The bill amends West Virginia Code 18A-2-5 to eliminate the requirement for cooks and custodians employed by county boards of education to possess a high school diploma or a general educational development certificate (GED) as a condition of employment. Previously, the law mandated that all new hires, with certain exceptions, must have obtained a high school diploma or GED or be enrolled in an approved adult education course aimed at obtaining a GED. This requirement will no longer apply specifically to cooks and custodians, thereby broadening the pool of potential candidates for these positions.

The bill maintains other existing provisions regarding the employment of service personnel, including the stipulation that service personnel must execute a written contract with the county board of education before starting their duties. It also retains the requirement for the board to keep records of employment and the conditions under which personnel may be dismissed. Overall, this legislative change aims to facilitate hiring practices for essential school service roles by removing educational barriers for cooks and custodians.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 18A-2-5
Committee Substitute: 18A-2-5
Engrossed Committee Substitute: 18A-2-5
Enrolled Committee Substitute: 18A-2-5