John Unger

West Virginia State Senator John Unger (D-Berkeley) introduced legislation (Senate Bill 440) intended to remove the delay in school aid formula funding for schools with increasing numbers of students. The legislation would allow schools to receive funding based on projected increases in enrollment instead of the number of students currently enrolled.

“This legislation is particularly important for Berkeley and Jefferson Counties - they have been consistently ranked number one and number two in the state for increases in student enrollment and are projected to continue growing,” said Senator Unger. “With the current formula, Berkeley and Jefferson County schools have had to play catch up because funding levels lag a year behind. This bill would provide funding for the number of students actually enrolled each year, not the number enrolled last year.”

Special education students, kindergarten students, students from grades one through twelve and adult students are all counted in the enrollment figures. The state funding pays for maintenance, operation and related costs, including buses.

“As the number of students increases, so do these costs which are critical to providing quality education for each and every student,” said Senator Unger. “School funding must keep pace with the population growth.”

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