This bill amends the Code of West Virginia to include school athletic directors among the professional personnel eligible for state minimum salary supplements and educational expense reimbursements for holding nationally recognized professional certifications. Specifically, it recognizes certifications from the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (NIAAA) and establishes that school athletic directors, like other certified professionals in speech-language pathology, audiology, counseling, school psychology, and school nursing, should receive a salary supplement of $2,500 annually, as well as reimbursement for certification-related expenses.

The bill also modifies existing language by removing references to "school nursing" in certain sections and replacing it with "athletic director," thereby expanding the scope of recognized certifications. Additionally, it sets a limit on the number of professionals eligible for reimbursement and salary supplements, ensuring that the total number of recipients does not exceed a specified cap in any given fiscal year. The state board is tasked with establishing criteria for eligibility and reporting on the implementation of these provisions.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 18A-4-2b
Engrossed Version: 18A-4-2b