Relating to the consolidation of county school districts in the state.

HB 5061 requires West Virginia’s 55 county school districts to consolidate into 10-15 regional districts by July 1, 2030. It establishes a 11-member Commission on School District Reorganization to develop a detailed consolidation plan, including staffing levels, operating costs, school names, and proposed cost-saving reinvestment strategies. The Commission must submit its plan to the Legislature by December 1, 2027, for review during the 2028 session. The bill directly affects all county school districts, students, staff, and local communities by restructuring the state’s K-12 education governance framework. The Department of Education must assist the Commission in creating the plan.