HB 4575 and HB 4574, which provides assistance to County School Districts who are in financial distress, encountered a slower pace when they crossed the rotunda to the Senate. While Majority Leader and 1st District Delegate Pat McGeehan was successful in getting the Constitutional rule requiring a bill be read on 3 separate days suspended and passed out of the House of Delegates in one day, both bills were given no special consideration in the Senate.
HB 4575, which deals with the financial aspect of the rescue, was single referenced to the Finance Committee in the Senate while HB 4574 which details the eligibility for the rescue program; payback of loan; and other criteria was referenced first to the Committee on Education and then to the Committee on Finance.
Two Senators count Hancock County in their District: Sen. Ryan Weld (R-1st) and Sen. Laura Wakim-Chapman (R-1st). Sen. Wakim-Chapman took to the floor of the Senate today (Wed,) to urge Senators to quickly take up the bill as the students, parents and teachers in Hancock County were counting on the bill’s passage.
At the close of the Legislative Day, HB 4574 is not on the Education Committee’s agenda for consideration tomorrow. Senators said they wanted to look closely at the details of the bill and one Senator said that an amendment to require prosecution of a school official or board member found guilty of malfeasance or maladministration would be forthcoming.
Hancock County Prosecutor Stephen Dragisich said a special prosecutor from another county would need to be appointed to handle any charges dealing with the Hancock County School District. The Prosecutor’s Office in Hancock County is technically the attorney for the Hancock County School Board. He also said investigation of the offenses would need to be conducted by an agency other than the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office, most likely the WV State Police.
Hometown News has submitted a FOIA request to the Hancock County Board Office to learn who among the administrative staff is bonded and the amount of that bond. Information has also been requested on the auditing firms that conducted the audits for the past three years and loans which were taken out.
The Hancock County Board of Education is slated to meet Monday, January 26, 5:30 p.m. at the Rockefeller Career Center. A Public Hearing will be held prior to the Board meeting. Included in the agenda, which was approved by the WV School Board, is an explanation of the financials by Uriah Cummings of the WV Board of Education.
