By: WSAZ News Staff | Posted: Mar. 7, 2018 at 4:30 p.m. | Source: WSAZ
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) — Schools around our region are making plans to make up missed days due to the West Virginia teacher work stoppage.
Several schools in our area are either canceling spring break or extending the school year. (more…)
Posted: Mar. 7, 2018 | Source: WV Gazette-Mail
West Virginia American Water has lifted a boil-water advisory for approximately 130 customers on Thorofare Road from Box 2610 to Amma, Grandview Estates, Little Blue Creek Road, Harper Estates, Harper Road and Gamblewood Lane in the Big Sandy/Clendenin area. The advisory follows a water main break.
Posted: Mar. 6, 2018 | Source: WV Higher Education Policy Commission
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission (HEPC) announced today it is extending the application deadline for Fall 2018 PROMISE scholarships to Friday, March 30, 2018.
Some students reported they had difficulty completing their PROMISE applications by the earlier deadline due to the statewide public school work stoppage, and legislators and the governor asked the Commission to provide relief, said HEPC Chancellor Dr. Paul L. Hill.
“We understand that some students have been unable to complete their PROMISE scholarship applications for the Fall 2018 semester due to the public schools being closed and not having access to high school counselors,” Hill said. “We hope that with this additional time that all eligible high school seniors will be able to submit their PROMISE scholarship applications in order to take advantage of the state’s merit-based financial aid program.”
“Students are encouraged to go out now and complete the PROMISE application (www.cfwv.com/PROMISE) and the FAFSA (www.fafsa.gov), which are both available for students to complete if they have not done so already,” said Brian Weingart, senior director of financial aid. “Any students who have questions or need assistance applying for the PROMISE scholarship and any other financial aid may contact our office.”
The Office of Financial Aid and Outreach Services may be reached toll-free at 877-987-7664 or by emailing PROMISE@wvhepc.edu. Additional information about all financial aid programs available to students may be found on the College Foundation of West Virginia website at www.CFWV.com.
The HEPC is responsible for developing, establishing and overseeing the implementation of a public policy agenda for the state’s four-year colleges and universities, and for managing the Regional Technology Park on behalf of the State of West Virginia. For more information, visit www.wvhepc.edu.
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By: Mike McCullough | Posted: Mar. 6, 2018 at 4:05 p.m. | Source: WV MetroNews
FAYETTEVILLE, W.Va. — Fayette County school buses were full Tuesday, but not with students.
Instead 1,600 food boxes and hundreds of milk cartons lined the seats to be delivered to students in need across the county. This is the third time a group of volunteers comprised of teachers, principals and bus drivers have gotten together to complete the mission referred as the “bus brigade”.
Organizer Cindy Chamberlin of Clay County explained it was an effort started by her friend in another state the day before the teacher and school service personnel strike began. Several calls and a drive in a box truck later, the food boxes made their way to West Virginia.
“I got a phone call from a friend who does disaster relief in Tennessee and her church was getting overage FEMA freight from Texas and Florida that was going to be destroyed because they no longer needed it. So her church had paid to have it brought to Tennessee, the Nolachucky Baptist Association. We just had to cover the freight charge to get it here.”
Chamberlin said 9,000 meals were brought to West Virginia total. Several were sent to Clay County while the rest came to Fayette County with the help of Mountaineer Food Bank near Flatwoods. Last Thursday organizers held a meeting and were able to raise $1,000 to help get the food boxes from Tennessee. Since then more donations have come in both locally and from afar.
#HappeningNow: Volunteers are preparing to hand out around 1,500 free boxed meals to children across Fayette County home from school on day 9 of the strike. @WVMetroNews @WJLSNEWS pic.twitter.com/MFnn8dCM4k
— Mike McCullough (@MikeMcC_Metro) March 6, 2018
“Our little community has come together and its just touched my heart,” said Fayette County technology teacher and volunteer Melinda Louisos. “However, we’ve had donations from California, Florida, from Alaska. So our little community has stretched out worldwide actually.”
Retired teacher Marion Tanner said Tuesday this show of support has been encouraging. She was one of many wearing red in support of West Virginia educators and school personnel.
“We’ve had a tremendous outpouring of love from our community and the support they have given us to purchase this food. The teachers and the bus drivers come out and deliver this food to the kids’ homes.”
