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Introduced Version - Originating in Committee Senate Bill 604 History

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Key: Green = existing Code. Red = new code to be enacted




Senate Bill No. 604

(By Senators Jackson, Bailey, Boley, Bowman, Caldwell, Edgell,

Helmick, Hunter, Minear, Redd and Unger)


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[Originating in the Committee on Education;
reported March 26, 2001.]

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A BILL to amend and reenact section five, article two-e, chapter eighteen of the code of West Virginia, one thousand nine hundred thirty-one, as amended; to further amend said article by adding thereto two new sections, designated sections five-a and five-b; to amend and reenact section two, article four of said chapter; to amend and reenact sections thirteen and fifteen, article five of said chapter; to amend and reenact section one, article one, chapter eighteen-a of said code; to amend and reenact section three-a, article three of said chapter; to amend and reenact sections two, two-a, three seven-a, eight-a, eight-b and nineteen, article four of said chapter; to further amend said article by adding thereto a new section, designated section two-b; and to amend and reenact section eight, article five of said chapter, all relating to authority to intervene in the operation of a school; removal of principal; superintendent employment contract; principals' employment contract; first-class permits for superintendents; including service personnel in job sharing provisions; employment terms for principals; eliminating obsolete language; payment of tuition, registration or other required fees for teachers; salaries of teachers, principals and service personnel; additional salary and reimbursement for national board certification; job postings for professional and service personnel positions; additional pay for service personnel for college hours or comparable credit in a trade or vocational school; preferred recall status; rescinding a reduction in force; alteration of contract changing employment term; and transfer of aides.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That section five, article two-e, chapter eighteen of the code of West Virginia, one thousand nine hundred thirty-one, as amended, be amended and reenacted; that said article be further amended by adding thereto two new sections, designated sections five-a and five-b; that section two, article four of said chapter be amended and reenacted; that sections thirteen and fifteen, article five of said chapter be amended and reenacted; that section one, article one, chapter eighteen-a of said code be amended and reenacted; that section three-a, article three of said chapter be amended and reenacted; that sections two, two-a, three, seven-a, eight-a, eight-b and nineteen, article four of said chapter be amended and reenacted; that said article be further amended by adding thereto a new section, designated section two-b; and that section eight, article five of said chapter be amended and reenacted, all to read as follows:
CHAPTER 18. EDUCATION.

ARTICLE 2E. HIGH QUALITY EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS.
§18-2E-5. Process for improving education; office of education
performance audits; education standards; school
accreditation and school system approval;
intervention to correct impairments.

(a) Legislative intent. -- The purpose of this section is to establish a process for improving education that includes standards, assessment, accountability and capacity building to provide assurances that a thorough and efficient system of schools is being provided for all West Virginia public school students on an equal education opportunity basis and that the high quality standards are, at a minimum, being met.
(b) State board rules. -- The state board shall promulgate rules in accordance with article three-b, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code establishing a unified county improvement plan for each county board and a unified school improvement plan for each public school in this state. The state board is not required to promulgate new rules if legislative rules meeting the requirements of article three-b, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code have been filed with the office of the secretary of state before the effective date of this section.
(c) High quality education standards and efficiency standards. -- The state board shall, in accordance with the provisions of article three-b, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code, adopt and periodically review and update high quality education standards for student, school and school system performance and processes in the following areas:
(1) Curriculum;
(2) Workplace readiness skills;
(3) Finance;
(4) Transportation;
(5) Special education;
(6) Facilities;
(7) Administrative practices;
(8) Training of county board members and administrators;
(9) Personnel qualifications;
(10) Professional development and evaluation;
(11) Student and school performance;
(12) A code of conduct for students and employees;

