Opinion ID: 1330504
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Did Mr. Disibbio Need A Certificate Prior To Being Hired?

Text: We are first asked to examine the language of a specific provision in W. Va.Code 18A-4-7a, to determine whether Mr. Disibbio met the statutory certification requirement to be awarded the position of assistant principal. W.Va.Code § 18A-4-7a provides that in judging qualifications of professional personnel other than teachers, the county board of education shall give consideration to the following factors: Appropriate certification and/or licensure; amount of experience relevant to the position...; the amount of course work and/or degree level in the relevant field and degree level generally; academic achievement; relevant specialized training; past performance evaluations ... and other measures or indicators upon which the relative qualifications of the applicant may fairly be judged. (Emphasis added.) [5] See Jones v. Monroe County Bd. of Educ., 190 W.Va. 646, 648, 441 S.E.2d 367, 369, n. 1 (1994). Initially, our analysis requires a determination of what is meant by the phrase Appropriate certification. Of course, [i]nterpreting a statute ... presents a purely legal question for the Court. Mildred L.M. v. John O.F., 192 W.Va. 345, 350, 452 S.E.2d 436, 441 (1994). This Court has previously recognized that generally the words of a statute are to be given their ordinary and familiar significance and meaning[.] Metropolitan Property and Liability Ins. Co. v. Acord, 195 W.Va. 444, 450, 465 S.E.2d 901, 907 (1995) (citation omitted). On a pure question of statutory construction, we must determine legislative intent using traditional tools of statutory construction. Syl. Pt. 11, Cox v. Amick, 195 W.Va. 608, 466 S.E.2d 459 (1995). In ascertaining legislative intent, effect must be given to each part of the statute and to the statute as a whole so as to accomplish the general purpose of the legislation. State ex rel. Morgan v. Trent, 195 W.Va. 257, 263, 465 S.E.2d 257, 263 (1995) (citations omitted). In examining statutory language generally, words are given their common usage and [c]ourts are not free to read into the language what is not there, but rather should apply the statute as written. State ex rel. Frazier v. Meadows, 193 W.Va. 20, 24, 454 S.E.2d 65, 69 (1994). The provision cited from W.Va. Code § 18A-4-7a does not establish the deadline by which an applicant must possess the appropriate certification. [6] The absence of such a reference clearly indicates legislative intent for county boards of education to exercise discretion on this issue. [I]f the statute is silent ... with respect to the specific issue, the question for the court is whether the [Board's] answer is based on a permissible construction of the statute. Chevron U.S.A., Inc. v. Natural Resources Defense Council, Inc., 467 U.S. 837, 843, 104 S.Ct. 2778, 2782, 81 L.Ed.2d 694, 703 (1984). See Pauley v. BethEnergy Mines, Inc., 501 U.S. 680, 696-98, 111 S.Ct. 2524, 2534, 115 L.Ed.2d 604, 623-25 (1991). Therefore, we review the Board's decision, only to determine if the Board's statutory construction is one the legislature would have sanctioned. [7] See United States v. Shimer, 367 U.S. 374, 383, 81 S.Ct. 1554, 1560-61, 6 L.Ed.2d 908, 915 (1961). This Court noted in syllabus point 3 of Dillon v. Board of Educ. of Wyoming County, 177 W.Va. 145, 351 S.E.2d 58 (1986) that [c]ounty boards of education have substantial discretion in matters relating to the hiring, assignment, transfer, and promotion of school personnel. Nevertheless, this discretion must be exercised reasonably, in the best interests of the schools, and in a manner which is not arbitrary and capricious. In the matter sub judice the ALJ found that Mr. Disibbio did not possess a Certificate until after he was actually hired by the Board. [8] However, the ALJ also found that Mr. Disibbio did, in fact, obtain the requisite Certificate before the school year began. [9] The Board urges this Court to adopt the interpretation by the ALJ, that W.Va.Code § 18A-4-7a permits the Board to interview and hire professional personnel who do not physically possess a Certificate until shortly before assuming their duties. Mr. Keatley contends that the statute requires actual possession of a Certificate before an applicant is deemed eligible to interview for the position. We are reluctant to disturb the legal conclusion of the ALJ. We believe that the statute's certification requirement should not be read so narrowly as to exclude from the hiring process, individuals who have completed all necessary requirements for a Certificate, but do not have the actual physical possession of such Certificate at the time of the interview or during the hiring stage. See Syl. Pt. 1, Jones, in part (Under W.Va.Code 18A-4-7a [1990], in hiring an assistant superintendent of schools for curriculum and instruction,... the date that respective doctorates were awarded [does not] create any order of precedence among competing candidates.); Whitley v. Canton City School District, 38 Ohio St.3d 300, 528 N.E.2d 167 (1988) (date courses completed for certification to teach is controlling, not the date of receipt of certificate); Board of Educ. Of Taos Municipal Schools v. Singleton, 103 N.M. 722, 712 P.2d 1384 (1985) (delay in issuance of recertification did not give grounds to fire teacher when all required work for recertification was completed); Butcher v. Board of Educ. Of Island Trees Union Free School District, 99 Misc.2d 470, 416 N.Y.S.2d 486 (1979) (finding a teacher was certified on date school began even though certification was not received until a month after school term started). Mr. Keatley contends that the Board's position would cause wasteful spending in situations where hired professional personnel ultimately fail to obtain the requisite Certificate. The net effect of such situations would require the interview process to again commence. We are not persuaded by this argument. There are many instances where private and public employers fill positions requiring certification or a license, with individuals who have completed the necessary requirements for certification or a license, but do not physically possess the same when hired. [10] It is true that, for one reason or another, occasionally some individuals do not receive the appropriate certification or license as anticipated, and are therefore terminated. However, those instances are few. Therefore, we hold that the certification requirement for professional personnel under W.Va.Code § 18A-4-7a permits interviewing or hiring an applicant who does not physically possess the required certification, but who has completed the requirements for certification at the time of the interview or date of hiring and is waiting for the certification results. [11] In the matter now before this Court it is clear from the evidence that Mr. Disibbio did not have a Certificate when he was interviewed for the position. It is equally clear that he was not in physical possession of a Certificate at the time he was hired. However, the record discloses that Mr. Disibbio did, in fact, complete all requirements for the Certificate before he was hired and received actual physical possession of the certificate before starting his duties. Therefore, we affirm the ALJ's decision that Mr. Disibbio possessed a Certificate as required by the statute.