Jonathan Kyle, R-District 66, and Elias Coop-Gonzalez, R-District 67, were joined by two other delegates in introducing House Bill 4646, which would “provide for the creation of the Remote Schools Support Act.”

The bill was introduced on the House floor on Jan. 21. Currently, HB 4646 is pending in the House Education Committee. It is also sponsored by Delegate Mark Dean, R-District 34, and Delegate Lori Dittman, R-District 63.

HB 4646, if passed, would amend and reenact §18-9A-2 of the Code of West Virginia by adding a new section that defines an “extremely remote school” and sets forth the requirements for what makes a school “extremely remote.”

The bill would also establish the Remote Schools Support Act, which would provide additional support to these types of schools by “addressing costs of building operations, funding for schools to prepare for extreme weather and funding for professional development.” The act would also ensure that “no county board may close an extremely remote school.”

Kyle

HB 4646 states that an “extremely remote school” is, as determined by the State Superintendent, a school that is located 20 travel miles or more from an existing public school, public charter school and private school, a school that is located 20 travel miles within the county of the remote school and a school that serves a minimum of 20 students. All three criteria must be met for a school to be considered “extremely remote.”

HB 4646 also states that, “For the purposes of determining the county’s basic foundation program only, any student enrolled in an extremely remote school as defined by this section shall be considered to be a total of 2.5 students.”

The bill gives eight examples of current West Virginia schools that qualify as “extremely remote,” including Harman K-12 School and Pickens K-12 School.

In December, the West Virginia Department of Education voted unanimously to approve closure of Harman School after the Randolph County Board of Education voted 4-1 to close the school in October.

Harman School will be shuttered at the end of this school year, along with North Elementary. Under the closure plan, Harman’s current students will attend Jennings Randolph Elementary, Elkins Middle School and Elkins High School.

HB 4646 explains that the purpose of establishing the Remote Schools Support Act is to address challenges faced by “extremely remote schools.” 

Such challenges, according to the bill, include the ongoing costs of building operations, including utilities, heating, snow removal, routine maintenance, repairs and upgrades to “ensure buildings remain safe, energy efficient and operational year-round.” The act would also tackle funding to prepare for extreme weather and for professional development “tailored to rural and multi-grade teaching environments.”

Under HB 4646, any county board of education with students enrolled in an “extremely remote school” shall receive additional state aid to keep the extremely remote school open. No county board will be able to close an “extremely remote school.” 

County BOEs will have to submit any documentation requested by the State Superintendent that is necessary to determine whether the school is “extremely remote,” as well any documentation required to show use of funds and impact on schools.

“Any county receiving additional funding as a result of one or more of its schools qualifying as being an extremely remote school shall submit reports to the State Superintendent annually on how the funds were used and their impact on student safety, education quality and operational sustainability,” HB 4646 states. “The State Superintendent shall compile the reports and report the data to the Legislative Oversight Commission on Education Accountability.

“The report also shall include the State Superintendent’s assessment on the program’s effectiveness and may include recommendations on funding adjustments or any other recommendations.”

According to HB 4646, a “extremely remote school” will also be able to request a waiver from any requirement, including school personnel related requirements.