BLUEFIELD — On Nov. 8, voters in West Virginia will decide the fate of four amendments, one of which will affect the decision-making authority of the state school board.
The Fourth Amendment, the Education Accountability Amendment, amends the State Constitution to clarify that “rules and policies promulgated by the State Board of Education are subject to legislative review, approval, amendment, or overrule.” It is intended to
In other words, any new rules or policies, or changes to the current policy by the Board, require the approval of legislators.
The amendment attracted support from Republican lawmakers, lukewarm approval from Governor Jim Justice, strong opposition from the West Virginia Education Association, and, at least initially, strong opposition from the former state superintendent and state board of education. I was. .
When lawmakers approved the amendment to the ballot earlier this year, the State Board of Education (WVBE), led by former state school superintendents Clayton Birch and Miller Hall, opposed the move.
“The West Virginia Board of Education (WVBE) is made up of citizens of diverse backgrounds and educational expertise appointed by the governor and approved by the Senate for overlapping terms,” the WVBE statement said. I’m here. “This ensures continuity and balance of political and geographic representation and creates stability in decision-making.”
The state commission said it was also a problem that those who make decisions about education are directly involved in education.
“Governance by a nonpartisan state school board not only provides a consistent and stable base for public schools, but also a panel of professionals from diverse backgrounds relevant to state teachers, students and families.” said the statement. Said. “The Board is able to respond quickly to the needs of educators and students, as we have seen most prominently during the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Former state superintendent Clayton Birch said education policy should not be guided by “the winds of political change.”
“We often talk about the need to pivot to meet the escalating and changing needs of the education community,” Birch said after the March vote. Flexibility to move nimbly and efficiently to support educators, staff, for example met with minimal notice to issue waivers. traveled across the state to hold conferences to listen to the concerns of Instead, we must remain focused on the progress and development of our students.”
However, both Birch and Hall no longer hold these positions, with Birch requesting to be superintendent of the state’s schools for the deaf and blind, a request granted by the judiciary.
Birch was replaced by David L. Roach.
Hall resigned and was replaced by Paul Hardesty.
Christie Day, director of public affairs for the West Virginia Department of Education, said neither Roach nor Hardesty had expressed an opinion on the Fourth Amendment, nor did they plan to do so.
House Speaker Roger Hanshaw (R-Clay County) was recently in Princeton to voice his support for the Fourth Amendment.
Hanshaw said that “a full half” of the state’s revenue budget is spent on public education, but lawmakers are concerned about “how that money is spent or how the public education system is implemented and We have little control over what is offered.”
That said, unlike nearly all other government agencies, which require “final approval” from legislators for actions related to rules and policies, the school board is now exempt from outlining the rulemaking process. for the sake of it, he said. .
This should be extended to state boards of education, he said, adding that the amendments “will have no impact on their operational processes”, but that rules or policies should be enforced before they are decided. Implemented.
But Dale Lee, president of the West Virginia Education Association, says there are reasons why school boards are exempt from this type of legislative oversight.
“There’s a reason our ancestors made education a priority,” he said. “They wanted our children to have a fair and efficient public education. there is.”
Lee said that if the Fourth Amendment is passed, legislators will be able to veto or modify rules and policies “in any way.”
“The passage of the Fourth Amendment brings political instability into our classrooms,” he said.
The amendment would take control out of the hands of nonpartisan education professionals and put it in the hands of “60 days of partisan lawmakers.”
Attorney General recently backed the 4th Amendment primarily because it could help the state avoid becoming “California,” citing an incident in which controversial ideas were introduced into the public school system. I showed you to.
“For the most part, they’re really good people,” he said of state education leaders. “They are down to earth and their thoughts are as sound and solid as they can be. But on the other hand, we really don’t know what we’re going to run into.”
State education leaders are “doing a good job.” But the Fourth Amendment can “preempt the extremists.”
Lee said state boards of education have procedures in place to allow for substantive input before action is taken, so legislators won’t have to scrutinize or approve changes.
“Now, once a policy is submitted to a state board, there is a 30-day comment period,” he said, giving everyone a chance to provide their input.
Policy changes are based on those comments, and some of the suggestions will be subject to a second review based on those comments, he said.
The legislator’s version would hold a one-hour public comment period, giving each speaker 75 seconds, he said.
Lee said regardless of what they say, legislators “will pass what they want anyway.”
“Who do you want to make decisions about education?” he said.
Lee also said parents can get involved in education at the local level through organizations such as the PTSA (Parents, Teachers and Students Association) and by attending and speaking at school board meetings. He also said he was already involved.
— Contact Charles Boothe at cbootthe@bdtonline.com
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