Senate Education Focuses On School Security, Classroom Aides

The Senate Education committee took up two bills Tuesday to try to improve school security, a legislative focus for years. 

Schools have been required in code to provide their updated floor plans to first responders and local law enforcement annually since 2019. House Bill 3166 would standardize requirements for the mapping, including a true north orientation, detailed labeling and publication in formats used by local first responders.

House Bill 2164 would allow for public and private schools in West Virginia to employ security personnel and standardize their training.

Sen. Scott Allen Fuller, R-Wayne, applauded the bill as necessary not only for school security but for strained police departments.

“I see this as a very critical need for our schools, because the fact is that there are police officers that do volunteer for this or work as a school resource officer,” he said. “But all the departments across the state are so short handed now that it really becomes a burden on the departments. I think this is a great idea. I think it’s a great bill.”

Both school security bills were advanced to the full Senate. The committee also took up House Bill 2635, which would ensure that classroom sizes are equal without losing a teacher’s aide.

The bill is intended to ensure aides can be best utilized and one-on-one time with teachers and students can be maximized, but senators were quick to question what constituted equal, and whether the teacher’s aide requirement creates an unfunded hiring mandate.

Sonya White, deputy state superintendent, told lawmakers that at least one county estimated having to hire 24 additional aides if the bill passed.

Sen. Eric Tarr, R-Putnam, said he could not understand how the bill did not carry a fiscal note if it was not included in the school aid formula.

“I would assume that…a school board, since this is mandated, this becomes something they’re going to have to cut something else that maybe is not mandated in order to fund it,” he said.

The bill was laid over for a later meeting.

“In lieu of the discussion we’ve had, we do need some more work on this bill. Therefore, I move that this bill we laid over to a future meeting,” said Committee vice chair Sen. Charles H. Clements, R-Wetzel. “This is a House bill. We’re not under the gun to get it done today, and so I think we can have the opportunity to work out some of the bumps in the road and bring this bill back at a later date.”