Monday, a worse-case scenario at the state legislative session prompted an abrupt work stoppage of West Virginia teachers and school personnel. Today, a best-case scenario could bring it to an end just as quickly.

 

“If this bill dies, we could be back in the classroom on Wednesday,” said JD Lister, Bridgeport High School educator and building representative for the American Federation of Teachers.

 

The bill Lister is referring to is Senate Bill 451/Education Reform Bill which has been bouncing between the Senate and House of Delegates for the past few weeks. Hot button components which have concerned educators include potential charter schools, educational savings accounts, seniority issues, anti-strike legislation and paycheck protection.

 

The House’s tweaking of the bill brought potentially encouraging changes – such as a pilot program of up to two elementary charter schools, limiting educational savings accounts to special needs students and the reimbursement of teacher salaries suspended during any work stoppages.

 

Late last week, the bill went back to the Senate which met in session Monday.

 

“What we believed would happen is that the Senate would make some changes and send the bill off to what’s called a conference committee – representatives of the House and Senate who work together to work out differences – then send the bill back to the governor,” Lister said. “What the Senate did instead was amend the bill directly on the Senate floor, which is a little unusual, then after getting the bill together wanted to basically vote on it 10 minutes later. There was no time to read it or bring back to constituents and some were upset that they were trying to rush and force the process.”

 

The newest Senate draft included up to seven charter schools with elimination of the pilot program, the original version of educational savings accounts, detrimental strike consequences for teachers and elimination of seniority rights. Yet another change – and one which went under the radar, Lister said – was the Senate’s elimination of a change introduced by the House stating that no member of the legislature could financially benefit from the implementation of charter schools.

 

“The last straw” and what prompted the work stoppage was that it appeared the Senate and House had essentially struck a bargain insuring that if the bill is passed by the Senate, the House would have enough votes to pass it – by a slim margin.

 

“That is why the state unions had to take action,” Lister said. “If the bill passes, we can’t do anything. Even if Governor Justice vetoes it, there would be enough votes to override the veto.”

 

The unions waited until the last possible moment, Lister said, trying to let the legislative process play out.

 

Superintendent of Harrison County Schools Dr. Mark Manchin offered his full support to Harrison County educators and school personnel, pronouncing that schools would be closed today. Therefore, today’s actions by teachers is considered a work stoppage. Technically, a strike would occur in Harrison County or any county where schools were open and school personnel faced a picket line.

 

Educators are not happy to face a work stoppage. Lister described the situation as miserable and stressful.

 

Bridgeport Middle School teacher and spokesperson Ashley Edgell agrees.

 

“Teachers are heartbroken, but strong in our resolve,” she said. “We are hurt by the actions of our legislators, but we will not let them hurt our students. Teachers do not want to be out of their classrooms, but this is part of our job description. We work every day to do what’s best for these kids and that’s what we are going to continue to do with this walkout.”

 

Edgell said she and her fellow teachers will advocate for public education and refuse to let business take the educator out of education.

 

“Charter schools will divide education into the ‘haves’ and ‘have nots’ and it will destroy our kids’ rights to a viable public education,” she said. “Educational Savings Accounts divert funds from public education and go unregulated, meaning there is no accountability regarding how the money is spent. Seniority is crucial as it protects teachers and does not allow hard-working professionals to be transferred and RIF at-will without justifiable cause.”

 

Edgell said local teachers love their communities, parents and - most of all - their students.

 

“They deserve the best in education and SB451 in no way will provide that,” she said.

 

Matt McCullough, Simpson Elementary educator and school spokesman, said he was also disappointed and shocked upon learning the turn of events at the West Virginia Legislature on Monday.

 

“Last week, many educators, including myself, were encouraged to learn of some of the amendments made by the House, including the elimination of ESAs and limiting the number of Charter schools to two,” he said. “The new version of the bill wasn’t perfect, but it was moving in a good direction upon its transition back to the Senate.”

 

Monday, the Senate nixed many of the changes the House made last week, ignoring the voices of many who testified last week in opposition of the bill. Ultimately, the legislators have failed to address the PEIA crisis that was promised in 2018 when the work stoppage ultimately came to an end, McCullough said.

 

Many teachers and other school personnel are standing their ground today, located in front of schools, holding signs of opposition to recent actions of legislators. Many others were in Charleston, voicing their concerns in person.

 

Editor's Note: Pictured from top are scenes from earlier this morning at Simpson Elementary, Bridgeport Middle School, Johnson Elementary and Bridgeport High School. Check back this afternoon for many more photos and video. 

 

Read WV Metro News' coverage of educators at the state capitol HERE and, courtesy of WV Metro News, see a comparison of the House and Senate's version, as well as Senate's subsequent amendments, of SB451 below.