By: Andrea Lannom, CNHI News Service | Posted: Feb. 28, 2018 | Source: The Meadville Tribune
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — With the governor’s promise for a 5 percent pay raise in hand but no permanent funding fix for the state’s public health insurance program, West Virginia teachers returned to the Capitol today, chanting “we don’t trust you” outside the Senate chamber.
Today was supposed to be a “cooling off” day that Gov. Jim Justice wanted to end a five-day teacher walkout that has impacted more than 275,000 students. It quickly turned into a rolling brush fire of resentment.
Officials at 36 of the state’s 55 school districts announced their schools would remain closed on Thursday, contrary to an announcement this afternoon by State School Superintendent Steven L. Paine that all schools would reopen.
Legislative leaders were caught off guard by the governor’s agreement on the 5 percent raise with teacher union leaders. They scrambled today to advance measures in both House and Senate as the Legislature moved closer to the end of its 60-day regular session.
Also today, Justice issued an executive order creating a special task force for the Public Employees Insurance Agency (PEIA). In a letter to all state employees, the governor wrote, “There are several possibilities that will be looked at for the revenue we need to solve the PEIA issues once and for all.”
Amanda Milan, a teacher for 10 years from Charleston, expressed her frustration, saying she felt she had been “sold out.”
“We know that PEIA will take time to fix, but I think being told it’s a freeze and they promise, promise, promise, promise we will get money,” Millan said. “That’s not a fix for us.”
Kara Stover, a Clay County, W.Va., teacher for 11 years, said one of her biggest concerns is the Legislature passing the pay raise.
“If they do not, we have gained nothing,” Stover said.
The governor’s proposal, drawn up in meetings with the state presidents of the West Virginia Education Association and American Federation of Teachers on Tuesday, calls for a 5 percent pay raise for teachers and school service personnel the first year and a 3 percent raise for state employees for the first year.
Justice said the state would be able to afford the pay boost because of an improving economy.
Andrea Lannom writes for Beckley (W.Va.) Register-Herald, which, like The Meadville Tribune, is owned by CNHI.
