AFT Position on Innovation Zones

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AFT-WV Position on the Innovation Zone Schools 

During the regular legislative session, AFT-WV led the fight against the charter school bill proposed by Senator Erik Wells. His bill would have removed employment protections (e.g., seniority, RIF and transfer rights, job bidding, etc) as charter school employees would not have been protected by WV Code 18A. The bill also would have provided little oversight of charter schools as county school boards would not have retained control and oversight of charter schools within their geographic boundaries.

Over the past few months, a charter school task force has been working to develop consensus on a charter school bill. The task force was comprised of employee organizations, school board representatives, parents and education officials. AFT-WV recognized that the changing educational climate necessitated us to do more than say "no" as long as concepts were not proposed at the expense of employee rights. We therefore pressed the group not to make the same mistakes that Senator Wells made with his bill.

With the task force's recommendation of "Charter Innovation Zones 2.0" --our concerns were addressed and the proposal allows us to expand upon the Innovation Zones Act of 2009. The recommendation ensures that school employees will continue to have the protection of WV Code 18A (seniority rights, RIF and transfer rights, etc.). There will be no change whatsoever in our rights. Second, county boards of education will continue to have control over the innovative zone schools and accountability measures have been established.

Our support is qualified given that there are still many details and issues to resolve and our support will be withdrawn if there are changes to the proposal that negatively impact education employees.

AFT-WV is ready and willing to engage and work together to further educational opportunities for our students so long as we do not this at the expense of those who provide the services and instruction provided by our education employees.