As volunteers loaded the food boxes onto busses at the Fayette County Bus Garage, the energy was high among many. At the time of the event, the house had approved the 5% pay raise bill for all state workers. While it still had to go through the senate and get a signature from Gov. Jim Justice, many were optimistic they would be returning to school tomorrow.
Volunteers agreed the return to the classroom can make a huge difference for students whose only meal daily comes from school. Fayette County also does a backpack program to provide students in need with meals for weekends.
“Everytime it’s inspiring to see people that come out to help sort out the food,” said Tanner. “We make snack packs and we give every child a box that has three meals in it.”
Mike McCullough can be reached at mike.mccullough@wvradio.com. Follow Mike on Twitter @MikeMcC_Metro. Mike joined MetroNews in July of 2017 as news director and anchor for WJLS: The Voice of Beckley.
Vanessa Brown, a teacher from Clendenin, W.Va., holds a sign with her hat as she waits to get into a teacher rally Monday at the West Virginia Capitol in Charleston, W.Va. Hundreds of teachers from 55 counties are on strike for pay raises and better health benefits. Tyler Evert, The Associated Press
By: John Raby, The Associated Press | Posted: Mar. 6, 2018 at 10:36 a.m. | Source: The Columbus Dispatch
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice and Senate Republicans reached a tentative deal on Tuesday to end a nine-day statewide teachers’ strike by giving them 5 percent raises — and adding similar raises for all state workers while they’re at it.
Justice said additional budget cuts by his staff will fund the raises. Senate leaders confirmed the deal, saying it involves some reduced government.
“We have reached a deal. I stood rock solid on the 5% Teacher pay raise and delivered. Not only this, but my staff and I made additional cuts which will give all State employees 5% as well. All the focus should have always been on fairness and getting the kids back in school,” the governor said in a tweet.
The governor, union leaders and the House of Delegates had agreed last week to the 5 percent pay raise for teachers, who are among the lowest paid in the nation and haven’t had a salary increase in four years. But the Senate refused to go along, approving a 4 percent increase.
Some teachers cheered in the hallways of the Capitol after the governor tweeted the news. Others waiting inside the meeting room indicated that they’re wary of getting excited until House and Senate majorities approve the deal.
“We’ve been down this road before,” West Virginia Education Association President Dale Lee said.
Senate leaders said they’re on board this time.
“These are deep cuts,” said Sen. Craig Blair, Finance Committee chairman, said Tuesday. “This has been the fiscally responsible thing to do, in my opinion, to get us to the point we’re at today.”
By: Claudia Newton | Posted: Mar. 6, 2018 | Source: School Transportation News
Closing schools and grounding school buses across West Virginia for nine straight days resulted in what teachers and support staff sought all along: Higher wages and more health care benefits.
The state’s three major unions called for “all education employees and supporters” to support the strike that they said would last until the state Senate approved a five percent pay raise, which was passed 34-0 on Tuesday.
Posted: Mar. 6, 2018 | Source: Clay County Free Press
The Mountaineer ChalleNGe Academy is pleased to announce that Cadet Jasmine Sierra Hanshaw, the daughter of Bobby and Crystal Hanshaw of Procious, has completed the requirements for graduation. (more…)
A sign outside of Bridge Elementary School in Kanawha County following the June 2016 flood. Gazette-Mail file photo.
By: Ryan Quinn, Staff Writer | Posted: Mar. 5, 2018 | Source: WV Gazette-Mail
The Kanawha County Board of Education Monday chose 5:30 p.m. April 9 as the time for a public hearing on the proposed closure and consolidation of Bridge Elementary into the planned new school that would combine Bridge and Clendenin elementaries.
School board President Jim Crawford said the hearing will be at the Kanawha public school system headquarters, 200 Elizabeth St., on Charleston’s East End. The alternative time if April 9 falls through is 5 p.m. April 19.
Clendenin Elementary’s former building was shuttered after being damaged in the June 2016 flood.
Crawford said the school system is moving as fast as it can on building the new school.
The board also approved asking the state School Building Authority for funding to replace all the windows at Horace Mann Middle, save for a couple that have already been replaced, according to school system Communications Director Briana Warner.