(13) Indicators of efficiency; and
(14) Any other such areas as determined by the state board.
(d) Performance measures. -- The standards shall assure that all graduates are prepared for gainful employment or for continuing postsecondary education and training and that schools and school districts are making progress in achieving the education goals of the state.
The standards shall include measures of student performance to indicate when a thorough and efficient system of schools is being provided and of school and school system performance and processes that enable student performance. The measures of student performance and school and school system performance and processes shall include, but are not limited to, the following:
(1) The acquisition of student proficiencies as indicated by student performance by grade level measured, where possible, by a uniform statewide assessment program;
(2) School attendance rates;
(3) Student dropout rate;
(4) Percent of students promoted to next grade;
(5) Graduation rate;
(6) Average class size;
(7) Pupil-teacher ratio and number of exceptions to ratio requested by county boards and number granted;
(8) Number of split-grade classrooms;
(9) Percentage of graduates who enrolled in college; the percentage of graduates who enrolled in other postsecondary education; and the percentage of graduates who become fully employed within one year of high school graduation all as reported by the graduates on the assessment form attached to their individualized student transition plan, pursuant to section eight of this article and the percentage of graduates reporting;
(10) Pupil-administrator ratio;
(11) Parent involvement;
(12) Parent, teacher and student satisfaction;
(13) Operating expenditures per pupil;
(14) Percentage of graduates who attain the minimum level of performance in the basic skills recognized by the state board as laying the foundation for further learning and skill development for success in college, other postsecondary education and gainful employment and the grade level distribution in which the minimum level of performance was met;
(15) Percentage of graduates who received additional certification of their skills, competence and readiness for college, other postsecondary education or employment above the minimum foundation level of basic skills;
(16) Percentage of students in secondary and middle schools who are enrolled in advanced placement or honors classes, respectively; and
(17) Indicators of efficiency. - The state board shall, in accordance with the provisions of article three-b, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code, adopt and periodically review and update indicators of efficiency for student and school system performance and processes in the following areas:
(A) Curriculum delivery including, but not limited to, the use of distance learning;
(B) Transportation;
(C) Facilities;
(D) Administrative practices;
(E) Personnel;
(F) Utilization of regional educational service agency programs and services, including programs and services that may be established by their assigned regional educational service agency, or other regional services that may be initiated between and among participating county boards; and
(G) Any other indicators as determined by the state board.
(e) Assessment and accountability of school and school system performance and processes. -- The state board shall establish by rule in accordance with the provisions of article three-b, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code, a system of education performance audits which measures the quality of education and the preparation of students based on the standards and measures of student, school and school system performance and processes, including, but not limited to, the standards and measures set forth in subsections (c) and (d) of this section. The system of education performance audits shall assist the state board in ensuring that the standards and measures established pursuant to this section are, at a minimum, being met and that a thorough and efficient system of schools is being provided. The system of education performance audits shall include: (1) The assessment of student, school and school system performance and the processes in place in schools and school systems which enable student performance; (2) the review of school and school system unified improvement plans; and (3) the periodic, random unannounced on-site review of school and school system performance and compliance with the standards.
(f) Uses of school and school system assessment information. -- The state board shall use information from the system of education performance audits to assist it in ensuring that a thorough and efficient system of schools is being provided and to improve student, school and school system performance, including, but not limited to, the following: (1) Determining school accreditation and school system approval status; (2) holding schools and school systems accountable for the efficient use of existing resources to meet or exceed the standards; and (3) targeting additional resources when necessary to improve performance. Primary emphasis in determining school accreditation and school system approval status will be based on student, school and school system performance on measures selected by the state board. The state board shall make accreditation information available to the Legislature; the governor; and to the general public and any individuals who request such information, subject to the provisions of any act, rule or regulation restricting the release of information. Based on the assessment of student, school and school system performance, the state board shall establish early detection and intervention programs to assist underachieving schools and school systems in improving performance before conditions become so grave as to warrant more substantive state intervention, including, but not limited to, making additional technical assistance, programmatic, monetary and staffing resources available where appropriate.
(g) Office of education performance audits. -- To assist the state board in the operation of the system of education performance audits and in making determinations regarding the accreditation status of schools and the approval status of school systems, the state board shall establish an office of education performance audits which shall be operated under the direction of the state board independently of the functions and supervision of the state department of education and state superintendent. The office of education performance audits shall report directly to and be responsible to the state board in carrying out its duties under the provisions of this section. The office shall be headed by a director who shall be appointed by the state board and shall serve at the will and pleasure of the state board. The salary of the director shall not exceed the salary of the state superintendent of schools. The state board shall organize and sufficiently staff the office to fulfill the duties assigned to it by this section and the state board. Employees of the state department of education who are transferred to the office of education performance audits shall retain their benefit and seniority status with the department of education. Under the direction of the state board, the office of education performance audits shall receive from the West Virginia education information system staff research and analysis data on the performance of students, schools and school systems, and shall receive assistance from staff at the state department of education and the state school building authority to carry out the duties assigned to the office. In addition to other duties which may be assigned to it by the state board or by statute, the office of education performance audits also shall:
(1) Assure that all statewide assessments of student performance are secure as required in section one-a, article two-e of this chapter;
(2) Administer all accountability measures as assigned by the state board, including, but not limited to, processes for the accreditation of schools and the approval of school systems, and recommend to the state board appropriate action, including, but not limited to, accreditation and approval action;
(3) Determine, in conjunction with the assessment and accountability processes, what capacity may be needed by schools and school systems to meet the standards established by the Legislature and the state board, and recommend to the school, school system and state board, plans to establish those needed capacities;
(4) Determine, in conjunction with the assessment and accountability processes, whether statewide system deficiencies exist in the capacity to establish and maintain a thorough and efficient system of schools, including the identification of trends and the need for continuing improvements in education, and report those deficiencies and trends to the state board;
(5) Determine, in conjunction with the assessment and accountability processes, staff development needs of schools and school systems to meet the standards established by the Legislature and the state board, and make recommendations to the state board, the center for professional development, regional educational service agencies, higher education governing boards and county boards; and
(6) Identify, in conjunction with the assessment and accountability processes, exemplary schools and school systems and best practices that improve student, school and school system performance, and make recommendations to the state board for recognizing and rewarding exemplary schools and school systems and promoting the use of best practices. The state board shall provide information on best practices to county school systems and shall use information identified through the assessment and accountability processes to select schools of excellence.
(h) On-site reviews. -- At the direction of the state board or by weighted, random selection by the office of education performance audits, an unannounced on-site review shall be conducted by the office of education performance audits of any school or school system for purposes, including, but not limited to, the following: (1) Verifying data reported by the school or county board; (2) documenting compliance with policies and laws; (3) evaluating the effectiveness and implementation status of school and school system unified improvement plans; (4) investigating official complaints submitted to the state board that allege serious impairments in the quality of education in schools or school systems; and (5) investigating official complaints submitted to the state board that allege that a school or county board is in violation of policies or laws under which schools and county boards operate. The random selection of schools and school systems for an on-site review shall use a weighted random sample so that those with lower performance indicators and those that have not had a recent on-site review have a greater likelihood of being selected. Under the direction of the state board, the office of education performance audits shall appoint an education standards compliance review team to assist it in conducting on-site reviews. The teams shall be composed of an adequate number of persons who possess the necessary knowledge, skills and experience to make an accurate assessment of education programs and who are drawn from a trained cadre established by the office of education performance audits. The state board shall have discretion in determining the number of persons to serve on a standards compliance review team based on the size of the school or school system as applicable. The teams shall be led by a member of the office of education performance audits. County boards shall be reimbursed for the costs of substitutes required to replace county board employees while they are serving on an education standards compliance review team. The office of education performance audits shall report the findings of the on-site reviews to the state board for inclusion in the evaluation and determination of a school's or county board's accreditation or approval status as applicable.
(i) School accreditation. -- The state board annually shall review the information from the system of education performance audits submitted for each school and shall issue to every school: Exemplary accreditation status, full accreditation status, temporary accreditation status, conditional accreditation status, or shall declare the education programs at the school to be seriously impaired.
(1) Full accreditation status shall be given to a school when the school's performance on the standards adopted by the state board pursuant to subsections (c) and (d) of this section is at a level which would be expected when all of the high quality education standards are being met.
(2) Temporary accreditation status shall be given to a school when the measure of the school's performance is below the level required for full accreditation status. Whenever a school is given temporary accreditation status, the county board shall ensure that the school's unified improvement plan is revised to increase the performance of the school to a full accreditation status level. The revised unified school improvement plan shall include objectives, a time line, a plan for evaluation of the success of the improvements, cost estimates, and a date certain for achieving full accreditation. The revised plan shall be submitted to the state board for approval.
(3) Conditional accreditation status shall be given to a school when the school's performance on the standards adopted by the state board is below the level required for full accreditation, but the school's unified improvement plan has been revised to achieve full accreditation status by a date certain, the plan has been approved by the state board and the school is meeting the objectives and time line specified in the revised plan.
(4) Exemplary accreditation status shall be given to a school when the school's performance on the standards adopted by the state board pursuant to subsections (c) and (d) of this section substantially exceeds the minimal level which would be expected when all of the high quality education standards are being met. The state board shall propose legislative rules in accordance with the provisions of article three-b, chapter twenty-nine-a, designated to establish standards of performance to identify exemplary schools.
(5) The state board shall establish and adopt standards of performance to identify seriously impaired schools and the state board may declare a school seriously impaired whenever extraordinary circumstances exist as defined by the state board.
(A) These circumstances shall include, but are not limited to, (i) the failure of a school on temporary accreditation status to obtain approval of its revised unified school improvement plan within a reasonable time period as defined by the state board; (ii) the failure of a school on conditional accreditation status to meet the objectives and time line of its revised unified school improvement plan; or (iii) to achieve full accreditation by the date specified in the revised plan.
(B) Whenever the state board determines that the quality of education in a school is seriously impaired, the state board shall appoint a team of improvement consultants to make recommendations within sixty days of appointment for correction of the impairment. Upon approval of the recommendations by the state board, the recommendations shall be made to the county board. If progress in correcting the impairment as determined by the state board is not made within six months from the time the county board receives the recommendations, the state board shall place the county board on temporary approval status and provide consultation and assistance to the county board to: (i) Improve personnel management; (ii) establish more efficient financial management practices; (iii) improve instructional programs and rules; or (iv) make such other improvements as may be necessary to correct the impairment.
(C) If the impairment is not corrected by a date certain set by the state board, the county board shall be given nonapproval status.
(D) In addition to any other remedy provided in this subsection, if the impairment is not corrected by the date certain set by the state board, the state board may intervene in the operation of the school to cause improvements to be made that will provide assurances that a thorough and efficient system of schools will be provided. This intervention may include, but is not limited to, the following: (i) the establishment of instructional programs and rules and such other areas as may be designated by the state board by rule; (ii) taking such direct action as may be necessary to correct the impairments;(iii) declaring that the position of principal is vacant; and (iv)
assigning a principal for the school who shall serve at the will and pleasure and the sole supervision of the state board.
(E) The county board shall take no action or refuse any action which would have the effect of further impairing the school in which the state board has intervened.
(F) If the principal removed elects not to remain an employee of the county board, then the principal assigned by the state board shall be paid by the county board.
(G) If the principal removed elects to remain an employee of the county board, then the following shall apply: (i) the principal assigned by the state board shall be paid by the state board until the next school term, at which time the principal assigned by the state board shall be paid by the county board, (ii) the principal removed shall be placed on the preferred recall list, as defined in section seven,
article four of this chapter, and (iii) the principal removed shall be paid by the county board and may be assigned to administrative duties, without the duty of the county board to post that position until the end of the school term.
(j) Transfers from seriously impaired schools. -- Whenever a school is determined to be seriously impaired and fails to improve its status within one year, any student attending such school may transfer once to the nearest fully accredited school, subject to approval of the fully accredited school and at the expense of the school from which the student transferred.
(k) School system approval. -- The state board annually shall review the information submitted for each school system from the system of education performance audits and issue one of the following approval levels to each county board: Full approval, temporary approval, conditional approval, or nonapproval.
(1) Full approval shall be given to a county board whose education system meets or exceeds all of the high quality standards for student, school and school system performance and processes adopted by the state board and whose schools have all been given full, temporary or conditional accreditation status.
(2) Temporary approval shall be given to a county board whose education system is below the level required for full approval. Whenever a county board is given temporary approval status, the county board shall revise its unified county improvement plan to increase the performance of the school system to a full approval status level. The revised plan shall include objectives, a time line, a plan for evaluation of the success of the improvements, a cost estimate, and a date certain for achieving full approval. The revised plan shall be submitted to the state board for approval.
(3) Conditional approval shall be given to a county board whose education system is below the level required for full approval, but whose unified county improvement plan meets the following criteria: (i) The plan has been revised to achieve full approval status by a date certain; (ii) the plan has been approved by the state board; and (iii) the county board is meeting the objectives and time line specified in the revised plan.
(4) Nonapproval status shall be given to a county board which fails to submit and gain approval for its unified county improvement plan or revised unified county improvement plan within a reasonable time period as defined by the state board or fails to meet the objectives and time line of its revised unified county improvement plan or fails to achieve full approval by the date specified in the revised plan. The state board shall establish and adopt additional standards to identify school systems in which the program may be nonapproved and the state board may issue nonapproval status whenever extraordinary circumstances exist as defined by the state board. Furthermore, whenever a county board has more than a casual deficit, as defined in section one, article one of this chapter, the county board shall submit a plan to the state board specifying the county board's strategy for eliminating the casual deficit. The state board either shall approve or reject the plan. If the plan is rejected, the state board shall communicate to the county board the reason or reasons for the rejection of the plan. The county board may resubmit the plan any number of times. However, any county board that fails to submit a plan and gain approval for the plan from the state board before the end of the fiscal year after a deficit greater than a casual deficit occurred or any county board which, in the opinion of the state board, fails to comply with an approved plan may be designated as having nonapproval status. Whenever nonapproval status is given to a school system, the state board shall declare a state of emergency in the school system and shall appoint a team of improvement consultants to make recommendations within sixty days of appointment for correcting the emergency. Upon approval of the recommendations by the state board, the recommendations shall be made to the county board. If progress in correcting the emergency, as determined by the state board, is not made within six months from the time the county board receives the recommendations, the state board shall intervene in the operation of the school system to cause improvements to be made that will provide assurances that a thorough and efficient system of schools will be provided. This intervention may include, but is not limited to, the following: (i) Limiting the authority of the county superintendent and county board as to the expenditure of funds, the employment and dismissal of personnel, the establishment and operation of the school calendar, the establishment of instructional programs and rules and such other areas as may be designated by the state board by rule; (ii) taking such direct action as may be necessary to correct the emergency; and (iii) declaring that the office of the county superintendent is vacant.
(l) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, the state board may intervene immediately in the operation of the county school system with all the powers, duties and responsibilities contained in subsection (k) of this section, if the state board finds the following:
(1) That the conditions precedent to intervention exist as provided in this section; and
(2) That delaying intervention for any period of time would not be in the best interests of the students of the county school system.
(m) Capacity. -- The process for improving education includes a process for targeting resources strategically to improve the teaching and learning process. Development of unified school and school system improvement plans, pursuant to subsection (b) of this section, is intended, in part, to provide mechanisms to target resources strategically to the teaching and learning process to improve student, school and school system performance. When deficiencies are detected through the assessment and accountability processes, the revision and approval of school and school system unified improvement plans shall ensure that schools and school systems are efficiently using existing resources to correct the deficiencies. When the state board determines that schools and school systems do not have the capacity to correct deficiencies, the state board shall work with the county board to develop or secure the resources necessary to increase the capacity of schools and school systems to meet the standards and, when necessary, seek additional resources in consultation with the Legislature and the governor.
The state board shall recommend to the appropriate body including, but not limited to, the Legislature, county boards, schools and communities, methods for targeting resources strategically to eliminate deficiencies identified in the assessment and accountability processes by:
(1) Examining reports and unified improvement plans regarding the performance of students, schools and school systems relative to the standards and identifying the areas in which improvement is needed;
(2) Determining the areas of weakness and of ineffectiveness that appear to have contributed to the substandard performance of students or the deficiencies of the school or school system;
(3) Determining the areas of strength that appear to have contributed to exceptional student, school and school system performance and promoting their emulation throughout the system;
(4) Requesting technical assistance from the school building authority in assessing or designing comprehensive educational facilities plans;
(5) Recommending priority funding from the school building authority based on identified needs;
(6) Requesting special staff development programs from the center for professional development, higher education, regional educational service agencies and county boards based on identified needs;
(7) Submitting requests to the Legislature for appropriations to meet the identified needs for improving education;
(8) Directing county boards to target their funds strategically toward alleviating deficiencies;
(9) Ensuring that the need for facilities in counties with increased enrollment are appropriately reflected and recommended for funding;
(10) Ensuring that the appropriate person or entity is held accountable for eliminating deficiencies; and
(11) Ensuring that the needed capacity is available from the state and local level to assist the school or school system in achieving the standards and alleviating the deficiencies.
(n) Review of accountability system.
(1) The Legislature finds that the effective implementation of a standards based accountability system is an important issue for the state's public education system. In order for the state to make improvements in its standards based accountability system, it is essential to review the standards based accountability system currently in place to identify areas of possible improvements that may exist. It is the intent of the Legislature that each area of the standards based accountability system be reviewed in accordance with nationally recognized standards.
(2) The state board shall conduct a comprehensive review of the current standards based accountability system and report the findings to the legislative oversight commission on education accountability with recommendations for improvements on or before the first day of January, two thousand one. The review shall include, but not be limited to, the following:
(A) The extent to which accountability goals and strategies focus on academic performance, and the extent that other purposes are clarified in terms of coherent, specific goals to be achieved;
(B) The extent to which designated authorities are charged with the efficient governance of the accountability system;
(C) The extent to which specific responsibilities for student learning and performance are assigned to designated agents;
(D) The extent to which accountability is based on accurate measures of performance as informed by assessments that are administered equitably to all students;
(E) The extent to which those responsible for governing accountability regularly report student and school performance information in useful terms and on a timely basis to school staff, students and their families, and local policymakers, and the news media;
(F) The extent to which incentives are established that effectively motivate agents to improve student learning, and the extent that consequences, which could include rewards, interventions or sanctions, are predictably applied in response to performance results;
(G) The extent to which agents are provided sufficient support and assistance to ensure they have the capacity necessary to help students achieve high performance standards;
(H) The extent to which policy makers work to ensure that education policies, mandated programs, financial resources, and the accountability system are well aligned so that consistent messages are communicated about education goals and priorities;
(I) The extent to which the accountability system has widespread support; and
(J) The extent to which various established partnerships work together to support districts, schools and teachers in their efforts to improve student achievement.
§18-2E-5a. County superintendent employment contract.
(a) The Legislature previously granted authority to the state board to intervene in the operation of a county school system in section five, article two-e of this chapter. Part of the authority given is the authority of the state board to declare that the office of the county superintendent is vacant. County boards enter into contracts to employ persons as superintendents for a term of years which creates substantial rights and obligations. Although the statute provides that the state board may declare the office of the county superintendent vacant, the statute did not specifically give the state board authority to void the contract of the county superintendent. The intent of this section is to clarify what contractual obligations continue after removal.
(b) Whenever the state board intervenes in the operation of a school system and the office of the county superintendent is declared vacant pursuant to section five, article two-e of this chapter, the state board may, for any intervention which is instituted after the effective date of this section, void any existing employment contract between the county board and the county superintendent.
(c) Whenever a county board elects a county superintendent and enters into a written contract of employment with the superintendent, the county board shall include within the contract a conspicuous clause that informs the superintendent that if the state board intervenes in the operation of the county school system pursuant to section five, article two-e of this chapter, the state board has the authority to vacate the office and void the employment contract.
§18-2E-5b. Principal's contract.
(a) Section five of this article grants authority to the state board to intervene in the operation of a school. Part of the authority given is the authority of the state board to declare that the position of principal is vacant. County boards enter into contracts to employ persons as principals which creates substantial rights and obligations. The intent of this section is to clarify what contractual obligations continue after removal.
(b) Whenever the state board intervenes in the operation of a school and the position of principal is declared vacant pursuant to section five, article two-e of this chapter, the state board may, for any intervention which is instituted after the effective date of this section, void any existing provision in an employment contract which relates to being a principal.
(c) Whenever a county board employs a principal and enters into a written contract of employment with the principal, the county board shall include within the contract a conspicuous clause that informs the principal that if the state board intervenes in the operation of the school pursuant to section five, article two-e of this chapter, the state board has the authority to vacate the position and void any provision in the employment contract that relates to being a principal.
ARTICLE 4. COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS.

