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By Ryan Quinn, Charleston Gazette-Mail
Murmurs arose in a Charleston ballroom in September, about an hour into education attorney Howard Seufer Jr.’s presentation.
The crowd of county board of education members from across West Virginia had just been directed by Seufer to look at all the information the state’s new charter school law requires to be in any application to create such a school. The school board members would have to review all this if someone applied to...
By Steven Allen Adams, The Weirton Daily Times
January 5, 2020
CHARLESTON — Top legislative leaders told members of the media Friday what they plan to focus on during the 2020 legislative session starting this week.
Senate President Mitch Carmichael, R-Jackson, and House Speaker Roger Hanshaw, R-Clay, spoke at the West Virginia Press Association’s annual Legislative Lookahead, Friday, at the Cultural Center in Charleston.
Carmichael, who first...
By Jeff Jenkins, Wv MetroNews
January 8, 2020
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The 60-day regular legislative session begins Wednesday at the state Capitol building.
One hundred members of the House of Delegates and 34 members of the state Senate will be on hand when the gavel comes down in both chambers at noon. They will spend the next two months introducing and debating bills with a few hundred gaining final approval.
Most of what happens...
By Chris Lawrence, WV MetroNews
January 10, 2020
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Jennifer Schwertfeger, West Virginia’s 2020 Teacher of the Year, didn’t decide to go into education until she was past age 40. She had a comfortable position working for two well known ophthalmologists, but felt the time had come for a change.
“When my children were of junior high age, I was ready for a change, but I wanted something where I could be with them and...
By Ryan Quinn, Charleston Gazette-Mail
January 13, 2020
Within the past few weeks, the United States and Iran have traded missile attacks, the House of Representatives impeached President Donald Trump and a photo emerged of state correctional officers giving a Nazi salute.
Amid all this, the West Virginia Board of Education is proposing to allow county school systems to reduce social studies standards for high school students.
This could severely...
By Jake Flatley, WV MetroNews
January 15, 2020
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Efforts are underway in the statehouse and in the state’s largest county to push for 12 weeks of paid family leave following the birth or adoption of a child or when a family member is suffering a serious illness.
Del. Moore Capito (R-Kanawha) and Del. Eric Nelson (R-Kanawha) introduced a measure, ...
WV MetroNews
January 22, 2020
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Dale Lee will seek a fifth term leading the West Virginia Education Association.
Lee announced his decision on Tuesday’s MetroNews “Talkline,” noting with 2020 being an election year, he needs to remain as president for stability.
“This one really is the most important election of our time,” Lee said. “We have to get some moderate people who want to move West Virginia forward in...
By Phil Kabler, Charleston Gazette-Mail
January 29, 2020
For years, some legislators and business lobbyists have clamored for an end to the personal property tax on manufacturing machinery, equipment and inventory — which they say would encourage more businesses to come to West Virginia.
Lawmakers have never ended the tax for one big reason: They haven’t been able to figure out how to replace the money the tax brings in, which goes to counties to fund...
By Brad McElhinny, WV MetroNews
January 31, 2020
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Senators took a first look at a resolution that could later allow them to cut taxes on motor vehicles and other personal property.
The Senate Judiciary Committee discussed the resolution ...