Each year, county school systems request “major improvement project” grants, which can be up to $1 million.
The SBA’s “needs” grants can be over $1 million, and are awarded near the end of each year.
The board also approved three new high school elective courses: “Art History 2,” “English Concepts Through Different Mediums” and “Music Technology.”
Missy Ruddle, Kanawha’s assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction, said she expects the courses will only be at individual schools next school year (music technology will be at South Charleston High, for example) but they could spread to other schools.
“They’re all completely electives,” Ruddle said.
Reach Ryan Quinn at ryan.quinn@wvgazettemail.com, facebook.com/ryanedwinquinn, 304-348-1254 or follow @RyanEQuinn on Twitter.
Posted: Mar. 5, 2018 | Source: The Marietta Times
PARKERSBURG — FirstEnergy Corp. will invest $189 million in 2018 on distribution and transmission infrastructure projects to enhance service reliability and meet future economic growth for its customers in Monongahela Power’s 34-county service area in West Virginia. (more…)
By: Douglas Fritz | Posted: Mar. 5, 2018 at 1:49 p.m. | Source: WVNSTV
(WVNS) — The West Virginia Courthouse Facilities Improvement Authority (CFIA) has announced funding for 20 projects to improve county courthouses across the state. Several of those projects are for buildings in the southeast counties.
The CFIA, which was established in 2001 by the West Virginia Legislature, granted $1.68 million in 2018. There is no tax money used for these grants. The money comes from fees for concealed weapons permits, marriage licenses, processing criminal bonds, felony cases, filing deeds and other circuit court fees.
Counties receive grants of up to $100,000 to modify existing courthouses or build new facilities. The counties must match at least 20 percent of the granted amount. Below is a list of the courthouses receiving grants in 2018:
Berkeley County, $100,000 grant to repair cornice structures and belt courses. The total project cost is $210,380.
Boone County, $100,000 grant to replace concrete and work on a retaining wall. The total project cost is $149,890.
Brooke County, $100,000 grant to replace lighting with LED lighting. The total project cost is $133,800. Doddridge County, $100,000 grant to repair brick and stone masonry. The total project cost is $2.5 million.
Fayette County, $100,000 grant to clean and repoint brick masonry. The total project cost is $129,600.
Hancock County, $64,640 grant to replace rotting wood, doors and windows. The total project cost is $80,800.
Harrison County, $100,000 grant for second phase of a project to install mechanical controls and duct work. The total project cost is $860,000.
Mason County, $43,560 grant to fix mortar joints and repair the bell tower. The total project cost is $54,450.
Mercer County, $100,000 grant to build a ramp and replace sidewalks and handrails. The total project cost is $193,930.
Mingo County, $87,440 grant to replace the HVAC chiller unit. The total project cost is $109,300.
Nicholas County, $100,000 grant to replace the courthouse roof. The total project cost is $146,044.
Ohio County, $100,000 to renovate the front entrance of the courthouse to improve security. The total project cost is $175,000.
Putnam County, $26,400 grant to repair a failing retaining wall. The total project cost is $33,000.
Raleigh County, $61,600 grant to replace sidewalks and stairs. The total project cost is $77,000.
Randolph County, $100,000 grant to replace or repair the original clay tile roof. The total cost is $194,400.
Roane County, $100,000 grant to replace the courthouse roof. The total project cost is $132,000.
Summers County, $100,000 grant to install a sprinkler system (phased project). The total project cost is $125,000.
Wayne County, $84,525 grant to replace the clock tower and cupola. The total project cost is $123,000.
Wood County, $100,000 grant to replace the roof on the bell tower. The total project cost is $212,196.
Wyoming County, $14,400 grant to repair the courtroom ceiling and install a drip safety. The total project cost is $18,000.
The CFIA board consists of two members from each of several organizations: The West Virginia Sheriffs’ Association, West Virginia Prosecuting Attorneys’ Association, West Virginia County Clerks’ Association, West Virginia Circuit Clerks’ Association, West Virginia County Commissioners’ Association, and West Virginia Assessors’ Association. An advisory board has two members each from the West Virginia Judicial Association, the West Virginia Magistrates’ Association, and the West Virginia Family Judicial Association. West Virginia Senator Chandler Swope and Delegate Brent Boggs also are on the advisory board.
