UNION REACTS TO GOVERNOR’S PROCLAMATION

CHARLESTON –AFT-West Virginia President Fred Albert lauded Governor Jim Justice’s Proclamation to declare September 20th as School Service Personnel Day in West Virginia and released the following statement:

“I am pleased that Governor Justice issued a proclamation to honor our state’s school service personnel. Our dedicated service personnel provide vital services to our children and we could not run our school systems without them. For many children, our hard-working service personnel are the first people who greet them in the morning, whether it be on

Charter School Policy on 60-day public comment

As required by law, the West Virginia Board of Education has promulgated rules for the implementation of the charter school provisions of the omnibus education bill passed in June. The proposed policy is out on a 60-day public comment, rather than a 30-day comment period thanks to a motion by WV BOE member Debra Sullivan.

Members are strongly encouraged to review and comment on the proposed policy. Additionally, AFT-West Virginia has announced its intention to file a lawsuit on the constitutionality of the charter school provision of the law.

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2019 AFT-WV Summer School Information and Registration

AFT-WV is coordinating an op-ed campaign featuring member stories and their ideas on what our students need.

Tell the public or legislators what it’s like to walk a day in your shoes.

These op-eds will be part of a media blitz strategically timed around the special session.

Click here to learn more or submit an op-ed. 

Dear Member,

Spring is a very busy time for educators, and I know everyone is also feeling anxious about the upcoming special legislative session.  I wanted to take the opportunity to tell you what we know, what it is still uncertain and some of the strategic activities and actions that will be taking place in the coming weeks.

What we know:
Overwhelmingly, the results of the public education forums called for wraparound services to address the physical, mental and emotional needs of students. The public support for charter schools and ESAs was so minuscule that several legislators who had once

Senate Session Update:

On Monday, the West Virginia Senate passed another omnibus education bill that would, among many other things, legalize charter schools, prohibit county superintendents from closing schools in anticipation of strikes and implement punitive measures toward striking teachers and service personnel.

The measure passed on a 18-15 vote, with all Democrats present voting no, and Sens. Bill Hamilton, R-Upshur, and Kenny Mann, R-Monroe, also voting no. Sen. Robert Plymale, D-Wayne, was absent.

Additionally, a bill to permit education savings accounts passed the Senate by the same

On Monday, the Senate passed SB 1039, titled the “Student Success Act” but more commonly known as Omnibus 2.0. The omnibus bill, similar to its predecessor SB 451 that was defeated earlier this year, contains a wide variety of helpful and harmful provisions for public schools.

Major provisions of Omnibus 2.0 include:

· Allows for an unlimited number of charter schools, subject to authorization by local boards of education, or the state board for counties that choose to not be an authorizer. Charter boards authorized to contract with “any third party” for “any service, activity, or undertaking”