The bill amends sections 18-5-1a and 18-5-4 of the Code of West Virginia to enhance the training and orientation requirements for county board of education members. It mandates that all newly elected or appointed members complete an orientation training within 30 days of being sworn in or appointed, with provisions for make-up training if they miss the initial session for good cause. Additionally, the bill increases the annual training hours required from county board members to twelve and allows the West Virginia Board of Education to mandate further training as necessary. It also removes the January 1 deadline for fulfilling training requirements in the final year of a four-year term, while establishing a new exception to this rule.

Furthermore, the bill introduces a compensation structure for board members, setting the rate at $260 per meeting attended unless a lower rate is approved by the board. It also stipulates that members in default of training requirements will not receive compensation for meetings held during the period of default, although they can cure this default by completing the necessary training within three months. The bill includes provisions for the establishment of a County Board Member Training Standards Review Committee, which will oversee training standards and report annually on training participation and related activities.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 18-5-1a
Committee Substitute: 18-5-1a, 18-5-4
Engrossed Committee Substitute: 18-5-1a, 18-5-4
Enrolled Committee Substitute: 18-5-1a, 18-5-4