The bill proposes the addition of a new section, 18-5-13e, to the Code of West Virginia, 1931, establishing a moratorium on public school closures and consolidations. This moratorium will remain in effect until the West Virginia Department of Education (WVDE) reviews and proposes changes to the School Aid Formula, aimed at preventing the closure of at least 80% of schools currently or previously considered for closure due to financial and operational factors. The WVDE is tasked with reviewing closures from the current year and the previous four fiscal years and making recommendations to the legislature.

Under this bill, school closures and consolidations will only be permitted in cases of catastrophic structural failure or ongoing, unresolvable safety and health hazards. The moratorium will remain in place until the legislature receives the proposal to revise the School Aid Formula and takes action regarding the implementation or rejection of those recommendations. This legislation aims to protect schools from closure during the review process, ensuring that financial considerations are adequately addressed before any decisions are made.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 18-5-13e