§18-4-2. Qualifications; health certificate; disability; acting superintendent.

Superintendents employed prior to the twenty-eighth day of June, one thousand nine hundred eighty-eight shall hold a certificate valid in West Virginia and an approved master's degree including at least twelve semester hours in school administration and supervision, and at least five years experience in public school teaching and/or supervision.
Any superintendent appointed as superintendent after the twenty-seventh day of June, one thousand nine hundred eighty-eight, shall meet requirements for the professional administrative or first class permit certificate endorsed for superintendent by the first day of July, one thousand nine hundred ninety-three two thousand one: Any new superintendent appointed as of the thirtieth day of August, one thousand nine hundred ninety, shall hold a professional administrative certificate endorsed for superintendent: Provided,
That any candidate for superintendent who possesses an earned doctorate from an accredited institution of higher education, has completed three successful years of teaching in public education and has the equivalent of three years of experience in management or supervision, upon employment by the county board of education shall be granted a permanent administrative certificate and shall be a licensed county superintendent. Any person employed as assistant superintendent or educational administrator prior to the twenty-seventh day of June, one thousand nine hundred eighty-eight, and who was previously employed as superintendent shall not be required to hold the professional administrative certificate endorsed for superintendent.
Before entering upon the discharge of his or her duties the superintendent shall file with the president of the board a health certificate from a reputable physician, on a form prescribed by the state department of education, certifying that he or she is physically fit for the duties of his or her office and that he or she has no infectious or contagious disease; and if the superintendent, due to accident or illness, should become incapacitated to an extent that could lead to a prolonged absence, the board, upon unanimous vote, has the authority to enter an order declaring the incapacity and it shall appoint an acting superintendent until such time as a majority of the members of the board determine that the incapacity no longer exists. However, an acting superintendent shall not serve as such for more than one year, or later than the expiration date of the superintendent's term, whichever is less, without being reappointed by the board of education.
ARTICLE 5. COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION.
§18-5-13. Authority of boards generally.
The boards, subject to the provisions of this chapter and the rules of the state board, have authority:
(1) To control and manage all of the schools and school interests for all school activities and upon all school property, whether owned or leased by the county, including the authority to require that records be kept of all receipts and disbursements of all funds collected or received by any principal, teacher, student or other person in connection with the schools and school interests, any programs, activities or other endeavors of any nature operated or carried on by or in the name of the school, or any organization or body directly connected with the school, to audit the records and to conserve the funds, which shall be considered quasi-public moneys, including securing surety bonds by expenditure of board moneys;
(2) To establish schools, from preschool through high school, inclusive of vocational schools; and to establish schools and programs, or both, for post high school instruction, subject to approval of the state board of education;
(3) To close any school which is unnecessary and to assign the pupils of the school to other schools: Provided, That the closing shall be officially acted upon and teachers and service personnel involved notified on or before the first Monday in April, in the same manner as provided in section four of this article, except in an emergency, subject to the approval of the state superintendent, or under subdivision (5) of this section;
(4) To consolidate schools;
(5) To close any elementary school whose average daily attendance falls below twenty pupils for two months in succession and send the pupils to other schools in the district or to schools in adjoining districts. If the teachers in the closed school are not transferred or reassigned to other schools, they shall receive one month's salary;
(6) (a) To provide at public expense adequate means of transportation, including transportation across county lines, for all children of school age who live more than two miles distance from school by the nearest available road; to provide at public expense and according to such rules as the board may establish, adequate means of transportation for school children participating in board-approved curricular and extracurricular activities; and to provide in addition thereto at public expense, by rules and within the available revenues, transportation for those within two miles distance; to provide in addition thereto, at no cost to the board and according to rules established by the board, transportation for participants in projects operated, financed, sponsored or approved by the commission on aging: Provided, That all costs and expenses incident in any way to transportation for projects connected with the commission on aging shall be borne by the commission, or the local or county chapter of the commission: Provided, however, That in all cases the school buses owned by the board of education shall be driven or operated only by drivers regularly employed by the board of education: Provided further, That the county board may provide, under rules established by the state board, for the certification of professional employees as drivers of board-owned vehicles with a seating capacity of less than ten passengers used for the transportation of pupils for school-sponsored activities other than transporting students between school and home: And provided further, That the use of the vehicles shall be limited to one for each school-sponsored activity: And provided further, That buses shall be used for extracurricular activities as provided in this section only when the insurance provided for by this section is in effect;
(b) To enter into agreements with one another to provide, on a cooperative basis, adequate means of transportation across county lines for children of school age subject to the conditions and restrictions of subdivisions (6) and (8) of this section;
(7) (a) To lease school buses operated only by drivers regularly employed by the board to public and private nonprofit organizations or private corporations to transport school-age children to and from camps or educational activities in accordance with rules established by the board. All costs and expenses incurred by or incidental to the transportation of the children shall be borne by the lessee;
(b) To contract with any college or university or officially recognized campus organizations to provide transportation for college or university students, faculty or staff to and from the college or university: Provided, That only college and university students, faculty and staff are being transported. The contract shall include consideration and compensation for bus operators, repairs and other costs of service, insurance and any rules concerning student behavior;
(8) To provide at public expense for insurance against the negligence of the drivers of school buses, trucks or other vehicles operated by the board; and if the transportation of pupils is contracted, then the contract for the transportation shall provide that the contractor shall carry insurance against negligence in an amount specified by the board;
(9) To provide solely from county funds for all regular full-time employees of the board all or any part of the cost of a group plan or plans of insurance coverage not provided or available under the West Virginia public employees insurance act;
(10) To employ teacher aides, to provide in-service training for teacher aides, the training to be in accordance with rules of the state board and, in the case of service personnel assuming duties as teacher aides in exceptional children programs, to provide a four-clock-hour program of training prior to the assignment which shall, in accordance with rules of the state board, consist of training in areas specifically related to the education of exceptional children;
(11) To establish and conduct a self-supporting dormitory for the accommodation of the pupils attending a high school or participating in a post high school program and of persons employed to teach in the high school or post high school program;
(12) To employ legal counsel;
(13) To provide appropriate uniforms for school service personnel;
(14) To provide at public expense and under rules as established by any county board of education for the payment of traveling expenses incurred by any person invited to appear to be interviewed concerning possible employment by the county board of education;
(15) To allow or disallow their designated employees to use publicly provided carriage to travel from their residences to their workplace and return: Provided, That the usage is subject to the supervision of the board and is directly connected with and required by the nature and in the performance of the employee's duties and responsibilities;
(16) To provide, at public expense, adequate public liability insurance, including professional liability insurance for board employees;
(17) To enter into agreements with one another to provide, on a cooperative basis, improvements to the instructional needs of each county. The cooperative agreements may be used to employ specialists in a field of academic study or support functions or services, for the academic study. The agreements are subject to approval by the state board of education;
(18) To provide information about vocational or higher education opportunities to students with handicapping conditions. The board shall provide in writing to the students and their parents or guardians information relating to programs of vocational education and to programs available at state funded institutions of higher education. The information may include sources of available funding, including grants, mentorships and loans for students who wish to attend classes at institutions of higher education;
(19) To enter into agreements with one another, with the approval of the state board, for the transfer and receipt of any and all funds determined to be fair when students are permitted or required to attend school in a county other than the county of their residence; and
(20) To enter into job-sharing arrangements, as defined in section one, article one, chapter eighteen-a of this code, with its professional employees and service personnel: Provided, That a job sharing arrangement shall meet all the requirements relating to posting, qualifications and seniority, as provided for in article four, chapter eighteen-a of this code: Provided, however, That, notwithstanding any provisions of this code to the contrary, a county board which enters into a job-sharing arrangement wherein two or more professional employees or two or more service personnel voluntarily share an authorized full-time position shall provide the mutually agreed upon employee coverage but shall not offer insurance coverage to more than one of the job sharing employees, including any group plan or group plans available under the state public employees insurance act: Provided further, That all employees involved in the job-sharing agreement meet the requirements of subdivision (4), section two, article sixteen, chapter five of this code.
"Quasi-public funds" as used in this section means any money received by any principal, teacher, student or other person for the benefit of the school system as a result of curricular or noncurricular activities.
The board of each county shall expend under rules it establishes for each child an amount not to exceed the proportion of all school funds of the district that each child would be entitled to receive if all the funds were distributed equally among all the children of school age in the district upon a per capita basis.
§18-5-15. School term; exception; levies; ages of persons to whom schools are open.

(a) The board shall provide a school term for its schools which shall be comprised of:
(1) An employment term for teachers; and
(2) An employment term for principals and assistant principals; and
(3)
An instructional term for pupils.
Nothing in this section shall prohibit prohibits the establishment of year-round schools in accordance with rules to be established by the state board.
(b) The employment term for teachers shall be no less than ten months. The employment term for principals shall be no less than eleven months. A month to be defined as means twenty employment days exclusive of Saturdays and Sundays: Provided, That the board may contract with all or part of the personnel for a longer term. The employment term shall be fixed within such beginning and closing dates as established by the state board: Provided, however, That the time between the beginning and closing dates does not exceed forty-three weeks for the employment term for teachers and the instructional term for pupils, and does not exceed forty-four weeks for the employment term for principals.
(c)
Within the employment term there shall be an instructional term for pupils of not less than one hundred eighty nor more than one hundred eighty-five instructional days: Provided, That the minimum instructional term may be decreased, by order of the state superintendent of schools, in any West Virginia county declared to be a federal disaster area by the federal emergency management agency. Instructional and noninstructional activities may be scheduled during the same employment day. Noninstructional interruptions to the instructional day shall be minimized to allow the classroom teacher to teach. The instructional term shall commence no earlier than the twenty-sixth day of August and shall terminate no later than the eighth day of June. Provided, however, That the state board of education shall evaluate data which shall be submitted by each county by the first of June, one thousand nine hundred ninety-four, regarding the climate control conditions, such as air conditioning and related information at each school in the county, and how these conditions impact on the instructional term.
The criterion referenced test mandated in section two, article two-e of this chapter shall not be required to be given during school year one thousand nine hundred ninety-three--ninety-four.
(d) Noninstructional days in the employment term may be used for making up canceled instructional days, curriculum development, preparation for opening and closing of the instructional term, in-service and professional training of teachers, teacher-pupil- parent conferences, professional meetings and other related activities. In addition, each board shall designate and schedule for teachers and service personnel six days to be used by the employee outside the school environment. However, no more than eight noninstructional days, except holidays, may be scheduled prior to the first day of January in a school term.
(e) Notwithstanding any other provisions of the law to the contrary, if the board has canceled instructional days equal to the difference between the total instructional days scheduled and one hundred seventy-eight, each succeeding instructional day canceled shall be rescheduled, utilizing only the remaining noninstructional days, except holidays, following such cancellation, which are available prior to the second day before the end of the employment term established by such county board.
(f) Where the employment term overlaps a teacher's or service personnel's participation in a summer institute or institution of higher education for the purpose of advancement or professional growth, the teacher or service personnel may substitute, with the approval of the county superintendent, such participation for not more than five of the noninstructional days of the employment term.
(g) The board may extend the instructional term beyond one hundred eighty-five instructional days provided the employment term is extended an equal number of days. If the state revenues and regular levies, as provided by law, are insufficient to enable the board of education to provide for the school term, the board may at any general or special election, if petitioned by at least five percent of the qualified voters in the district, submit the question of additional levies to the voters. If at the election a majority of the qualified voters cast their ballots in favor of the additional levy, the board shall fix the term and lay a levy necessary to pay the cost of the additional term. The additional levy fixed by the election shall may not continue longer than five years without submission to the voters. The additional rate shall may not exceed by more than one hundred percent the maximum school rate prescribed by article eight, chapter eleven of the code, as amended.
(b)(h) The public schools shall be open for the full instructional term to all persons who have attained the entrance age as stated in section five, article two and section eighteen, article five, chapter eighteen of this code: Provided, That any student suspended or expelled from public or private school shall only be permitted to enroll in public school upon the approval of the superintendent of the county where the student seeks enrollment: Provided, however, That in making such decision, the principal of the school in which the student may enroll shall be consulted by the superintendent and the principal may make a recommendation to the superintendent concerning the student's enrollment in his or her new school: Provided further, That if enrollment to public school is denied by the superintendent, the student may petition the board of education where the student seeks enrollment.
(i) Persons over the age of twenty-one may enter only those programs or classes authorized by the state board of education and deemed considered appropriate by the county board of education conducting any such program or class: Provided, That authorization for such programs or classes shall in no way serve to affect or eliminate programs or classes offered by county boards of education at the adult level for which fees are charged to support such programs or classes.

