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 adds the certification from the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (NIAAA) to the existing list of recognized certifications, which includes speech-language pathology, audiology, counseling, school psychology, and school nursing. The bill emphasizes the importance of these certifications in promoting high-quality services in schools and aims to encourage professionals to attain and maintain such certifications through financial incentives.

In addition to recognizing athletic directors, the bill outlines the provisions for an annual salary supplement of $2,500 for certified professionals, which will be paid in monthly installments and considered part of the state minimum salaries for teachers. It also establishes eligibility criteria for reimbursement of certification fees and expenses, with a cap on the number of professionals eligible for reimbursement each fiscal year. The state board is tasked with creating rules for the selection of eligible individuals, prioritizing the length of certification and years of experience. Overall, the bill seeks to enhance the recruitment and retention of qualified professionals in West Virginia's public schools.

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