CHARLESTON — Delegates will propose a lot of changes to an education bill that’s already big.
The omnibus education bill is on second reading on the House of Delegates floor today. That’s amendment stage. House leaders voted to consider all other issues today first and save the education bill for last.
The 125-page bill that would make a variety of changes to West Virginia’s school system. It would bundle long-promised pay raises with charter schools, a change to authority over local school levies, banking of unused personal days and more.
Partway through this morning, delegates had proposed more than 30 amendments. It’s likely those offerings will increase closer to the 11 a.m. floor session.
Delegate Marshall Wilson, R-Berkeley, proposes 14 amendments as a single delegate.
Here are some of the highlights:
Delegate Mick Bates, Jason Barrett, Brent Boggs, Amanda Estep-Burton, Linda Longstreth, Larry Rowe, Sean Hornbuckle, Dave Pethtel, Isaac Sponaugle, John Williams and William Hartman propose removing several sections of the bill in their entirety.
Delegates Bates, Hornbuckle and Rowe have another proposal to remove sections of the bill, but not quite as many.
Delegates Paul Espinosa, Marshall Wilson, Tom Bibby and Terry Waxman would add a section establishing educational savings accounts, which set aside taxpayer dollars for students moving from public school to private education.
Delegates Espinosa, Daryl Cowles, Bibby and Wilson propose boosting the number of charter schools to five.
House Judiciary Chairman John Shott proposes returning language that would reduce the role of seniority in determining staff reductions, instead relying on qualifications as determined by county boards.
Delegate Daniel Linville suggests removing a section giving county school boards — with citizen votes — the authority to move local school levies to a maximum. Delegate Terri Sypolt would change that same section to clarify voter approval in a general election.
Delegates Doug Skaff, Ed Evans and Eric Nelson propose boosting a bonus for teachers who use four personal days or less during the year from $500 to $1,500.
Delegate Caleb Hanna proposes a change to establish a 1,500 student floor for the school aid formula. The bill already would make a 1,400 student floor. That would give more shrinking counties a boost in per-student funding.
Delegate Joe Jeffries proposes limiting school superintendents’ salaries to no more than $130,000.
Delegates Isaac Sponaugle and Sean Hornbuckle propose giving counties more flexibility to have law enforcement personnel in schools.
Delegates Espinosa, Bibby, Wilson and Cowles propose changes to conditions under which county boards may suspend or dismiss school personnel. It adds a finding of abuse by DHHR or a misdemeanor relevant to the job as grounds. They are Eastern Panhandle delegates responding to reports of a classroom abuse allegation.
Delegate Skaff proposes adhering counseling services available for students to national guidelines.
Delegates Bates, Hornbuckle and Hartman propose a study of the cost of achieving adequate educational outcomes consistent with the constitutional requirement of a “thorough and efficient education.”