CHAPTER 18A. SCHOOL PERSONNEL.

ARTICLE 1. GENERAL PROVISIONS.

§18A-1-1. Definitions.
The definitions contained in section one, article one, chapter eighteen of this code apply to this chapter. In addition, the following words used in this chapter and in any proceedings pursuant thereto shall, unless the context clearly indicates a different meaning, be construed as follows:
(a) "School personnel" means all personnel employed by a county board of education whether employed on a regular full- time basis, an hourly basis or otherwise. School personnel shall be comprised of two categories: Professional personnel and service personnel.
(b) "Professional personnel" means persons who meet the certification and/or licensing requirements of the state, and includes the professional educator and other professional employees.
(c) "Professional educator" is synonymous with and has the same meaning as "teacher" as defined in section one, article one, chapter eighteen of this code. Professional educators shall be classified as:
(1) "Classroom teacher". -- The professional educator who has direct instructional or counseling relationship with pupils, spending the majority of his or her time in this capacity.
(2) "Principal". -- The professional educator who as agent of the board has responsibility for the supervision, management and control of a school or schools within the guidelines established by said board. The major area of such responsibility shall be the general supervision of all the schools and all school activities involving pupils, teachers and other school personnel.
(3) "Supervisor". -- The professional educator who, whether by this or other appropriate title, is responsible for working primarily in the field with professional and/or other personnel in instructional and other school improvement.
(4) "Central office administrator". -- The superintendent, associate superintendent, assistant superintendent and other professional educators, whether by these or other appropriate titles, who are charged with the administering and supervising of the whole or some assigned part of the total program of the county-wide school system.
(d) "Other professional employee" means that person from another profession who is properly licensed and is employed to serve the public schools and includes a registered professional nurse, licensed by the West Virginia board of examiners for registered professional nurses and employed by a county board of education, who has completed either a two-year (sixty-four semester hours) or a three-year (ninety-six semester hours) nursing program.
(e) "Service personnel" means those who serve the school or schools as a whole, in a nonprofessional capacity, including such areas as secretarial, custodial, maintenance, transportation, school lunch and as aides.
(f) "Principals academy" or "academy" means the academy created pursuant to section two-b, article three-a of this chapter.
(g) "Center for professional development" means the center created pursuant to section one, article three-a of this chapter.
(h) "Job-sharing arrangement" means a formal, written agreement voluntarily entered into by a county board with two or more of its professional employees or two or more service personnel who wish to divide between them the duties and responsibilities of one authorized full-time position.
(i) "Prospective employable professional personnel" means certified professional educators who:
(1) Have been recruited on a reserve list of a county board;
(2) Have been recruited at a job fair or as a result of contact made at a job fair;
(3) Have not obtained regular employee status through the job posting process provided for in section seven-a, article four of this chapter; and
(4) Have obtained a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution of higher education within the past year.
ARTICLE 3. TRAINING, CERTIFICATION, LICENSING, PROFESSIONAL
DEVELOPMENT.

§18A-3-3a. Payment of tuition, registration and other fees for teachers; maximum payment per teacher.

(a) As used in this section, "teacher" has the meaning as defined in section one, article one, chapter eighteen of this code.
(b) The West Virginia department of education shall establish in its annual budget a separate line item and shall pay from the appropriations therefor, to the extent that appropriations are provided, the tuition, registration and other required fees of teachers as provided in subsections (e) and (f) of this section. the teachers, as defined in section one, article one, chapter eighteen of this code, with continuing contracts who have completed any courses meeting the requirements of the department for renewal of certification as required in section three of this article in any college or university within the state.
(c) A teacher may enroll for such courses in a college or university outside the state and, upon receiving prior approval from the department, be reimbursed for tuition, registration and other required fees upon completion thereof.
(d) However Payment for any single fee made by the department pursuant to the provisions of this section shall may not exceed the amount of the highest corresponding fee charged at a West Virginia state-supported college or university. Provided, That: the
(e) Payment for tuition, registration or other required fees under this section shall be limited to payment of such fees for up to a maximum of fifteen semester hours per teacher and may only be made:
(1) To a teacher who has completed any course meeting the requirements of the department for additional endorsement as required in section three of this article in any college or university within the state;
(2) To a teacher who holds a valid West Virginia professional or provisional professional teaching service or administrative certificate, or its equivalent;
(3) To a teacher who has completed coursework toward an additional endorsement in a shortage area, as defined by state board policy; and
(4)
In accordance with rules and regulations promulgated by the department pursuant to this section.
(f) Payment may not be made to any teacher who:
(1) Is employed as a teacher in another state;
(2) Is employed as a teacher in a private school in this state; or
(3) Resides in another state and is not employed regularly for instructional purposes in a public school in this state.
ARTICLE 4. SALARIES, WAGES AND OTHER BENEFITS.

§18A-4-2. State minimum salaries for teachers.

(a) Each teacher shall receive the amount prescribed in the "state minimum salary schedule I" as set forth in this section, specific additional amounts prescribed in this section or article, and any county supplement in effect in a county pursuant to section five-a of this article during the contract year: Provided, That beginning on the first day of the second half of the teacher's employment term in the school year two thousand one-two thousand two, and thereafter, each teacher shall receive the amount prescribed in "state minimum salary schedule II" as set forth in this section, specific additional amounts prescribed in this section or article, and any county supplement in effect in a county pursuant to section five-a of this article during the contract year.
STATE MINIMUM SALARY SCHEDULE I

(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10) (11)
Years 4th 3rd 2nd A.B. M.A. M.A. M.A. Doc-
Exp.Class Class Class A.B. +15 M.A. +15 +30 +45 trate

0 18,572 19,209 19,464 20,674 21,409 23,117 23,852 24,587 25,322 26,322
1 18,853 19,490 19,745 21,139 21,874 23,582 24,317 25,052 25,787 26,787
2 19,134 19,772 20,027 21,604 22,339 24,047 24,782 25,517 26,252 27,252
3 19,416 20,053 20,308 22,069 22,804 24,512 25,247 25,982 26,717 27,717
4 19,933 20,570 20,826 22,770 23,505 25,213 25,948 26,683 27,418 28,418
5 20,214 20,852 21,107 23,235 23,970 25,678 26,413 27,148 27,883 28,883
6 20,496 21,133 21,388 23,700 24,435 26,143 26,878 27,613 28,348 29,348
7 20,496 21,414 21,670 24,165 24,900 26,608 27,343 28,078 28,813 29,813
8 20,496 21,696 21,951 24,630 25,365 27,073 27,808 28,543 29,278 30,278
9 20,496   22,232 25,095 25,830 27,538 28,273 29,008 29,743 30,743
10 20,496   22,513 25,561 26,296 28,004 28,739 29,474 30,209 31,209
11 20,496     26,026 26,761 28,469 29,204 29,939 30,674 31,674
12 20,496     26,491 27,226 28,934 29,669 30,404 31,139 32,139
13 20,496     26,956 27,691 29,399 30,134 30,869 31,604 32,604
14 20,496         29,864 30,599 31,334 32,069 33,069
15 20,496         30,329 31,064 31,799 32,534 33,534
16 20,496         30,794 31,529 32,264 32,999 33,999
17 20,496             32,729 33,464 34,464
18 20,496             33,194 33,929 34,929
19 20,496             33,659 34,394 35,394
Subject to a recommendation by the governor for a pay raise through the delivery of an executive message to the Legislature and an appropriation by the Legislature for a pay raise, each teacher shall receive, effective the first day of July, one thousand nine hundred ninety-nine, and thereafter, the amount prescribed in "state minimum salary schedule II" as set forth in this section or article, and any county supplement in effect in a county pursuant to section five-a of this article during the contract year.
STATE MINIMUM SALARY SCHEDULE I

(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10) (11)
Years 4th 3rd 2nd A.B. M.A. M.A. M.A. Doc-
Exp.Class Class Class A.B. +15 M.A. +15 +30 +45 trate

0 19,328 19,965 20,220 21,430 22,165 23,873 24,608 25,343 26,078 27,078
1 19,609 20,246 20,501 21,895 22,630 24,338 25,073 25,808 26,543 27,543
2 19,890 20,528 20,783 22,360 23,095 24,803 25,538 26,273 27,008 28,008
3 20,172 20,809 21,064 22,825 23,560 25,268 26,003 26,738 27,473 28,473
4 20,689 21,326 21,582 23,526 24,261 25,969 26,704 27,439 28,174 29,174
5 20,970 21,608 21,863 23,991 24,726 26,434 27,169 27,904 28,639 29,639
6 21,252 21,889 22,144 24,456 25,191 26,899 27,634 28,369 29,104 30,104
7 21,252 22,170 22,426 24,921 25,656 27,364 28,099 28,834 29,569 30,569
8 21,252 22,452 22,707 25,386 26,121 27,829 28,564 29,299 30,034 31,034
9 21,252   22,988 25,851 26,586 28,294 29,029 29,764 30,499 31,499
10 21,252   23,269 26,317 27,052 28,760 29,495 30,230 30,965 31,965
11 21,252     26,782 27,517 29,225 29,960 30,695 31,430 32,430
12 21,252     27,247 27,982 29,690 30,425 31,160 31,895 32,895
13 21,252     27,712 28,447 30,155 30,890 31,625 32,360 33,360
14 21,252         30,620 31,355 32,090 32,825 33,825
15 21,252         31,085 31,820 32,555 33,290 34,290
16 21,252         31,550 32,285 33,020 33,755 34,755
17 21,252             33,485 34,220 35,220
18 21,252             33,950 34,685 35,685
19 21,252             34,415 35,150 36,150
If "state minimum salary schedule II" becomes effective on the first day of July, one thousand nine hundred ninety-nine, and the governor recommends a pay raise through the delivery of an executive message to the Legislature and the Legislature appropriates money for a pay raise, each teacher shall receive, effective the first day of July, two thousand, and thereafter, the amount prescribed in "state minimum salary schedule III" as set forth in this section or article, and any county supplement in effect in a county pursuant to section five-a of this article during the contract year.
STATE MINIMUM SALARY SCHEDULE I

(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10) (11)
Years 4th 3rd 2nd A.B. M.A. M.A. M.A. Doc-
Exp.Class Class Class A.B. +15 M.A. +15 +30 +45 trate

0 20,084 20,721 20,976 22,186 22,921 24,629 25,364 26,099 26,834 27,834
1 20,365 21,002 21,257 22,651 23,386 25,094 25,829 26,564 27,299 28,299
2 20,646 21,284 21,539 23,116 23,851 25,559 26,294 27,029 27,764 28,764
3 20,928 21,565 21,820 23,581 24,316 26,024 26,759 27,494 28,229 29,229
4 21,445 22,082 22,338 24,282 25,017 26,725 27,460 28,195 28,930 29,930
5 21,726 22,364 22,619 24,747 25,482 27,190 27,925 28,660 29,395 30,395
6 22,008 22,645 22,900 25,212 25,947 27,655 28,390 29,125 29,860 30,860
7 22,008 22,926 23,182 25,677 26,412 28,120 28,855 29,590 30,325 31,325
8 22,008 23,208 23,463 26,142 26,877 28,585 29,320 30,055 30,790 31,790
9 22,008   23,744 26,607 27,342 29,050 29,785 30,520 31,255 32,255
10 22,008   24,025 27,073 27,808 29,516 30,251 30,986 31,721 32,721
11 22,008     27,538 28,273 29,981 30,716 31,451 32,186 33,186
12 22,008     28,003 28,738 30,446 31,181 31,916 32,651 33,651
13 22,008     28,468 29,203 30,911 31,646 32,381 33,116 34,116
14 22,008         31,376 32,111 32,846 33,581 34,581
15 22,008         31,841 32,576 33,311 34,046 35,046
16 22,008         32,306 33,041 33,776 34,511 35,511
17 22,008             34,241 34,976 35,976
18 22,008             34,706 35,441 36,441
19 22,008             35,171 35,906 36,906
STATE MINIMUM SALARY SCHEDULE II

