SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 81

(By Senators Browning, Plymale, Wells, Beach, Edgell, Foster, Laird, Stollings, Tucker, Unger and Boley)

[Originating in the Committee on Education]

Requesting the Joint Committee on Government and Finance study methods of improving the fairness of competition between public and nonpublic schools in West Virginia.

    Whereas, Private schools with no zoning limitations can draw students from wider areas than public schools that draw students mostly from attendance zones defined by the county board; and

    Whereas, This puts public schools that are currently combined with private schools in the same classification at a disadvantage when competing in interscholastic activities; and

    Whereas, One option would be to completely separate all private schools into one classification so that they would compete with other private schools with similar student bodies; and

    Whereas, Another option would be to allow private schools to compete with public schools in the existing three classifications with the assigned classification for the private school being based on the private school’s current geographical pull area and recruitment ability rather than numbers in attendance; and

    Whereas, Other options should be sought for consideration as well; therefore, be it

    Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:

    That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance is hereby requested to study methods of improving the fairness of competition between public and nonpublic schools in West Virginia; and, be it

    Further Resolved, That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance report to the regular session of the Legislature, 2012, on its findings, conclusions and recommendations, together with drafts of any legislation necessary to effectuate its recommendations; and, be it

    Further Resolved, That the expenses necessary to conduct this study, to prepare a report and to draft necessary legislation be paid from legislative appropriations to the Joint Committee on Government and Finance.