Tag: Work Stoppage

Public Schools in W.Va. Will Make Up Days Missed During Strike

West Virginia Superintendent of Schools Steven Paine told reporters Thursday afternoon that all nine days of the recent teacher and school employee work stoppage would need to be made up by each county school district. However, counties will have control and flexibility on how they do it.

Paine said counties can either eliminate spring break, add additional days to the end of the school year, or use something known as Accrued Instructional Time, which made its way into state law last year.

Accrued Instructional Time allows counties to add 30 minutes of extra time at the end of a school day, but it can only be used to make-up five days. Counties will have to mix-and-match to meet the nine missed days.

“The nine days are nine days, let’s be clear,” Paine noted, “They missed nine. They were paid for nine. They must make up nine days of instruction.”

Paine said it’ll be up to each district how those days are made up and notes the requirement to make up the days has not been a point of contention among teachers and service staff.

He also said any changes to school calendars will not impact graduation dates.

PROMISE Scholarship Deadline Extended to March 30

The West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission (HEPC) announced Tuesday 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.

'We Can Get Back to Our Kids, Where We Need to Be' – Teacher Work Stoppage Appears to be Over

Updated on Mar. 6, 2018 at 8:30 p.m.

After nine long days of a teacher and service personnel work stoppage, it looks like it’s come to an end. Lawmakers have agreed to a five percent pay raise for teachers as well as a five percent pay increase for all public workers.

Thousands of teachers and other public employees erupted in cheers and tears as senators opened their chamber doors to announce approval of a bill that increases pay to teachers, school personnel, and state troopers by five percent.

A five percent pay raise for all state employees was also agreed to in a conference committee and will be managed in the upcoming state budgeting process.

Fifth-grade teacher Lori Jarrett from Boone County said she cried when the vote came. When asked how she was feeling, Jarrett said she was, “tired, exhausted, so happy, so happy that we won, and this is finally over, and we can get back to our kids where we need to be.”

Cheers at state capitol Tuesday afternoon.

Lawmakers have said there will be areas and services that will be cut, however, in order to give the promised pay raises.

Emily Tanzey, an eighth grade English teacher from Monongalia County, said that’s something that concerns her. “I am nervous about the funding source, because in the Senate Finance Committee, they mentioned cuts to things like Medicaid, which makes me really anxious, but overall, I think it’s a win for West Virginia.” 

Governor Jim Justice signed HB 4145, giving a five percent pay raise to teachers, school service personnel and state troopers shortly after the vote was announced. It will go into effect on July 1, 2018.

West Virginia Teacher Work Stoppage Hits Pivotal Day Monday

Updated: Monday, Feb. 26, 2018 at 9:00 a.m.

 

Monday is set to be a pivotal day in the ongoing work stoppage for teachers and school service personnel across West Virginia. With the continued approach of county school officials remaining in question, the potential of legal action to be decided by the state board of education and legislative deadlines looming, educators and school workers yet again plan to head to the Capitol in Charleston to rally lawmakers for better pay and healthcare benefits.

As of Sunday, all 55 counties have preemptively called off school for Monday. While many have cited the work stoppage, others have cited other reasons such as weather or staff development. The preemptive closing of schools by counties for a work stoppage functions the same as a snow day or a closing for similar reasons. Whether or not that approach will continue on the part of county school boards is unknown.

 

“All of our locals have been in direct communications with their county superintendents,” Christine Campbell, of the American Federation of Teachers-West Virginia, said.

It is also unknown if any solution will present itself Monday to satisfy teachers’ demands well enough to send them back to the classroom.

Leaders of teacher unions and their members are calling for salary increases, a permanent fix to healthcare through the Public Employees Insurance Agency and a stop to legislation on what they call attacks on seniority. They are also hoping lawmakers will walk away from a bill known as “paycheck protection” that would make union members opt-in yearly to have dues withdrawn from paychecks.

West Virginia ranked 48th in the nation for average teacher pay in 2017.

While Gov. Jim Justice has signed Senate Bill 267 calling for a salary increase of 2 percent this year with an additional 1 percent increase the following two years, teachers and their union leaders say that’s not enough — especially considering teachers were offered a 2 percent increase last year in more economically troubling times.

Senate Bill 267 also calls for an school service personnel and state police to receive a 2 percent increase this year with an extra 1 percent hike in Fiscal Year 2020.

While the PEIA Finance Board agreed last week to freeze until July 2019 proposed changes to the plan that would call for increases to premiums, deductibles and out of pocket costs, legislation to address short and long term fixes to the insurance plan have also yet to become final.

