HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 64
(By Delegates Fragale, Miley, Cann and Iaquinta)
Requesting the Joint Committee on Government and Finance to study
the feasibility, efficiency, effectiveness and educational
advantages of consolidating the fifty-five county school
districts into twenty-seven school districts.
Whereas, Education is a vital resource and responsibility of
the State of West Virginia and the nation as a whole for the
purpose of economic competitiveness in a global economy; and
Whereas, Providing economic resources for education at the
primary and secondary levels in the state plays a vital part in the
role of economic competitiveness in West Virginia for both
maintaining existing jobs and attracting new ones; and
Whereas, Education plays a vital role in allowing the state's
residents to obtain the highest paying jobs available; and
Whereas, State funding, in periods of economic downturn in
particular, is a scarce resource; and
Whereas, Methods for using the scarce resource of state funds
in the most efficient and effective way for education in the state
is a much needed and worthy endeavor to achieve educational, and in
turn economic, excellence; and
Whereas, In accordance with Article XII, section three of the
West Virginia Constitution and section one, article five, chapter
eighteen of the Code of West Virginia, each county in the state has
its own county school board, totaling fifty-five school districts
in the state; and
Whereas, Consolidation of these fifty-five county school
districts into twenty-seven school districts throughout the state
may be an excellent method to use scarce resources in an efficient
and effective manner to achieve better educational results and
educational excellence in the state; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance is hereby
requested to study the feasibility, efficiency, effectiveness and
educational advantages of consolidating the fifty-five county
school districts into twenty-seven school districts; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Joint Committee on Government and
Finance report to the regular session of the Legislature, 2007, on
its findings, conclusions and recommendations, together with drafts
of any legislation necessary to effectuate its recommendations;
and, be it
Further Resolved, That the expenses necessary to conduct this
study, to prepare a report and to draft necessary legislation be
paid from legislative appropriations to the Joint Committee on
Government and Finance.