W. Va. Code R. § 126-72-2

Current through Register Vol. XLI, No. 50, December 13, 2024

Section 126-72-2 - Establishment, Powers, and Duties

2.1. Establishment of Regional Education Service Agencies (hereinafter RESA). The West Virginia Board of Education (hereinafter WVBE) establishes multi-county RESAs as the regional units in the state school system to provide for high quality, cost effective lifelong education programs and services to students, schools, school systems, and communities. Each RESA is established as a regional public multi-service agency to develop, manage, and provide services or programs.

2.2. Number and Composition. There are eight (8) RESAs comprised of the following member counties:

2.2.a. RESA 1 - McDowell, Mercer, Monroe, Raleigh, Summers, Wyoming

2.2.b. RESA 2 - Cabell, Lincoln, Logan, Mason, Mingo, Wayne

2.2.c. RESA 3 - Boone, Clay, Kanawha, Putnam

2.2.d. RESA 4 - Braxton, Fayette, Greenbrier, Nicholas, Pocahontas, Webster

2.2.e. RESA 5 - Calhoun, Jackson, Pleasants, Ritchie, Roane, Tyler, Wirt, Wood

2.2.f. RESA 6 - Brooke, Hancock, Marshall, Ohio, Wetzel

2.2.g. RESA 7 - Barbour, Doddridge, Gilmer, Harrison, Lewis, Marion, Monongalia, Preston, Randolph, Taylor, Tucker, Upshur

2.2.h. RESA 8 - Berkeley, Grant, Hampshire, Hardy, Jefferson, Mineral, Morgan, Pendleton

2.3. Upon petition by a RESA or a county board, or on its own motion, the WVBE may modify member counties of each RESA to achieve results consistent with this rule or any other factors intended to ensure that each RESA delivers equitable, efficient, and high quality standards of services to county school systems. RESAs or county boards may petition the WVBE for change in composition where evidence demonstrates such change could improve effectiveness or efficiency of services intended to build capacity through technical assistance and professional development that results in the continuous improvement of student performance.

2.4. Membership. All county school systems located within the boundaries of each RESA, as determined by the WVBE, shall be members of that RESA.

2.5. Powers and Duties. The RESAs shall have the following powers and duties;

2.5.a. RESAs shall operate as Local Educational Agencies (hereinafter LEA) for financial purposes, including grants and cooperative purchasing, and collectively as essential agencies responsible for performing service functions to the total community consistent with the WVBE's commitment to high quality programs and services for all students in a state educational system that is thorough, efficient, and performance-based.

2.5.b. The RESAs shall administer existing regional education programs, insofar as is consistent with state and federal law, except for multi-county programs where the attendance areas do not coincide with the established RESA boundaries.

2.5.c. RESAs are empowered to contract with county boards of education, the West Virginia Department of Education (hereinafter WVDE), persons, companies, or other agencies to implement their Strategic Plan as provided in Section 5.

2.5.d. A RESA is eligible as an LEA to participate in partnership with or on behalf of any county school system or school in those programs that will accomplish implementation of the strategic plan and/or state education initiative, or further statutory priorities to maintain RESA operations.

2.5.e. RESAs will serve as repositories of research-based teaching and learning practices. RESAs shall use technology, particularly web-based technology and the WVDE's e-portal (web site), to ensure maximum access to such practices by public schools in the region and state.

2.5.f. RESA may offer technical assistance, including targeted comprehensive staff development services, or other technical assistance to any member school or school system, and will give priority to those schools and school systems that are found to be out of compliance with a state law or federal law, or as directed by the WVBE or its designees in the WVDE.

2.5.g. Upon the request of one or more county boards of education, if directed by law or by the WVBE as permitted, a RESA may assume responsibility for one or more functions otherwise performed by one or more county boards of education.

2.5.h. When a RESA has available funds, or can derive such funds on a fee basis, the executive director must give priority to low-performing school systems or schools that request programs or services required to implement their Strategic Plan.

2.6. Liberal Construction. All functions, powers, and duties of the RESAs shall be liberally construed to effectuate the intent of the WVBE.

W. Va. Code R. § 126-72-2