July 22, 1999

Dr. Ronald E. Duerring
Superintendent
Kanawha County Schools CORRECTED COPY 200 Elizabeth Street
Charleston, West Virginia 25311-2119

Dear Dr. Duerring:

I am in receipt of your request for interpretation dated June 8, 1999 regarding whether a currently employed certified professional educator must be hired as the girls soccer coach when in the unanimous decision of the interview committee she is grossly unqualified for the coaching position. The answer is "no". There is nothing in law or policy that would require you to hire someone who is patently unqualified for a position.

West Virginia Code 18A-3-2a has always been interpreted to presume that the certified teacher applying for the extracurricular position is qualified to hold the position in question.

Hoping that I have been of service, I am

Sincerely,

/s/

Henry Marockie
State Superintendent of Schools
HM/mp