News

AFT National President Randi Weingarten will speak during the WV AFL-CIO Convention, scheduled Oct. 23-24 in Charleston. More details will be provided as speaking times, travel arrangements, etc. are finalized. Any AFT-WV member interested in attending the AFL-CIO convention should call the office at 1-800-222-9838 for more information.

Below is a synopsis of all agenda items and any action taken by the WV Board of Education during their regular monthly meeting, held September 11 -12, 2013 at the West Virginia Schools for the Deaf and the Blind in Romney, West Virginia.

All referenced attachments may be viewed by clicking here.

I. Call to Order- Gayle C. Manchin, President

II. Welcome - West Virginia Schools for the Deaf and the Blind Highlights-  Lynn Boyer, Superintendent

III. Recognition(s)

    ►Major General James A. Hoyer, The Adjutant General of West Virginia

Major General Hoyer was recognized for his commitment to

During the 2013 legislative session, AFT-WV worked diligently to maintain the provision in SB359 to guarantee teachers a planning period of no less than 40 minutes each day.

Given all the demands on teachers in the current education climate, we support the need for meaningful, uninterrupted planning time. All teachers, especially elementary, undergo an incredible amount of pressure to deliver effective instruction while taking care of the emotional and social needs of our students. This instructional planning time is imperative to ensuring a quality education for  all students.

AFT-WV believes

Back-to-School Time in McDowell County, W.Va., Means
Laptops, Community Schools, Expo

Every McDowell County middle-school student will receive a free laptop this fall, courtesy of West Virginia Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin, Connect2Compete, and the Reconnecting McDowell partnership.

The laptop distribution announced today is one of several new activities Reconnecting McDowell is unveiling as the 2013-14 school year begins.

“These laptops are a way of leveling the playing field so that students in rural Appalachia have many of the same advantages as students anywhere else in the country,” said Randi

AFT-WV members from all over the state traveled to Charleston on April 1st to attend a rally in support of the United Mine Workers of America battle to save health care benefits for  their retirees.

(Right: Landon Wood, 9, of Charleston, chose the rally over soccer camp during his break because "it was the right thing to do." )

Govenor Tomblin, Sen. Rockefeller, Sen. Joe Manchin

Attention AFT-WV members...we need your help! Contact Pioneer WV Federal Credit Union and tell them to hire WV workers!

Pioneer WV Federal Credit Union has long described itself as a “community-based” credit union, so it’s pretty shocking that they’ve hired workers from Millersburg, Ohio to build a $1 million new branch in Teays Valley, WV.

Everyone knows someone in the Kanawha Valley who is looking for a good paying job. Local construction workers are skilled and drug free. They’re our friends, neighbors and the parents of the students we teach.

Hiring local workers benefits our local economy

Want to see more photos from the Legislative Roundtable? Check out AFT-WV's Flickr site, accessible from the Flickr module at the bottom right of the AFT-WV homepage.

The AFT-WV Legislative Roundtable, held Feb. 5th in Fairmont, was a huge success. Ten legislators were among the fifty people in attendance who braved winter weather to discuss education issues and the upcoming legislative session.

AFT members from eight counties were represented as well as professors from Fairmont State University and WVSSPA leaders from Marion and Monongalia counties. The event was covered extensively by local news media, and was the lead story on the front page of the Times West Virginian newspaper. More photos and tv news coverage can be viewed on AFT-WV's facebook page!

Great AFL-CIO article about the first year of Reconnecting McDowell!