HB3387 HFA Dillon 3-26 #1
Kidd 4753
Delegate Dillon moves to amend the committee substitute for House Bill 3387 on page 1, by striking out everything after the enacting clause and inserting in lieu thereof the following:
(a) Legislative findings – The Legislature finds that certain county school districts across West Virginia face challenges related to accessibility of central office staff and board of education members, funding allocation between schools, population disparities within counties, equal operational support between schools, topography which shapes communities and populations within counties, and priorities which often differ between communities within the same county. In many cases, citizens located outside centers of population and influence feel isolated and disenfranchised by decisions made by their county school board members. With this knowledge, the Legislature recognizes the need to:
(1) Provide a more localized alternative to county school districts when necessary;
(2) Plan for benefits and challenges that may come with modifying county school districts; and
(3) Determine issues that communities within counties are dealing with that are not being adequately addressed by a county board of education.
(b) Enactment. –
(1) The Legislature finds that the citizens within counties may implement a pilot programs to form community school districts to address ongoing issues unaddressed by county districts.
(2) A community school district shall consist of one high school and all other schools of lower grade levels which feed into it. A community school district shall be proposed to the public by a majority vote of each of the Local School Improvement Councils of the schools located within the proposed community school district. Upon meeting the necessary threshold of LSIC support, each proposed participating school shall hold a public meeting for purposes of voting to accept or reject the proposal. A quorum of parents representing at least 25% of the student body of each school, respectively, shall be required to hold a legal vote. Residents eighteen years of age or more who live within the community in question as well as faculty and staff of the school may also vote on the question. Principal or assistant principal of each school shall serve as chair of the meeting, maintain order during discussion of question, and record names of those in attendance with their corresponding votes and subsequently report same to the county board of education, the Department of Education, LOCEA, and at least one certified newspaper. Community school district shall elect three board of education members, which shall hire and set terms of employment for one superintendent of community school district.
(3) The pilot program shall consist of up to three counties and as authorized by the Legislature, who are aggrieved because of issues that are not being adequately addressed by a county board of education: Provided, That a study resolution may be prepared to address the consideration of additional counties into the pilot program, if necessary.
(4) Effective July 1, 2025, at the discretion of the State Board of Education, the initial pilot program may begin.
(5) Community school districts may consolidate schools, make financial decisions, and otherwise hold the same powers otherwise provided to county boards of education.
(6) The decision of the leadership of the community school districts shall supersede any decisions made by the county board of education within the community school district.
(c) Rulemaking. – The State Board of Education is authorized to submit rules for legislative consideration pursuant to §29A-3-1 et seq. of this code to determine legislative changes required to aid in the orderly and efficient process during the community school district unification process and during the phase-out period prior to the termination of the county school districts. Further, the superintendent of each community school district shall report annually to LOCEA regarding the pilot program set forth in this section.
Adopted
Rejected