The Senate Education Committee met Tuesday morning to discuss bills regarding the Board of Education, non-traditional instruction days, and athletic training in secondary schools.
Senate Bill 176 would extend the number of non-traditional instruction days for instructors from five to 10 days, which would count toward the 180 required days of school instruction.
This bill aims to clarify the number of non-traditional instructional days for teachers.
The legislation was reported to the full Senate with a recommendation of passage, first being reported to the committee on Finance.
Senate Bill 232 would establish the West Virginia Secondary School Athletic Trainer and Career Technical Education Program Act.
This bill would establish a five-year program to have licensed athletic trainers in all secondary high schools in West Virginia.
The bill was reported to the full Senate with a recommendation of passage, first being reported to the committee on Finance.
Career and technical education (CTE) programs for athletic training would be present in each high school through the Board of Education. The program would be fully implemented by July 1, 2031, and all secondary schools must have a licensed athletic trainer on staff.
Senate Bill 694 would no longer require a county superintendent of schools to reside in the county in which he or she serves or in a contiguous county.
The county superintendent would be appointed by the board upon a majority vote of the members and serve for a term of no less than one year and no more than four years.
Senator Trenton Barnhart (R – Pleasants, 03) proposed an amendment that would require the county superintendent to be within a one-hour drive from the board office instead of a two-hour drive, to encourage being in the local area of the community.
After the discussion, Senator Barnhart withdrew his amendment.
Senate Craig Hart (R–Mingo, 06) proposed a conceptual amendment limiting the state board’s authority and granting authority to the elected board of education when electing a superintendent within a county.
Following the discussion, the amendment was rejected.
Senator Scott Fuller (R – Wayne, 05) proposed an amendment to not require a time limit for the county superintendent.
The amendment was adopted.
The bill, as amended, was reported to the full Senate with a recommendation of passage.
