How SB 727 changes current law

Compared against the W. Va. Code as published AI-generated reading aid — verify against the official bill.

The bill expands the definition of faculty senate membership to include early childhood classroom assistant teachers and updates various procedural requirements within the framework of the faculty senate.

• W. Va. Code § 18-5A-5

  professional educators employed at the school who shall all be voting members. → professional educators, and may include early childhood classroom assistant teachers, employed at the school who shall all be voting members.

  The faculty senate now includes early childhood classroom assistant teachers as voting members.

• W. Va. Code § 18-5A-5

  may appoint such committees as may be desirable to study → may appoint such committees as may be desirable needed to study

  Clarifies the language to emphasize the necessity of committees appointed by the chair of the faculty senate.

• W. Va. Code § 18-5A-5

  but the acts of the faculty senate shall be voted upon by the full body. → but the acts of the faculty senate shall be voted upon by the full body members present during a meeting.

  Specifies that votes on faculty senate acts require a quorum of members present at the meeting.

• W. Va. Code § 18-5A-5

  A faculty senate may establish a process for members to interview or otherwise obtain information regarding applicants for classroom teaching vacancies that will enable the faculty senate to submit recommendations regarding employment to the principal. → A faculty senate shall establish a process for members to interview or otherwise obtain information regarding applicants for classroom teaching, and early childhood classroom assistant teacher vacancies that will enable the faculty senate to submit recommendations regarding employment to the principal.

  Mandates that faculty senates establish a process for interviews regarding both teaching and assistant teacher vacancies.

• W. Va. Code § 18-5A-5

  participation and input of early childhood classroom assistant teacher when information regarding applicants for the early childhood classroom assistant teacher vacancies is being obtained; that the early childhood classroom assistant teacher be employed at the school with the vacancy; → participation and input of early childhood classroom assistant teacher when information regarding applicants for the early childhood classroom assistant teacher vacancies is being obtained; that the early childhood classroom assistant teacher be employed at the school with the vacancy; and that no service person applying for the position be included in the process beyond his or her role as an applicant for the position.

  Clarifies the involvement process for early childhood classroom assistant teachers in the hiring recommendations.

• W. Va. Code § 18-5A-5

  may nominate teachers for recognition as outstanding teachers under state and local teacher recognition programs and other personnel at the school, including parents, for recognition under other appropriate recognition programs and may establish such programs for operation at the school. → may nominate teachers or early classroom childhood assistant teacher for recognition as outstanding teachers under state and local teacher recognition programs and other personnel at the school, including parents, for recognition under other appropriate recognition programs and may establish such programs for operation at the school.

  Allows nominations for outstanding teacher recognition to include early childhood classroom assistant teachers.

• W. Va. Code § 18-5A-5

  may establish a process for the review and comment on sabbatical leave requests submitted by employees at the school pursuant to section eleven, article two of this chapter. → may establish a process for the review and comment on sabbatical leave requests submitted by employees at the school pursuant to section eleven, article two of this chapter §18-2-11 of this code.

  Clarifies the citation for the sabbatical leave requests in compliance with existing law.

• W. Va. Code § 18-5A-5

  at least six two-hour blocks of time for faculty senate meetings with at least one two-hour block of time scheduled in the first month of the employment term, one two-hour block of time scheduled in the last month of the employment term and at least one two-hour block of time scheduled in each of the months of October, December, February and April. → at least six three two-hour blocks of time for faculty senate meetings with at least one two-hour block of time scheduled in the first month of the employment term, one two-hour block of time scheduled in the last month of the employment term and at least one two-hour block of time scheduled in each of the months of October, December, February, and April determined by the county board of education emergency meetings may be held where needed subject to approval.

  Increases the number of required time blocks for faculty senate meetings and provides flexibility for emergency meetings.