August 22, 1997

Mr. Thomas E. Long
Superintendent
Pocahontas County Schools
926 Fifth Avenue
Marlinton, West Virginia 24954

Dear Mr. Long:

This is in response to your letter of August 1, 1997, in which you request an interpretation from our office regarding individuals who have previously been employed by the State and who later become employed by the county as service personnel.

Specifically, you ask, "Are those years of experience counted as years of experience for pay purposes with the Board of Education or when employed would we consider them zero years experience for pay purposes?"

The answer to your question is determined on a county by county basis. Nothing in State law or policy permits or prohibits past experience with the State to be used for pay purposes. Most counties have policies in place with regard to such experience. However, if a county chooses to count this experience for pay purposes for one employee, it must be consistent throughout the county with regard to all other employees in like circumstances.

Hoping that I have been of service, I am

Sincerely,

/s/

Henry Marockie
State Superintendent of Schools