(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10) (11)
Years 4th 3rd 2nd A.B. M.A. M.A. M.A. Doc-
Exp. Class Class Class A.B. +15 M.A. +15 +30 +45 trate

0 21,084 21,721 21,976 23,186 23,921 25,629 26,364 27,099 27,834 28,834
1 21,365 22,002 22,257 23,651 24,386 26,094 26,829 27,564 28,299 29,299
2 21,646 22,284 22,539 24,116 24,851 26,559 27,294 28,029 28,764 29,764
3 21,928 22,565 22,820 24,581 25,316 27,024 27,759 28,494 29,229 30,229
4 22,445 23,082 23,338 25,282 26,017 27,725 28,460 29,195 29,930 30,930
5 22,726 23,364 23,619 25,747 26,482 28,190 28,925 29,660 30,395 31,395
6 23,008 23,645 23,900 26,212 26,947 28,655 29,390 30,125 30,860 31,860
7 22,008 23,926 24,182 26,677 27,412 29,120 29,855 30,590 31,325 32,325
8 22,008 24,208 24,463 27,142 27,877 29,585 30,320 31,055 31,790 32,790
9 22,008   24,744 27,607 28,342 30,050 30,785 31,520 32,255 33,255
10 22,008   25,025 28,073 28,808 30,516 31,251 31,986 32,721 33,721
11 22,008     28,538 29,273 30,981 31,716 32,451 33,186 34,186
12 22,008     29,003 29,738 31,446 32,181 32,916 33,651 34,651
13 22,008     29,468 30,203 31,911 32,646 33,381 34,116 35,116
14 22,008         32,376 33,111 33,846 34,581 35,581
15 22,008         32,841 33,576 34,311 35,046 36,046
16 22,008         33,306 34,041 34,776 35,511 36,511
17 22,008             35,241 35,976 36,976
18 22,008             35,706 36,441 37,441
19 22,008             36,171 36,906 37,906
(b) Six hundred dollars shall be paid annually to each classroom teacher who has at least twenty years of teaching experience. The payments: (i) Shall be in addition to any amounts prescribed in the applicable state minimum salary schedule; (ii) shall be paid in equal monthly installments; and (iii) shall be considered a part of the state minimum salaries for teachers.
§18A-4-2a.  State minimum salary bonus for classroom teachers with national board certification.
(a) The Legislature hereby finds and declares that the rigorous standards and processes for certification by the national board for professional teaching standards (NBPTS) helps to promote the quality of teaching and learning.  Therefore, classroom teachers in the public schools of West Virginia should be encouraged to achieve national board certification through a reimbursement of expenses and an additional salary bonus which reflects their additional certification, to be paid in accordance with the provisions of this section.
(b) Beginning on the first day of July, one thousand nine hundred ninety-eight, and subject to legislative appropriation, one thousand Two thousand five hundred dollars shall be paid annually at the conclusion of the first semester to each classroom teacher who holds a valid certificate issued by the national board of professional teaching standards for the life of the certification, but in no event more than ten years for any one certification.
(c) The payments: (i) Shall be in addition to any amounts prescribed in the applicable state minimum salary schedule; (ii) shall be paid in equal monthly installments; and (iii) shall be considered a part of the state minimum salaries for teachers.
(c) (d) Subject to legislative appropriation One-half the certification fee one thousand dollars shall be paid for reimbursement once to each teacher who enrolls in the program for the national board for professional teaching standards certification and one-half the certification fee one thousand dollars shall be paid for reimbursement once to each teacher who completes the national board for professional teaching standards certification.  Teachers who achieve national board for professional teaching standards certification may be reimbursed a maximum of six hundred dollars for expenses actually incurred while obtaining the national board for professional teaching standards certification.
(d) (e) The state board shall limit the number of teachers who receive the initial reimbursements of the certification fees set forth in subsection (d) to one two hundred teachers annually.  The state board shall establish selection criteria for the one two hundred teachers by the legislative rule required pursuant to subsection (g) of this section.
(e) (f) Subject to the provisions of subsection (e) of this section, funding for reimbursement of the certification fee and expenses actually incurred while obtaining the national board for professional teaching standards certifications shall be administered by the state department of education from an appropriation established for that purpose by the Legislature.  If funds appropriated by the Legislature to accomplish the purposes of this section subsection are insufficient, the state department shall prorate the reimbursements for expenses and salary bonuses and shall request of the Legislature, at its next regular session, funds sufficient to accomplish the purposes of this section subsection, including needed retroactive payments.
(f) Nothing is this section shall be construed to require any level of appropriation by the Legislature nor to create any entitlement for payments pursuant to the provisions of this section.
(g) (g) The state board shall promulgate legislative rules pursuant to article three-b, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code to implement the provisions of this section.
§18A-4-2b. Principal salary adjustment.
The state minimum salary for teachers, as set forth in section two of this article, shall be adjusted for principals. This adjustment shall be determined by establishing a daily rate of pay based on the appropriate schedule in section two of this article and a ten month employment term. Each principal shall receive that daily rate of pay for each day of the eleven month employment term set forth in section fifteen, article five, chapter eighteen of this code.
§18A-4-3. State minimum annual salary increments for principals and assistant principals.
In addition to any salary increments for principals and assistant principals, in effect on the first day of January, one thousand nine hundred ninety-six, and paid from local funds, and in addition to the county schedule in effect for teachers, the county board shall pay each principal, a principal's salary increment and each assistant principal an assistant principal's salary increment as prescribed by this section commencing on the first day of July, one thousand nine hundred ninety- six, from state funds appropriated for the salary increments.
State funds for this purpose shall be paid within the West Virginia public school support plan in accordance with article nine-a, chapter eighteen of this code.
The salary increment in this section for each principal shall be determined by multiplying the basic salary for teachers in accordance with the classification of certification and of training of the principal as prescribed in this article, as adjusted for the additional month of salary pursuant to section two-b, of this article, by the appropriate percentage rate prescribed in this section according to the number of teachers supervised.
STATE MINIMUM SALARY INCREMENT

RATES FOR PRINCIPALS

No. of Teachers
SupervisedRates
1-76.0%
8-146.5%
15-247.0%
25-387.5%
39-578.0%
58 and up8.5%
The salary increment in this section for each assistant principal shall be determined in the same manner as that for principals, utilizing the number of teachers supervised by the principal under whose direction the assistant principal works, except that the percentage rate shall be fifty percent of the rate prescribed for the principal and except that the additional salary for principals set forth in section two-b of this article shall not be included in the calculation of the assistant principal's salary increment.
Salaries for employment beyond the minimum employment term shall be at the same daily rate as the salaries for the minimum employment terms.
For the purpose of determining the number of teachers supervised by a principal, the county board shall use data for the second school month of the prior school term and the number of teachers shall be interpreted to mean the total number of professional educators assigned to each school on a full-time equivalency basis: Provided, That if there is a change in circumstances because of consolidation or catastrophe, the county board shall determine what is a reasonable number of supervised teachers in order to establish the appropriate increment percentage rate.
No county may reduce local funds allocated for salary increments for principals and assistant principals in effect on the first day of January, one thousand nine hundred ninety-six, and used in supplementing the state minimum salaries as provided for in this article, unless forced to do so by defeat of a special levy, or a loss in assessed values or events over which it has no control and for which the county board has received approval from the state board prior to making the reduction.
Nothing in this section prevents a county board from providing, in a uniform manner, salary increments greater than those required by this section.
§18A-4-7a. Employment, promotion and transfer of professional personnel; seniority.

