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Boone schools cutting back as year comes to end
By Ryan Quinn, Staff Writer
While Boone County’s school board has received attention in recent months for voting to close three elementary schools and cut 80 positions, these cost savings won’t take effect until next fiscal year, and the public school system must still make it through this fiscal year.
Boone is getting advanced funds from the state and putting off owed payments to companies for things like...
Martirano: Smarter Balanced testing off to positive start in year two
By Matt Maccaro, WV MetroNews
Smarter Balanced Assessment testing is underway in West Virginia, and running smoother than last year according to state Superintendent of Schools Dr. Michael Martirano.
The test, which is conducted online, ran into some issues on its maiden voyage in West Virginia last spring, taking longer due to connectivity issues and lab space. Martirano said this year...
Labor plans to challenge ‘Right to Work’ law
By MetroNews Staff
The West Virginia AFL-CIO and other union groups have notified the state they plan to file a lawsuit in 30 days over the state law that makes West Virginia a “Right to Work” state.
“While we believe we have strong grounds for a constitutional challenge of the law, based in part on the recent circuit court decision on the Right to Work law in Wisconsin, we also have found several significant...
State revenue numbers continue freefall
By Pamela Pritt, Register-Herald Reporter
As lawmakers await the call for a special session to deal with a shortfall in the 2017 budget, this year's state revenues continue to free fall, with a gaping budget hole of $218.7 million.
Revenue numbers were $72.2 million below estimates in April.
While energy sector severance taxes continue to plummet, it was April's personal income tax line item that revealed...
WV budget special session may start in later this month
By Phil Kabler, Staff Writer
Earl Ray Tomblin likely will call a special session to take up the 2016-17 state budget later this month, whether there’s agreement in the Legislature on a budget plan or not, Revenue Secretary Bob Kiss said Wednesday.
“We’re probably talking about doing that sometime in May because of the critical nature of getting something in place,” Kiss said of the timing for a...