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RESAs still might request money for next year despite dissolution order
Ryan Quinn, Charleston Gazette-Mail
Gov. Jim Justice’s education bill, which he signed into law last month, cut $3.7 million from West Virginia’s eight Regional Education Service Agencies and ordered their dismantlement — at least in name.
Although House Bill 2711 cut the agencies’ funding, it also said they could continue to exist until school boards of the counties within them...
WV schools undergoes more changes as chief picks No. 2, official resigns
Ryan Quinn, Charleston Gazette-Mail
West Virginia state Schools Superintendent Steve Paine has picked Clayton Burch, who served Paine’s predecessor as chief academic officer, to be the No. 2 official in the state Department of Education.
Paine also announced in a Wednesday news release that he has picked Lou Maynus, the Kanawha County public school system’s assistant superintendent...
Slight rise in sales tax, slower rollout of income tax plan in latest proposal
By Brad McElhinny, WV Metronews
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The revenue proposal that’s gaining traction as a likely fix for the state budget offers a 6.35 percent sales tax and a slower rollout of personal income tax reductions.
The personal income tax reductions, which have been favored by Republicans in the Senate but eyed with skepticism by other lawmakers, would include an average...
Income Tax Repeal Still Concern for House Democrats
By Ashton Marra • WV Public Broadcasting
Budget negotiations are continuing at the Capitol Thursday after a new revenue deal was presented to lawmakers earlier in the week.
Gov. Jim Justice presented the new revenue bill to lawmakers Tuesday. The plan has been at the crux of budget negotiations between his office and members of both the House and Senate.
It includes a hike of the...
Education, training part of work participation problem
Editorial, The Herald-Dispatch, Huntington, WV
West Virginia is not the only state seeing a decline in work-force participation.
The percentage of men and women with a job has been gradually sliding across the country since the mid-1990s.
Unfortunately, the Mountain State just has ended up in the worst spot, with the lowest workforce participation rate in the country. Among all adults, only...
Nicholas County judge: School board didn't violate open-meeting laws
By Alex Thomas, WV MetroNews
SUMMERSVILLE, W.Va. — A Nicholas County Circuit judge ruled Friday the Nicholas County Board of Education did not violate open-meeting laws when discussing consolidation plans within the school system.
Circuit Judge James Rowe said there was no “convincing evidence” secret meetings occurred to discuss consolidating five institutions into two schools, and the...
State education office taking comments on disabilities policy
By WV MetroNews Staff
SOUTH CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The West Virginia Department of Education held its second of three public hearings on revisions to the state’s policy regarding students with specialized instruction related to disabilities.
The department’s Office of Special Education held its meeting Tuesday at the Edison Professional Development Center, a facility of Kanawha County Schools. The...
Manchin, Capito question DeVos on education budget
By Alex Thomas, WV MetroNews
WASHINGTON — During more than two hours of testimony Tuesday, Education Secretary Betsy DeVos answered questions from Senate subcommittee members regarding the Trump administration’s budget proposal.
The administration put forward a $59 billion education budget for the upcoming fiscal year, a $9 billion reduction from the 2017 continuing resolution.
Two senators who...
Conference committee meeting to discuss revenue bill
By Brad McElhinny, WV MetroNews
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Differences over a revenue bill meant to be a key component of a state budget for the coming fiscal year are now to be worked out in conference committee.
After days of behind-the-scenes negotiations, the state Senate appointed a conference committee consisting of Majority Leader Ryan Ferns, Minority Leader Roman Prezioso and senators Craig Blair, Ed...
WVDE announces free summer meal offerings
Charleston Gazette-Mail staff reports
The West Virginia Department of Education held a kickoff event Thursday for the federally funded Summer Food Service Program, which gives free meals to children and teens across the state throughout the summer.
A Thursday news release said an average of 178,000 West Virginia schoolchildren depend on free and reduced-price meals at school and have access to them throughout the...
Costly school vandalism splits opinions
By Jessica Farrish, Register-Herald
Like many parents, Summers County resident James Kessler, 40, can remember senior pranks going on at area high schools when he was a kid.
Playing one last joke on a favorite teacher or principal has been a time-honored tradition for many graduating seniors who are leaving behind their high schools and communities for college and work.
Online sites for teens and adults –...
Monroe County voters reject $10 million school bond
By Charles Boothe, The Register-Herald
PETERSTOWN — Voters in Monroe County on Saturday rejected a $10 million bond referendum that would have built a new school.
By an unofficial vote of 1,189 against and 609 for, the vote sinks a plan to construct a new school near Ballard, replacing Peterstown elementary and middle schools.
Of the $10 million, about $6 million would have been used for the new...