the close of the public hearing.(e) The board shall conduct such proceedings as it deems appropriate to reach a decision on the consolidation proposal. The decision of the board shall be final."[Eff. 8/23/84; am and comp 2/1/01; am and comp 6/15/09] (Auth: HRS § 302A-1112) (Imp: HRS §§ 302A-1112, 302A-1129)