Latest news with #HouseBill2003
Yahoo
03-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
New cell phone policy on Fayette BOE May 6 agenda
The Fayette County Board of Education plans a regular meeting on Tuesday, May 6 at Oak Hill High School. Among the agenda items is the first reading of a new cell phone policy that is being planned in response to state legislation signed into law earlier this week by Gov. Patrick Morrisey. On April 29, Morrisey was joined by students, legislators and supporters at Lincoln Middle School in Shinnston to sign House Bill 2003, which prohibits the use of personal electronic devices by students in elementary and high school classrooms. There are exceptions provided for in the legislation. Also that day, Senate Bill 280, which requires public schools to display the United States motto 'In God We Trust,' was signed by the governor. 'As governor, one of my top priorities is to improve West Virginia's educational rankings,' Morrisey said in a press release. 'To do that, we must focus on academics and remove classroom distractions.' HB 2003 empowers county boards of education to prohibit the use of personal electronic devices in classroom settings. According to Fayette County Schools Superintendent Gary Hough, some Fayette schools have already implemented their own individual cell phone polices. 'We'd like to have some consistency,' he said. County principals will discuss the situation in a meeting Monday, said Hough, who noted that each school classroom in Fayette County is equipped with a phone 'that reaches out to 911 immediately' in the event of an emergency. Recognitions and reports on the Tuesday board agenda include: • Mary Ann Freeman — Golden Horseshoe winners; • Dawn Dooley — Young Writers; • Dawn Dooley — Governor School Recipients 2025; and • Sandra Whitaker — Regional and State Social Studies Fair winners. The board is expected to take final action on several policy revisions recommended by Hough and also introduce first readings of other policies. Among those set for final action are policies relating to employment of substitutes, suspension, teacher workload/supplemental duties, suicide prevention, graduation requirements and the schools and community agencies. Before the board for first reading will be the cell phone policy and polices on fund accounting, travel payment and reimbursement and property inventory, The agenda also includes a recommendation from Hough for a $190,520 purchase of Microsoft Surface computers from Zones LLC (state contract) to replace outdated teacher computers at Oak Hill and Midland Trail high schools and other schools as needed. Funding will be from Tools for Schools. And, the board will act on Hough's recommendation to approve a request for out-of-state/overnight travel. The Fayette Institute of Technology HOSA students (approximately four students) are planning to attend the HOSA International Leadership Conference in Nashville, Tenn. on June 17-22. Chaperones will be FIT instructors Annette Ashley, Andrea Anderson, Brian Richmond and FIT Director Robert Keaton. Travel will be by charter bus. Funding will be from FIT funds. Hough recommends approval of accounts payable in the amount of $1,203,846.28. A list of bills is available upon request from the central office. There will also be personnel actions and other items of discussion. Future meetings of the board include: Tuesday, May 13, special meeting/budget hearing, board office, 9 a.m.; and Thursday, May 22, regular meeting at Meadow Bridge High School, 6 p.m.
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Governor Morrisey signs bills banning cell phones in classrooms and requiring U.S. Motto displayed in schools
CHARLESTON, WV (WVNS) — Governor Patrick Morrisey signed bills to ban cell phones in classrooms and to show the U.S. Motto in schools. According to a press release, Governor Morrisey signed House Bill 2003 and Senate Bill 280 at Lincoln Middle School, with legislators, students, and supporters also in attendance. Zero percent tuition increase approved by Concord University Board of Governors As Governor, one of my top priorities is to improve West Virginia's educational rankings. To do that, we must focus on academics and remove classroom distractions. The bills I signed today will help ensure a brighter future for students in the Mountain State. Governor Morrisey The press release stated that House Bill 2003 will let the local County Boards of Education ban personal electronic devices in classrooms, and Senate Bill 280 will make it a requirement for public schools to display the U.S. Motto, 'In God We Trust.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Arkansas legislature set to pass state $6 billion-plus state budget for 2025-2026
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – The legislature is in a position to pass the Arkansas budget as one of its final acts of the 95th General Assembly. The identical House Bill 2003 and to amend the revenue stabilization law—the state budget—were passed on Tuesday by the Joint Budget Committee. The bills call for a $6.49 billion budget, raising spending by 2.89% for the 2026 fiscal year beginning July 1. Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders delivers budget presentation to lawmakers The identical bills include a clause that whichever one passes its respective chamber last becomes the law. The bills were submitted on Thursday, the mandatory three days before the legislature, which was in recess on Friday, had to act upon them. Historically, the state budget has been one of the last things passed by the chambers during a session. Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders signs Jefferson County budget correction bill, goes into immediate effect The budget mirrors what Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders called for during her State of the State address on Jan. 20, with its additional $182.5 million going primarily to the Department of Corrections and the Educational Freedom Accounts program. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
