SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 32
(By Senators Hunter, Ross, Schoonover, Sharpe, Love,
Helmick, Fanning, Minear, Scott and Kessler)
Requesting the Joint Committee on Government and Finance to make
a study of the value of smaller schools in the rural
counties and the impact on these counties of the School
Building Authority's economies-of-scale requirements.
Whereas, School buildings and children's schooling serve as
centers for all communities; and
Whereas, Schools in rural communities serve a multitude of
community functions beyond education; and
Whereas, Many children in rural West Virginia are on school
buses for excessively long periods each day; and
Whereas, Larger schools require more children to be gathered
from larger geographic areas increasing bus rides even further;
and
Whereas, Current school building policies in West Virginia
reward the building of larger schools and fail to provide funds
for schools which do not meet economies-of-scale size
requirements; and
Whereas, Modern technology and both basic and innovative curricula are important for all students; and
Whereas, Children from outlying areas will suffer longer bus
rides which may lead to poorer academic achievement and higher
dropout rates; and
Whereas, Of the 440 million dollars spent on major school
construction by the School Building Authority, 91.4% has been
spent on schools that meet the economies-of-scale school
requirements, and it is not yet certain whether this investment
has improved education for all students and resulted in cost
savings; and
Whereas, Sixty-seven percent of West Virginia schools do not
meet the economiesy-of-scale required school size; therefore, be
it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance is hereby
requested to review, examine and study the value of smaller
schools in the rural counties and the impact on these counties of
the School Building Authority's economiesy-of-scale requirements
with specific emphasis on the following areas of inquiry:
(a) Whether building schools sized to meet School Building
Authority economiesy-of-scale requirements has saved money for the
state of West Virginia;
(b) Whether the School Building Authority's economiesy-of- scale requirements match the optimal school sizes as determined
through research by education experts;
(c) Whether the building of large schools and the closing of
smaller schools has affected dropout rates in rural counties, and
if so, the socioeconomic status of children affected;
(d) What is the difference in the dropout rate between
smaller schools and larger schools;
(e) Whether school curriculum has been improved by building
large schools;
(f) Whether curriculum improvements could be obtained
through use of technological innovation such as distance
learning, the Internet, interactive video or other technologies,
and if so, whether such curriculum improvement would be
economical;
(g) Whether student achievement and participation in
extracurricular activities is affected by long bus rides;
(h) Whether schools smaller than those required by School
Building Authority economiesy-of-scale requirements might be
economically designed, save transportation costs, shorten student
bus times, use technology to improve curriculum, improve rural
community life, reduce dropout rates or otherwise improve the
quality of education in rural West Virginia;
(i) Whether most students transported long distances are
economically disadvantaged; and
(j) What is the level of serious disciplinary problems in
larger schools in comparison to smaller community based schools;
and, be it
Further Resolved, That in conducting this study, the Joint
Committee on Government and Finance is to solicit information and
testimony from independent experts in school financing and school
facility costs, and from experts in the economic and social
conditions of the rural areas of West Virginia; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Joint Committee on Government and
Finance report to the regular session of the Legislature, 1999,
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.