HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 41
(By Delegates Proudfoot, J. Martin, Prezioso,
Heck,
Anderson, Compton, Everson, Azinger, Mezzatesta,
Williams, Michael and Yeager)
..
Directing the Joint Committee on Government and Finance to make
a study of the unique educational funding needs of the rural
counties of the State.
Whereas, The pupil per square mile ratio is thirty-five times
less in the least densely populated county of this State composed
to the most densely populated county; and
Whereas, Rural counties are forced to use a higher percentage
of their service employee allocation for bus drivers because
their pupil population is dispersed over a wider geographic area;
and
Whereas, A higher percentage of rural county students
participate in school lunch programs which require the hiring of
more cooks; and
Whereas, A need exists to compile and review the unfunded
mandates which have been placed upon county boards of education
and which are not covered in the state aid formula; and
Whereas, Unreimbursed costs are a much greater burden for
rural counties which takes money away from instructional
programs; and
Whereas, Research has shown there is a strong relationshipbetween poverty and the need for remedial education; and
Whereas, Rural counties have a higher percentage of students
who qualify for special education and have a higher incidence of
handicapping conditions; and
Whereas, The current funding limit for professional employees
should contain a sparsity factor and a poverty factor; therefore,
be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance is hereby
directed to make a study of the unique educational funding needs
of the rural counties of the State; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Joint Committee or Government and
Finance report to the regular session of the Legislature, 1996,
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.