(a) A county board of education shall make decisions affecting the hiring of professional personnel other than classroom teachers on the basis of the applicant with the highest qualifications.
(b) Further, the The county board shall make decisions affecting the hiring of new classroom teachers on the basis of the applicant with the highest qualifications.
(c) In judging qualifications for hiring new employees pursuant to subsections (a) and (b) of this section, consideration shall be given to each of the following:
(1) Appropriate certification and/or licensure;
(2) amount Amount of experience relevant to the position; or, in the case of a classroom teaching position, the amount of teaching experience in the subject area;
(3) the The amount of course work and/or degree level in the relevant field and degree level generally;
(4) academic Academic achievement;
(5) relevant Relevant specialized training;
(6) past Past performance evaluations conducted pursuant to section twelve, article two of this chapter; and
(7) other Other measures or indicators upon which the relative qualifications of the applicant may fairly be judged.
(d) If one or more permanently employed instructional personnel apply for a classroom teaching position and meet the standards set forth in the job posting, the county board of education shall make decisions affecting the filling of such positions on the basis of the following criteria:
(1) Appropriate certification and/or licensure;
(2) total Total amount of teaching experience;
(3) the The existence of teaching experience in the required certification area;
(4) degree Degree level in the required certification area;
(5) specialized Specialized training directly related to the performance of the job as stated in the job description;
(6) receiving Receiving an overall rating of satisfactory in evaluations over the previous two years;
(7) seniority Seniority;
(8) Consideration shall be given to each criterion with each criterion being given equal weight; and
(9) If the applicant with the most seniority is not selected for the position, upon the request of the applicant a written statement of reasons shall be given to the applicant with suggestions for improving the applicant's qualifications.
(e) The seniority of classroom teachers, as defined in section one, article one of this chapter, with the exception of guidance counselors, shall be determined on the basis of the length of time the employee has been employed as a regular full-time certified and/or licensed professional educator by the county board of education and shall be granted in all areas that the employee is certified and/or licensed.
(f) Upon completion of one hundred thirty-three days of employment in any one school year, substitute teachers shall accrue seniority exclusively for the purpose of applying for employment as a permanent, full-time professional employee. One hundred thirty-three days or more of said employment shall be prorated and shall vest as a fraction of the school year worked by the permanent, full-time teacher.
(g) Guidance counselors and all other professional employees, as defined in section one, article one of this chapter, except classroom teachers, shall gain seniority in their nonteaching area of professional employment on the basis of the length of time the employee has been employed by the county board of education in that area: Provided, That if an employee is certified as a classroom teacher, the employee accrues classroom teaching seniority for the time that that employee is employed in another professional area. For the purposes of accruing seniority under this paragraph, employment as principal, supervisor or central office administrator, as defined in section one, article one of this chapter, shall be considered one area of employment.
(h) Employment for a full employment term shall equal one year of seniority, but no employee may accrue more than one year of seniority during any given fiscal year. Employment for less than the full employment term shall be prorated. A random selection system established by the employees and approved by the board shall be used to determine the priority if two or more employees accumulate identical seniority: Provided, That when two or more principals have accumulated identical seniority, decisions on reductions in force shall be based on qualifications.
(i) Whenever a county board is required to reduce the number of professional personnel in its employment, the employee with the least amount of seniority shall be properly notified and released from employment pursuant to the provisions of section two, article two of this chapter. The provisions of this subsection are subject to the following:
(1) Provided, That all All persons employed in a certification area to be reduced who are employed under a temporary permit shall be properly notified and released before a fully certified employee in such a position is subject to release;
(2) Provided, however, That an An employee subject to release shall be employed in any other professional position where such employee is certified and was previously employed or to any lateral area for which such employee is certified and/or licensed, if such employee's seniority is greater than the seniority of any other employee in that area of certification and/or licensure; and
(3) Provided further, That if If an employee subject to release holds certification and/or licensure in more than one lateral area and if such employee's seniority is greater than the seniority of any other employee in one or more of those areas of certification and/or licensure, the employee subject to release shall be employed in the professional position held by the employee with the least seniority in any of those areas of certification and/or licensure.
(j) For the purpose of this article, all positions which meet the definition of classroom teacher as defined in section one, article one of this chapter, shall be lateral positions. For all other professional positions the county board of education shall adopt a policy by the thirty-first day of October, one thousand nine hundred ninety-three, and may modify said policy thereafter as necessary, which defines which positions shall be lateral positions. The board shall submit a copy of its policy to the state board within thirty days of adoption or any modification, and the state board shall compile a report and submit same to the legislative oversight commission on education accountability by the thirty-first day of December, one thousand nine hundred ninety-three, and by such date in any succeeding year in which any county board submits a modification of its policy relating to lateral positions. In adopting such a policy, the board shall give consideration to the rank of each position in terms of title, nature of responsibilities, salary level, certification and/or licensure, and days in the period of employment.
(k) After the fifth day prior to the beginning of the instructional term, or after the first day of the second half of the instructional term, no person employed and assigned to a professional position may transfer to another professional position in the county during that half of the instructional term. The provisions of this subsection are subject to the following:
(1) Provided, That such The person may apply for any posted, vacant positions with the successful applicant assuming the position at the beginning of the next half of the instructional term;
(2) Provided, however, That professional Professional personnel who have been on an approved leave of absence may fill these vacancies prior to the next semester; and
(3) The superintendent may fill a position before the next instructional term when it is determined to be in the best interest of the students.
(l) All professional personnel whose seniority with the county board is insufficient to allow their retention by the county board during a reduction in work force shall be placed upon a preferred recall list. As to any professional position opening within the area where they had previously been employed or to any lateral area for which they have certification and/or licensure, such the employee shall be recalled on the basis of seniority if no regular, full-time professional personnel, or those returning from leaves of absence with greater seniority, are qualified, apply for and accept such position.
(m) Before position openings that are known or expected to extend for twenty consecutive employment days or longer for professional personnel may be filled by the board, the board shall be required to notify all qualified professional personnel on the preferred list and give them an opportunity to apply, but failure to apply shall not cause such the employee to forfeit any right to recall. The notice shall be sent by certified mail to the last known address of the employee, and it shall be the duty of each professional personnel to notify the board of continued availability annually, of any change in address or of any change in certification and/or licensure.
(n) Openings in established, existing or newly created positions shall be processed as follows:
(1) Boards shall be required to post and date notices of all openings in established, existing or newly created positions which shall be subject to the following:
(A) The notices shall be posted
in conspicuous working places for all professional personnel to observe for at least five working days;
(B) The notice shall be posted within twenty working days of such the position openings and shall include the job description;
(C) Any special criteria or skills that are required by the position shall be specifically stated in the job description and directly related to the performance of the job;
(D) Postings for vacancies made pursuant to this section shall be written so as to insure that the largest possible pool of qualified applicants may apply; and
(E) Job postings may not require criteria which are not necessary for the successful performance of the job and may not be written with the intent to favor a specific applicant;
(2) No vacancy shall be filled until after the five-day minimum posting period;
(3) If one or more applicants meets the qualifications listed in the job posting, the successful applicant to fill the vacancy shall be selected by the board within thirty working days of the end of the posting period;
(4) Provided, That a A position held by a certified and/or licensed teacher who has been issued a permit for full-time employment and is working toward certification in the permit area shall not be subject to posting if the certificate is awarded within five years; and
(5) Nothing provided herein shall prevent the county board of education from eliminating a position due to lack of need.
(o) Notwithstanding any other provision of the code to the contrary, where the total number of classroom teaching positions in an elementary school does not increase from one school year to the next, but there exists in that school a need to realign the number of teachers in one or more grade levels, kindergarten through six, teachers at the school may be reassigned to grade levels for which they are certified without that position being posted: Provided, That the employee and the county board of education mutually agree to the reassignment.
(p) Reductions in classroom teaching positions in elementary schools shall be processed as follows:
(1) When the total number of classroom teaching positions in an elementary school needs to be reduced, such the reduction shall be made on the basis of seniority with the least senior classroom teacher being recommended for transfer; and
(2) Provided, That a When a specified grade level needs to be reduced and the least senior employee in the school is not in that grade level, the least senior classroom teacher in the grade level that needs to be reduced shall be reassigned to the position made vacant by the transfer of the least senior classroom teacher in the school without that position being posted: Provided, however, That the employee is certified and/or licensed and agrees to the reassignment.
(q) Any board failing to comply with the provisions of this article may be compelled to do so by mandamus and shall be liable to any party prevailing against the board for court costs and reasonable attorney fees as determined and established by the court. Further, employees denied promotion or employment in violation of this section shall be awarded the job, pay and any applicable benefits retroactive to the date of the violation and payable entirely from local funds. Further, the board shall be liable to any party prevailing against the board for any court reporter costs including copies of transcripts.
§18A-4-8a. Service personnel minimum monthly salaries.
(1) The minimum monthly pay for each service employee whose employment is for a period of more than three and one-half hours a day shall be at least the amounts indicated in the "state minimum pay scale pay grade I" and the minimum monthly pay for each service employee whose employment is for a period of three and one-half hours or less a day shall be at least one-half the amount indicated in the "state minimum pay scale pay grade I" set forth in this section: Provided, That beginning the first day of the second half of the employment term in the school year two thousand one-two thousand two the minimum monthly pay for each service employee whose employment is for a period of more than three and one-half hours a day shall be at least the amounts indicated in the "state minimum pay scale pay grade II" and the minimum monthly pay for each service employee whose employment is for a period of three and one-half hours or less a day shall be at least one-half the amount indicated in the "state minimum pay scale pay grade II" set forth in this section.
STATE MINIMUM PAY SCALE PAY GRADE I

A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H

0 1,100
1,1201,160
1,210
1,260 1,320
1,3501,420

1 1,1271,1471,187 1,237 1,287 1,347 1,377 1,447
2 1,1541,1741,214 1,264 1,314 1,374 1,404 1,474
3 1,1811,2011,241 1,291 1,341 1,401 1,431 1,501
4 1,2081,2281,268 1,318 1,368 1,428 1,458 1,528

5 1,2351,2551,295 1,345 1,395 1,455 1,485 1,555
6 1,2621,2821,322 1,372 1,422 1,482 1,512 1,582
7 1,2891,3091,349 1,399 1,449 1,509 1,539 1,609
8 1,3161,3361,376 1,426 1,476 1,536 1,566 1,636
9 1,3431,3631,403 1,453 1,503 1,563 1,593 1,663
10 1,3701,3901,430 1,480 1,530 1,590 1,620 1,690
11 1,3971,4171,457 1,507 1,557 1,617 1,647 1,717
12 1,4241,4441,484 1,534 1,584 1,644 1,674 1,744
13 1,4511,4711,511 1,561 1,611 1,671 1,701 1,771
14 1,4781,4981,538 1,588 1,638 1,698 1,728 1,798
15 1,5051,5251,565 1,615 1,665 1,725 1,755 1,825
16 1,5321,5521,592 1,642 1,692 1,752 1,782 1,852
17 1,5591,5791,619 1,669 1,719 1,779 1,809 1,879
18 1,5861,6061,646 1,696 1,746 1,806 1,836 1,906
19 1,6131,6331,673 1,723 1,773 1,833 1,863 1,933
20 1,6401,6601,700 1,750 1,800 1,860 1,890 1,960
21 1,6671,6871,727 1,777 1,827 1,887 1,917 1,987
22 1,6941,7141,754 1,804 1,854 1,914 1,944 2,014
23 1,7211,7411,781 1,831 1,881 1,941 1,971 2,041
24 1,7481,7681,808 1,858 1,908 1,968 1,998 2,068
25 1,7751,7951,835 1,885 1,935 1,995 2,025 2,095
26 1,8021,8221,862 1,912 1,962 2,022 2,052 2,122
27 1,8291,8491,889 1,939 1,989 2,049 2,079 2,149
28 1,8561,8761,916 1,966 2,016 2,076 2,106 2,176
29 1,8831,9031,943 1,993 2,043 2,103 2,133 2,203
30 1,9101,9301,970 2,020 2,070 2,130 2,160 2,230
31 1,9371,9571,997 2,047 2,097 2,157 2,187 2,257
32 1,9641,9842,024 2,074 2,124 2,184 2,214 2,284
33 1,9912,0112,051 2,101 2,151 2,211 2,241 2,311
34 2,0182,0382,078 2,128 2,178 2,238 2,268 2,338
35 2,0452,0652,105 2,155 2,205 2,265 2,295 2,365
36 2,0722,0922,132 2,182 2,232 2,292 2,322 2,392
Subject to a recommendation by the governor for a pay raise through the delivery of an executive message to the Legislature and an appropriation by the Legislature for a pay raise, effective the first day of July, one thousand nine hundred ninety-nine and thereafter, the minimum monthly pay for each service employee whose employment is for a period of more than three and one-half hours a day shall be at least the amounts indicated in the "state minimum pay scale pay grade II" and the minimum monthly pay for each service employee whose employment is for a period of three and one-half hours or less a day shall be at least one-half the amount indicated in the "state minimum pay scale pay grade II" set forth in this section.
STATE MINIMUM PAY SCALE PAY GRADE II
Years of
Employment
Pay Grade

A B C D E F G H
0 1,160 1,180 1,220 1,270 1,320 1,3801,410
1,480

1 1,188 1,208 1,248 1,298 1,348 1,4081,438 1,508
2 1,216 1,236 1,276 1,326 1,376 1,4361,466 1,536
3 1,244 1,264 1,304 1,354 1,404 1,4641,494 1,564
4 1,272 1,292 1,332 1,382 1,432 1,4921,522 1,592
5 1,300 1,320 1,360 1,410 1,460 1,5201,550 1,620
6 1,328 1,348 1,388 1,438 1,488 1,5481,578 1,648
7 1,356 1,376 1,416 1,466 1,516 1,5761,606 1,676
8 1,384 1,404 1,444 1,494 1,544 1,6041,634 1,704
9 1,412 1,432 1,472 1,522 1,572 1,6321,662 1,732
10 1,440 1,460 1,500 1,550 1,600 1,6601,690 1,760
11 1,468 1,488 1,528 1,578 1,628 1,6881,718 1,788
12 1,496 1,516 1,556 1,606 1,656 1,7161,746 1,816
13 1,524 1,544 1,584 1,634 1,684 1,7441,774 1,844
14 1,552 1,572 1,612 1,662 1,712 1,7721,802 1,872
15 1,580 1,600 1,640 1,690 1,740 1,8001,830 1,900
16 1,608 1,628 1,668 1,718 1,768 1,8281,858 1,928
17 1,636 1,656 1,696 1,746 1,796 1,8561,886 1,956
18 1,664 1,684 1,724 1,774 1,824 1,8841,914 1,984
19 1,692 1,712 1,752 1,802 1,852 1,9121,942 2,012
20 1,720 1,740 1,780 1,830 1,880 1,9401,970 2,040
21 1,748 1,768 1,808 1,858 1,908 1,9681,998 2,068
22 1,776 1,796 1,836 1,886 1,936 1,9962,026 2,096
23 1,804 1,824 1,864 1,914 1,964 2,0242,054 2,124
24 1,832 1,852 1,892 1,942 1,992 2,0522,082 2,152
25 1,860 1,880 1,920 1,970 2,020 2,0802,110 2,180
26 1,888 1,908 1,948 1,998 2,048 2,1082,138 2,208
27 1,916 1,936 1,976 2,026 2,076 2,1362,166 2,236
28 1,944 1,964 2,004 2,054 2,104 2,1642,194 2,264
29 1,972 1,992 2,032 2,082 2,132 2,1922,222 2,292
30 2,000 2,020 2,060 2,110 2,160 2,2202,250 2,320
31 2,028 2,048 2,088 2,138 2,188 2,2482,278 2,348
32 2,056 2,076 2,116 2,166 2,216 2,2762,306 2,376
33 2,084 2,104 2,144 2,194 2,244 2,3042,334 2,404
34 2,112 2,132 2,172 2,222 2,272 2,3322,362 2,432
35 2,140 2,160 2,200 2,250 2,300 2,3602,390 2,460
36 2,168 2,188 2,228 2,278 2,328 2,3882,418 2,488
If "state minimum pay scale pay grade II" becomes effective on the first day of July, one thousand nine hundred ninety-nine, and the governor recommends a pay raise through the delivery of an executive message to the Legislature and the Legislature appropriates money for a pay raise, the minimum monthly pay for each service employee whose employment is for a period of more than three and one-half hours a day shall be at least the amounts indicated in the "state minimum pay scale pay grade III" and the minimum monthly pay for each service employee whose employment is for a period of three and one-half hours or less a day shall be at least one-half the amount indicated in the "state minimum pay scale pay grade III" set forth in this section.
STATE MINIMUM PAY SCALE PAY GRADE III I

