SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 51

(By Senators Sypolt, Williams, Stollings and Boso)

[Introduced February 27, 2016]

Requesting the Joint Committee on Government and Finance to conduct an interim study of the governance structure of the Regional Educational Service Agencies.

Whereas, A primary responsibility of the State Legislature is to ensure a thorough and efficient education for the children of the state; and

Whereas, The eight Regional Educational Service Agencies have a duty to provide for services to local school districts which reflect the needs of the individual districts and schools; and

Whereas, Current governance of RESAs is centralized with the West Virginia Board of

Education; and

Whereas, Decisions regarding staffing and programming at the RESAs may be more

efficient and responsive to the needs of local school districts at a regional level as opposed to being centralized at the state level; 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 and related issues with regards to moving the governance of RESAs to regional level Boards of Governors as opposed to the West Virginia Board of Education; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance report to the

Joint Committee on Education, 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.