State superintendent of schools Dr. Steven Paine announced Saturday that he had met with county superintendents to discuss the continuation of the statewide work stoppage.

“Many asked whether the state was planning to pursue legal action in this matter. A decision will be made on Monday if an agenda item will be added to the State Board of Education meeting scheduled for Tuesday to discuss legal action,” Paine said in a statement Saturday.

 

If an item is added and the agenda is amended, Paine said the public will be notified on Monday.

Republican leaders at the statehouse, including Senate President Mitch Carmichael and Attorney General Patrick Morrisey, have a called the work stoppage illegal.

“This is, in large measure, a county issue. They must decide whether they are going to declare this an illegal strike — as that is clear from law that it is — or if they’re going to just close school for another day on other grounds,” Carmichael said to reporters Friday after leaders of teacher unions announced the continued walkout on Monday. “So, to the extent that the counties have flexibility in how they manage their school system, the ball is in their court. So, we’ll see how each county [proceeds]. We certainly don’t want to tell them what to do. We’re not doing that by any means.”

Morrisey has offered assistance to state agencies and boards to provide legal remedies to the teacher work stoppage.

House Speaker Tim Armstead delivered a more reserved sentiment Friday in an attempt to quell teachers’ frustrations in hopes of returning them back to work.

“We in the House have heard loudly and clearly the message of our teachers, service personnel and state employees, and I don’t believe it’s necessary to continue this strike and keep our kids out of the classroom to draw attention to these issues,” Armstead said Friday in a written statement.

Gov. Justice has scheduled a series of town hall meetings around the state for Monday. According to a news release, he will appear at high schools in Wheeling, Martinsburg and Morgantown. Meanwhile, thousands of teachers from around the state are expected to head to the Capitol to rally lawmakers.

According to the legislative calendar, bills need to pass their chamber of origin by Wednesday, which is Day 50 — known as “crossover day.” The 60-Day session ends March 10.

Campbell said she, Dale Lee of the West Virginia Education Association and staff from each organization met with House Speaker Tim Armstead Friday and plan to do the same Monday.

“Up until late last week, we hadn’t had any communication with leadership. But that doesn’t mean something couldn’t happen to move things in a positive direction sometime Monday,” Campbell said.

 

Teachers and union leaders are scheduled to hold a rally on the Kanawha Boulevard steps of the Capitol at 2 p.m Monday. United Mine Workers of America president Cecil Roberts is among those scheduled to speak to the crowd.

 

Gov. Justice Signs Teacher Pay Increase, Unions Say Work Stoppage Still Happening

West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice has signed legislation that will provide teachers, school service personnel and state police with a 2 percent pay increase starting in July. The signing of the bill comes on the eve of a two-day statewide work stoppage planned by teachers and service personnel amid growing frustrations over salaries, healthcare and other issues.

“We need to keep our kids and teachers in the classroom,” Gov. Justice in a Wednesday news release. “We certainly recognize our teachers are underpaid and this is a step in the right direction to addressing their pay issue.”

Senate Bill 267 also calls for teachers to get an additional 1 percent pay increase in each of the following two fiscal years. School service personnel and state police will get an additional 1 percent next fiscal year.

 

With the pay raise measure calling for less than versions passed earlier by both the House and Senate, state level leaders of teacher unions say the signing of the bill isn’t enough to prevent a work stoppage on Thursday and Friday.

“We’ve said all along it’s not enough. Teachers and service professionals are tired of being told ‘wait ‘til next year.’ There is still a tremendous amount of anger and frustration,” said Dale Lee, president of the West Virginia Education Association.

Representatives of the WVEA and the American Federation of Teachers-West Virginia have also called for a permanent fix to the healthcare program for public employees. While the House of Delegates has approved a one-time transfer of $29 million from the state’s Rainy Day Fund to prevent rising costs to premiums and deductibles, the Senate has yet to approve the measure. Other proposed mechanisms for long-term relief are still far from settled.

Earlier this week, the Public Employees Insurance Agency Finance Board voted to approve freeze proposed changes to the plan, as was recommended by Gov. Justice.

“I’ve asked and the PEIA board has voted to eliminate the mandated participation in the Go365 program, the use of combined household income to determine rates, and to freeze the plan for 16 months while we examine it and enact a long-term solution to the PEIA problems,” said Justice in the Wednesday news release.

County officials have called off school in all of the state’s 55 counties for Thursday ahead of the teacher work stoppage.

Republican leaders in the statehouse have warned teachers and service personnel that a work stoppage is illegal. Attorney General Patrick Morrisey has stated that his office is ready to assist any state agency or board with legal action to curb a strike.

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