NEW CUMBERLAND — As Hancock County Schools officials look to be more proactive in addressing staffing issues within the school system, a proposed amendment to existing policy could expand the number of professional positions considered for lateral moves in the event of reductions in force.

The Hancock County Board of Education, Monday, agreed to put a policy proposal out for a 30-day comment period, which would amend the list of professional positions eligible for lateral moves in the county under Policy GCPAA.

“This is about laterality,” noted Superintendent Dan Enich.

The policy relies on provisions under West Virginia Code 18A-4-7A, which states “A county board of education shall make decisions affecting the filling of vacancies in professional positions of employment on the basis of the applicant with the highest qualifications.”

It defines “Classroom teacher” as “a professional educator who has a direct instructional or counseling relationship with students and who spends the majority of his or her time in this capacity.”

Under current policy 13 position descriptions are included in the lateral movement options, in addition to the position of classroom teacher.

They include assistant superintendent, high school principal, middle school principal, elementary school principal, career and technical center director, assistant high school principal, assistant middle school principal, assistant elementary school principal, school nurse, and attendance officer, as well as generalized positions of director, coordinator, and specialist.

Under the proposed policy changes, the generalized director, coordinator, and specialist positions are removed, and several specific posts are added, noting those positions “shall be considered lateral positions during a reduction in force.”

The policy notes the school board “has given consideration to the rank of each position in terms of title; nature of responsibilities; salary level; certification; licensure or both; and days in the period of employment.”

Those additional positions include attendance director, child nutrition director, finance director, director of technology, transportation director, special education director, director of federal programs, facilities and maintenance director, transportation coordinator, coordinator of information systems, coordinator of student support services, special educator supervisor, school psychologist, speech-language pathologist, occupational therapist, physical therapist, athletic trainer, athletic director/dean of students, Communities in Schools site facilitator, Project AWARE manager, attendance specialist, social worker, accountant, coordinator of safety services, and administrative assistant.

Policy GCPAA was last revised in July 2013.