HB 5434
Creating a moratorium for two years on school closures and providing for a pause on impending school closures.
Take action
Record your position on this measure.
Sign in to record your position, submit testimony, or contact your legislator.
Sign in to take action- Introduced
- Passed House of Delegates
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Bill overview
This bill creates a two-year moratorium on school closures and consolidations in West Virginia, aiming to provide time for revisions to the state’s school funding formula. It also pauses any planned closures that are currently underway, allowing counties to consider holding an emergency levy election. The bill outlines specific requirements for how school boards must conduct public hearings and provide information to the public before making decisions about closures.
Key provisions
- Establishes a two-year moratorium on school closures and consolidations.
- Requires county boards to provide detailed reasons and impact statements for proposed closures.
- Mandates public hearings for each proposed closure, with specific requirements for notice and participation.
- Requires the state board to develop rules for conducting public hearings and ensuring fairness.
- Specifies data that must be included in impact statements, covering student transportation, financial impacts, enrollment capacity, school personnel, and community effects.
- Provides for state supplementation of minimum expenses associated with planned closures until funding formula revisions take effect.
- Allows counties to hold emergency levy elections to fund closures if desired.
- Sets deadlines for the state board to promulgate necessary rules.
Who is affected
- Students
- School Districts
- County Boards of Education
- School Personnel
- West Virginia Residents
Arguments in favor
Reasons to support this legislation.
No arguments in favor have been submitted.
Submit yoursArguments opposed
Reasons to oppose this legislation.
No arguments opposed have been submitted.
Submit yours