Years of
Employment
Pay Grade

A B C DE F G H
0 1,220
1,240
1,280 1,330
1,380
1,440
1,470
1,540

1 1,249 1,269 1,309 1,359 1,409 1,4691,4991,569
2 1,278 1,298 1,338 1,388 1,438 1,4981,5281,598
3 1,307 1,327 1,367 1,417 1,467 1,5271,5571,627
4 1,336 1,356 1,396 1,446 1,496 1,5561,5861,656
5 1,365 1,385 1,425 1,475 1,525 1,5851,6151,685
6 1,394 1,414 1,454 1,504 1,554 1,6141,6441,714
7 1,423 1,443 1,483 1,533 1,583 1,6431,6731,743
8 1,452 1,472 1,512 1,562 1,612 1,6721,7021,772
9 1,481 1,501 1,541 1,591 1,641 1,7011,7311,801
10 1,510 1,530 1,570 1,620 1,670 1,7301,7601,830
11 1,539 1,559 1,599 1,649 1,699 1,7591,7891,859
12 1,568 1,588 1,628 1,678 1,728 1,7881,8181,888
13 1,597 1,617 1,657 1,707 1,757 1,8171,8471,917
14 1,626 1,646 1,686 1,736 1,786 1,8461,8761,946
15 1,655 1,675 1,715 1,765 1,815 1,8751,9051,975
16 1,684 1,704 1,744 1,794 1,844 1,9041,9342,004
17 1,713 1,733 1,773 1,823 1,873 1,9331,9632,033
18 1,742 1,762 1,802 1,852 1,902 1,9621,9922,062
19 1,771 1,791 1,831 1,881 1,931 1,9912,0212,091
20 1,800 1,820 1,860 1,910 1,960 2,0202,0502,120
21 1,829 1,849 1,889 1,939 1,989 2,0492,0792,149
22 1,858 1,878 1,918 1,968 2,018 2,0782,1082,178
23 1,887 1,907 1,947 1,997 2,047 2,1072,1372,207
24 1,916 1,936 1,976 2,026 2,076 2,1362,1662,236
25 1,945 1,965 2,005 2,055 2,105 2,1652,1952,265
26 1,974 1,994 2,034 2,084 2,134 2,1942,2242,294
27 2,003 2,023 2,063 2,113 2,163 2,2232,2532,323
28 2,032 2,052 2,092 2,142 2,192 2,2522,2822,352
29 2,061 2,081 2,121 2,171 2,221 2,2812,3112,381
30 2,090 2,110 2,150 2,200 2,250 2,3102,3402,410
31 2,119 2,139 2,179 2,229 2,279 2,3392,3692,439
32 2,148 2,168 2,208 2,258 2,308 2,3682,3982,468
33 2,177 2,197 2,237 2,287 2,337 2,3972,4272,497
34 2,206 2,226 2,266 2,316 2,366 2,4262,4562,526
35 2,235 2,255 2,295 2,345 2,395 2,4552,4852,555
36 2,264 2,284 2,324 2,374 2,424 2,4842,5142,584
37 2,293 2,313 2,353 2,403 2,453 2,5132,5432,613
38 2,322 2,342 2,382 2,432 2,482 2,5422,5722,642
39 2,351 2,371 2,411 2,461 2,511 2,5712,6012,671
40 2,380 2,400 2,440 2,490 2,540 2,6002,6302,700
STATE MINIMUM PAY SCALE PAY GRADE II

Years of
Employment
Pay Grade

  A B C D E F G H
                 
0 1,295 1,315 1,355 1,405 1,455 1,515 1,545 1,615
1 1,325 1,345 1,385 1,435 1,485 1,545 1,575 1,645
2 1,355 1,375 1,415 1,465 1,515 1,575 1,605 1,675
3 1,385 1,405 1,445 1,495 1,545 1,605 1,635 1,705
4 1,415 1,435 1,475 1,525 1,575 1,635 1,665 1,735
5 1,445 1,465 1,505 1,555 1,605 1,665 1,695 1,765
6 1,475 1,495 1,535 1,585 1,635 1,695 1,725 1,795
7 1,505 1,525 1,565 1,615 1,665 1,725 1,755 1,825
8 1,535 1,555 1,595 1,645 1,695 1,755 1,785 1,855
9 1,565 1,585 1,625 1,675 1,725 1,785 1,815 1,885
10 1,595 1,615 1,655 1,705 1,755 1,815 1,845 1,915
11 1,625 1,645 1,685 1,735 1,785 1,845 1,875 1,945
12 1,655 1,675 1,715 1,765 1,815 1,875 1,905 1,975
13 1,685 1,705 1,745 1,795 1,845 1,905 1,935 2,005
14 1,715 1,735 1,775 1,825 1,875 1,935 1,965 2,035
15 1,745 1,765 1,805 1,855 1,905 1,965 1,995 2,065
16 1,775 1,795 1,835 1,885 1,935 1,995 2,025 2,095
17 1,805 1,825 1,865 1,915 1,965 2,025 2,055 2,125
18 1,835 1,855 1,895 1,945 1,995 2,055 2,085 2,155
19 1,865 1,885 1,925 1,975 2,025 2,085 2,115 2,185
20 1,895 1,915 1,955 2,005 2,055 2,115 2,145 2,215
21 1,925 1,945 1,985 2,035 2,085 2,145 2,175 2,245
22 1,955 1,975 2,015 2,065 2,115 2,175 2,205 2,275
23 1,985 2,005 2,045 2,095 2,145 2,205 2,235 2,305
24 2,015 2,035 2,075 2,125 2,175 2,235 2,265 2,335
25 2,045 2,065 2,105 2,155 2,205 2,265 2,295 2,365
26 2,075 2,095 2,135 2,185 2,235 2,295 2,325 2,395
27 2,105 2,125 2,165 2,215 2,265 2,325 2,355 2,425
28 2,135 2,155 2,195 2,245 2,295 2,355 2,385 2,455
29 2,165 2,185 2,225 2,275 2,325 2,385 2,415 2,485
30 2,195 2,215 2,255 2,305 2,355 2,415 2,445 2,515
31 2,225 2,245 2,285 2,335 2,385 2,445 2,475 2,545
32 2,255 2,275 2,315 2,365 2,415 2,475 2,505 2,575
33 2,285 2,305 2,345 2,395 2,445 2,505 2,535 2,605
34 2,315 2,335 2,375 2,425 2,475 2,535 2,565 2,635
35 2,345 2,365 2,405 2,455 2,505 2,565 2,595 2,665
36 2,375 2,395 2,435 2,485 2,535 2,595 2,625 2,695
37 2,405 2,425 2,465 2,515 2,565 2,625 2,655 2,725
38 2,435 2,455 2,495 2,545 2,595 2,655 2,685 2,755
39 2,465 2,485 2,525 2,575 2,625 2,685 2,715 2,785
40 2,495 2,515 2,555 2,605 2,655 2,715 2,745 2,815
CLASS TITLE PAY GRADE

