The Senate Education Committee has laid over a bill requested by Governor Justice that would abolish Regional Education Service Agencies (RESA) and funding by July 1, 2017.
The bill, HB 2711, would also provide authority for county school systems to share services, modify school accreditation and accountability measures, alter school and school system intervention procedures and requirements and reduce statewide student assessment requirements.
Committee counsel said the purpose of the bill is to reduce state bureaucracy and restore local control through increased flexibility in regulations for county school systems.
The original 2 percent pay raise for teachers has since been removed from the bill by the House.
Senator Robert Karnes, R-Upshur, moved to amend the committee’s technical strike-and-insert amendment by adding a provision that would require the Legislature to approve of decisions made by the State Board of Education.
Karnes said the amendment would help to slow down the process of studying standards imposed on public education in the state.
Senator Mike Romano, D-Harrison, said he was concerned that doing so would deteriorate progress in the school system further, as well as force the Legislature to go into a Special Session each year while considering and debating each standard suggested by the Board.
State Superintendent of Schools Dr. Steven Paine said the amendment would conflict with the State Board of Education’s constitution.
Heather Hutchens, general counsel for the WV Dept. of Education, and Clayton Burch, a chief officer for the WV Dept. of Education, both said they agreed with Dr. Paine’s concerns.
Education Chair Kenny Mann, R-Monroe, called for a recess for the Republican party of the committee to caucus in the back of the room. Upon reentry, Mann made a motion to pull the bill from the agenda and adjourned the meeting.