Accountant ID
Accountant IIE
Accountant IIIF
Aide IA
Aide IIB
Aide IIIC
Aide IVD
Audiovisual TechnicianC
AuditorG
Autism MentorE
Braille or Sign Language SpecialistE
Bus OperatorD
BuyerF
CabinetmakerG
Cafeteria ManagerD
Carpenter IE
Carpenter IIF
Chief MechanicG
Clerk IB
Clerk IIC
Computer OperatorE
Cook IA
Cook IIB
Cook IIIC
Crew LeaderF
Custodian IA
Custodian IIB
Custodian IIIC
Custodian IVD
Director or Coordinator of ServicesH
DraftsmanD
Electrician IF
Electrician IIG
Electronic Technician IF
Electronic Technician IIG
Executive SecretaryG
Food Services SupervisorG
ForemanG
General MaintenanceC
GlazierD
Graphic ArtistD
GroundsmanB
HandymanB
Heating and Air Conditioning Mechanic IE
Heating and Air Conditioning Mechanic IIG
Heavy Equipment OperatorE
Inventory SupervisorD
Key Punch OperatorB
LocksmithG
Lubrication ManC
MachinistF
Mail ClerkD
Maintenance Clerk C
MasonG
MechanicF
Mechanic AssistantE
Office Equipment Repairman IF
Office Equipment Repairman IIG
PainterE
ParaprofessionalF
Plumber IE
Plumber IIG
Printing OperatorB
Printing SupervisorD
ProgrammerH
Roofing/Sheet Metal MechanicF
Sanitation Plant OperatorF
School Bus SupervisorE
Secretary ID
Secretary IIE
Secretary IIIF
Supervisor of MaintenanceH
Supervisor of TransportationH
Switchboard Operator-ReceptionistD
Truck DriverD
Warehouse ClerkC
WatchmanB
WelderF
(2) An additional ten dollars per month shall be added to the minimum monthly pay of each service employee who holds a high school diploma or its equivalent.
(3) An additional ten dollars per month also shall be added to the minimum monthly pay of each service employee for each of the following:
(A) A service employee who holds twelve college hours or comparable credit obtained in a trade or vocational school as approved by the state board;
(B) A service employee who holds twenty-four college hours or comparable credit obtained in a trade or vocational school as approved by the state board;
(C) A service employee who holds thirty-six college hours or comparable credit obtained in a trade or vocational school as approved by the state board;
(D) A service employee who holds forty-eight college hours or comparable credit obtained in a trade or vocational school as approved by the state board;
(E) A service employee who holds sixty college hours or comparable credit obtained in a trade or vocational school as approved by the state board; and
(F) A service employee who holds seventy-two college hours or comparable credit obtained in a trade or vocational school as approved by the state board;
(G) A service employee who holds eighty-four college hours or comparable credit obtained in a trade or vocational school as approved by the state board;
(H) A service employee who holds ninety-six college hours or comparable credit obtained in a trade or vocational school as approved by the state board;
(I) A service employee who holds one hundred eight college hours or comparable credit obtained in a trade or vocational school as approved by the state board; and
(J) A service employee who holds one hundred twenty college hours or comparable credit obtained in a trade or vocational school as approved by the state board.
(4) When any part of a school service employee's daily shift of work is performed between the hours of six o'clock p.m. and five o'clock a.m. the following day, the employee shall be paid no less than an additional ten dollars per month and one half of the pay shall be paid with local funds.
(5) Any service employee required to work on any legal school holiday shall be paid at a rate one and one-half times the employee's usual hourly rate.
(6) Any full-time service personnel required to work in excess of their normal working day during any week which contains a school holiday for which they are paid shall be paid for the additional hours or fraction of the additional hours at a rate of one and one-half times their usual hourly rate and paid entirely from county board funds.
(7) No service employee may have his or her daily work schedule changed during the school year without the employee's written consent and the employee's required daily work hours may not be changed to prevent the payment of time and one-half wages or the employment of another employee.
(8) The minimum hourly rate of pay for extra duty assignments as defined in section eight-b of this article shall be no less than one seventh of the employee's daily total salary for each hour the employee is involved in performing the assignment and paid entirely from local funds: Provided, That an alternative minimum hourly rate of pay for performing extra duty assignments within a particular category of employment may be utilized if the alternate hourly rate of pay is approved both by the county board and by the affirmative vote of a two- thirds majority of the regular full-time employees within that classification category of employment within that county: Provided, however, That the vote shall be by secret ballot if requested by a service personnel employee within that classification category within that county. The salary for any fraction of an hour the employee is involved in performing the assignment shall be prorated accordingly. When performing extra duty assignments, employees who are regularly employed on a one-half day salary basis shall receive the same hourly extra duty assignment pay computed as though the employee were employed on a full-day salary basis.
(9) The minimum pay for any service personnel employees engaged in the removal of asbestos material or related duties required for asbestos removal shall be their regular total daily rate of pay and no less than an additional three dollars per hour or no less than five dollars per hour for service personnel supervising asbestos removal responsibilities for each hour these employees are involved in asbestos related duties. Related duties required for asbestos removal include, but are not limited to, travel, preparation of the work site, removal of asbestos decontamination of the work site, placing and removal of equipment and removal of structures from the site. If any member of an asbestos crew is engaged in asbestos related duties outside of the employee's regular employment county, the daily rate of pay shall be no less than the minimum amount as established in the employee's regular employment county for asbestos removal and an additional thirty dollars per each day the employee is engaged in asbestos removal and related duties. The additional pay for asbestos removal and related duties shall be payable entirely from county funds. Before service personnel employees may be utilized in the removal of asbestos material or related duties, they shall have completed a federal Environmental Protection Act approved training program and be licensed. The employer shall provide all necessary protective equipment and maintain all records required by the Environmental Protection Act.
(10) For the purpose of qualifying for additional pay as provided in section eight, article five of this chapter, an aide shall be considered to be exercising the authority of a supervisory aide and control over pupils if the aide is required to supervise, control, direct, monitor, escort or render service to a child or children when not under the direct supervision of certificated professional personnel within the classroom, library, hallway, lunchroom, gymnasium, school building, school grounds or wherever supervision is required. For purposes of this section, "under the direct supervision of certificated professional personnel" means that certificated professional personnel is present, with and accompanying the aide.
§18A-4-8b. Seniority rights for school service personnel.
(a) A county board shall make decisions affecting promotions and the filling of any service personnel positions of employment or jobs occurring throughout the school year that are to be performed by service personnel as provided in section eight of this article, on the basis of seniority, qualifications and evaluation of past service.
(b) Qualifications shall mean that the applicant holds a classification title in his or her category of employment as provided in this section and must be given first opportunity for promotion and filling vacancies. Other employees then must be considered and shall qualify by meeting the definition of the job title as defined in section eight of this article, that relates to the promotion or vacancy. If requested by the employee, the board must show valid cause why an employee with the most seniority is not promoted or employed in the position for which he or she applies. Applicants shall be considered in the following order:
(1) Regularly employed service personnel;
(2) Service personnel whose employment has been discontinued in accordance with this section;
(3) Professional personnel who held temporary service personnel jobs or positions prior to the ninth day of June, one thousand nine hundred eighty-two, and who apply only for such temporary jobs or positions;
(4) Substitute service personnel; and
(5) New service personnel.
(c) The county board may not prohibit a service employee from retaining or continuing his or her employment in any positions or jobs held prior to the effective date of this section and thereafter.
(d) A promotion shall be defined as any change in his or her employment that the employee deems considers to improve his or her working circumstance within his or her classification category of employment and shall include a transfer to another classification category or place of employment if the position is not filled by an employee who holds a title within that classification category of employment. Each class title listed in section eight of this article shall be considered a separate classification category of employment for service personnel, except for those class titles having Roman numeral designations, which shall be considered a single classification of employment. The cafeteria manager class title shall be included in the same classification category as cooks. The executive secretary class title shall be included in the same classification category as secretaries. Paraprofessional, autism mentor and braille or sign language specialist class titles shall be included in the same classification category as aides.
(e) For purposes of determining seniority under this section an employee's seniority begins on the date that he or she enters into his or her assigned duties.
(f) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this chapter to the contrary, decisions affecting service personnel with respect to extra- duty assignments shall be made in the following manner: An employee with the greatest length of service time in a particular category of employment shall be given priority in accepting extra duty assignments, followed by other fellow employees on a rotating basis according to the length of their service time until all such employees have had an opportunity to perform similar assignments. The cycle then shall be repeated: Provided, That an alternative procedure for making extra-duty assignments within a particular classification category of employment may be utilized if the alternative procedure is approved both by the county board and by an affirmative vote of two thirds of the employees within that classification category of employment. For the purpose of this section, "extra-duty assignments" are defined as irregular jobs that occur periodically or occasionally such as, but not limited to, field trips, athletic events, proms, banquets and band festival trips.
(g) Boards shall be required to post and date notices of all job vacancies of established existing or newly created positions in conspicuous working places for all school service employees to observe for at least five working days. The notice of the job vacancies shall include the job description, the period of employment, the amount of pay and any benefits and other information that is helpful to the employees to understand the particulars of the job. Postings for vacancies shall be written so as to insure that the largest possible pool of qualified applicants may apply. Job postings may not require criteria which are not necessary for the successful performance of the job and may not be written with the intent to favor a specific applicant. After the five day minimum posting period all vacancies shall be filled within twenty working days from the posting date notice of any job vacancies of established existing or newly created positions.
(h) All decisions by county boards concerning reduction in work force of service personnel shall be made on the basis of seniority, as provided in this section.
(i) The seniority of any service personnel shall be determined on the basis of the length of time the employee has been employed by the county board within a particular job classification. For the purpose of establishing seniority for a preferred recall list as provided in this section, when an employee has been employed in one or more classifications, the seniority accrued in each previous classification shall be retained by the employee.
(j) If a county board is required to reduce the number of employees within a particular job classification, the employee with the least amount of seniority within that classification or grades of classification shall be properly released and employed in a different grade of that classification if there is a job vacancy subject to the following:
(1) Provided, That if If there is no job vacancy for employment within the classification or grades of classification, he or she shall be employed in any other job classification which he or she previously held with the county board if there is a vacancy and shall retain any seniority accrued in the job classification or grade of classification;
(2) An employee released from employment for lack of need as provided in sections eight-a or six, article two of this chapter shall be accorded preferred recall status on July first of the succeeding school year if the employee has not been reemployed as a regular employee; and
(3) If, prior to the first day of August after a reduction in force or transfer is approved, the reason for any particular reduction in force or transfer no longer exists as determined by the county board in its sole and exclusive judgment, the board shall rescind the reduction in force or the transfer and shall notify the affected employee in writing of his or her right to be restored to his or her former position of employment. Within five days of being so notified, the affected employee shall notify the board, in writing, of his or her intent to return to his or her former position of employment or the right of restoration to the former position shall terminate.
Provided, That the board shall not rescind the reduction in force of an employee until all employees with more seniority in the classification category on the preferred recall list have been offered the opportunity for recall to regular employment as provided in this section. If there are insufficient vacant positions to permit reemployment of all more senior employees on the preferred recall list within the classification category of the reduced in force employee, the position of the released employee shall be posted and filled in accordance with provisions of this section.
(k) If two or more employees accumulate identical seniority, the priority shall be determined by a random selection system established by the employees and approved by the county board.
(l) All employees whose seniority with the county board is insufficient to allow their retention by the county board during a reduction in work force shall be placed upon a preferred recall list and shall be recalled to employment by the county board on the basis of seniority.
(m) Employees placed upon the preferred list shall be recalled to any position openings by the county board within the classification(s), where they had previously been employed, or to any lateral position for which the employee is qualified or to a lateral area for which an employee has certification and/or licensure.
(n) Employees on the preferred recall list shall not forfeit their right to recall by the county board if compelling reasons require an employee to refuse an offer of reemployment by the county board.
(o) The county board shall notify all employees on the preferred recall list of all position openings that from time to time exist. The notice shall be sent by certified mail to the last known address of the employee; it is the duty of each such employee to notify the county board of any change in the address of the employee.
(p) No position openings may be filled by the county board, whether temporary or permanent, until all employees on the preferred recall list have been properly notified of existing vacancies and have been given an opportunity to accept reemployment.
(q) Any board failing to comply with the provisions of this article may be compelled to do so by mandamus and is liable to any party prevailing against the board for court costs and the prevailing party's reasonable attorney fee, as determined and established by the court. Further, employees denied promotion or employment in violation of this section shall be awarded the job, pay and any applicable benefits retroactively to the date of the violation and shall be paid entirely from local funds. Further, the board is liable to any party prevailing against the board for any court reporter costs including copies of transcripts.
§18A-4-19. Alteration of contract.

(a) Notwithstanding the provisions of section seven-a of this article relating to professional personnel or any other section of this code to the contrary, any alteration of an employment contract of a professional educator who is employed for more than two hundred days, which alteration changes the number of days in the employment term, shall not require termination of said employment contract as set forth in section two, article two of this chapter, nor shall not it be deemed a creation of a new position, nor shall such alteration require the posting of the position.
Notwithstanding the provisions of section seven-a of this article relating to professional personnel or any other section of this code to the contrary, any alteration of an employment contract of a professional educator which reduces or eliminates the local salary supplement or the benefits provided to such employee due to a defeat of a special levy, or a loss in assessed values or events over which it has no control and for which the county board has received approval from the state board prior to making such reduction or elimination in accordance with section five-a of this article, shall not require termination of said employment contract as set forth in section two, article two of this chapter, nor shall not it be deemed a creation of a new position, nor shall such alteration require the posting of the position.
(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of section eight-b of this article relating to school service personnel or any other section of this code to the contrary, any alteration of an employment contract of a service personnel employee who is employed for more than two hundred days, which alteration changes the number of days in the employment term, shall not require termination of said employment contract as set forth in section six, article two of this chapter, nor shall not it be deemed a creation of a new position, nor shall such alteration require the posting of the position.
Notwithstanding the provisions of section eight-b of this article relating to school service personnel or any other section of this code to the contrary, any alteration of an employment contract of a service personnel employee which reduces or eliminates the local salary supplement or the benefits provided to such employee due to a defeat of a special levy, or a loss in assessed values or events over which it has no control and for which the county board has received approval from the state board prior to making such reduction or elimination in accordance with section five-b of this article, shall not require termination of said employment contract as set forth in section six, article two of this chapter, nor shall not it be deemed a creation of a new position, nor shall such alteration require the posting of the position.
ARTICLE 5. AUTHORITY; RIGHTS; RESPONSIBILITY.
§18A-5-8. Authority of certain aides to exercise control over pupils; compensation; transfers.

(a) Within the limitations provided herein, any aide who agrees to do so shall stand in the place of the parent or guardian and shall exercise such authority and control over pupils as is required of a teacher as defined and provided in section one of this article. The principal shall designate aides in the school who agree to exercise that authority on the basis of seniority as an aide and shall enumerate the instances in which the authority shall be exercised by an aide when requested by the principal, assistant principal or professional employee to whom the aide is assigned: Provided, That the authority does not extend to suspending or expelling any pupil, participating in the administration of corporal punishment or performing instructional duties as a teacher or substitute teacher.
(b) An aide designated by the principal under this subsection shall receive a salary not less than one pay grade above the highest pay grade held by the employee under section eight-a, article four of this chapter, and any county salary schedule in excess of the minimum requirements of this article.
(b) (c) An aide may not be required by the operation of this section to perform noninstructional duties for an amount of time which exceeds that required under the aide's contract of employment or that required of other aides in the same school, unless the assignment of such duties is mutually agreed upon by the aide and the county superintendent, or the superintendent's designated representative, subject to board approval. The terms and conditions of the agreement shall be in writing, signed by both parties, and may include additional benefits. The agreement shall be uniform as to aides assigned similar duties for similar amounts of time within the same school. Aides shall have the option of agreeing to supervise students and of renewing related assignments annually: Provided, That should an aide elect not to renew the previous agreement to supervise students, the minimum salary of the aide shall revert to the pay grade specified in section eight-a, article four of this chapter for the classification title held by the aide and any county salary schedule in excess of the minimum requirements of this article.
(c) (d) For the purposes of this section, aide shall mean and include any aide class title as defined in section eight, article four of this chapter, regardless of numeric classification.
(e) Notwithstanding any provision of this code to the contrary, no aide may be transferred from one job position to another position within a school or to a position in another school unless the aide is the successful applicant of a posted position as provided in section eight- b, article four, of this chapter and no aide may be transferred from a job position unless the aide's classroom job is abolished. Should it be necessary to reduce the number of aides in a school for the ensuing school year by eliminating their positions, the affected aides shall be notified of their being recommended for transfer and subsequent assignment in compliance with the requirements of section seven, article two, of this chapter. An aide shall not be required as a condition of accepting a position to waive any right to which the employee is entitled under section seven, article two of this chapter or section eight-b, article four of this chapter nor shall any designation or title applied to an aide position negate compliance with these provisions.
(d) (f) An aide may transfer to another position of employment one time only during any one half of a school term, unless otherwise mutually agreed upon by the aide and the county superintendent, or the superintendent's designee, subject to board approval: Provided, That during the first year of employment as an aide, an aide may not transfer to another position of employment during the first one-half school term of employment, unless mutually agreed upon by the aide and county superintendent, subject to board approval.
(e) (g) Regular service personnel employed in a category of employment other than aide who seek employment as an aide shall hold a high school diploma or shall have received a general educational development certificate and shall have the opportunity to receive appropriate training pursuant to subsection (10), section thirteen, article five, chapter eighteen of this code and section two, article twenty of said chapter.
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