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By Bishop Sandra Steiner Ball
For The Charleston Gazette
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- This is the time of year when we decide on West Virginia's priorities through legislation and the budget process. There is no higher priority for the state than the wellbeing of West Virginia's youngest children. Funding early childhood education is not only the right thing to do, it's a smart investment for the state.
The governor's proposed budget cuts early childhood programs, including home-...
By Jeff Jenkins
WV MetroNews
A Senate bill aimed at giving teachers a modest raise took a significant turn Monday when the House Education Committee proposed a far steeper pay hike.
The Senate bill included only an $837 across-the-board raise for teachers, but the House committee changed that to a three-year package totaling $6,000. The first year would see teachers earning an additional $1,000, the second year $2,000 and the third year $3,000.
The committee also...
Dan Heyman, Public News Service-WV
(03/03/14) CHARLESTON, W.Va. - State lawmakers are struggling to close a big budget hole, but a close look shows the legislature dug that pit with business tax cuts over the last eight years. Sean O'Leary with the West Virginia Center on Budget & Policy pointed out that state spending has been basically flat for some time, but the tax cuts made since 2006 are part of what is causing a budget gap of more than $200 million next year.
"We're...
By Lacie Pierson
The Herald-Dispatch
HUNTINGTON -- The number of makeup days built in to the school calendars in Cabell and Wayne counties officially have been maxed out as of this week.
This year's winter has translated into missed instructional days that have reached double digits in each county, and with a snow day for both counties Wednesday, there officially were no more days in either school's calendar that school officials legally could utilize to make up for the...
By Hoppy Kercheval in Hoppy's Commentary | February 28, 2014 at 12:17AM
West Virginia’s public school teachers are going to end up with a pay raise out of this legislative session. It will be a modest one, either two percent or $837 across the board.
WVEA President Dale Lee has been pushing for the dollar amount as opposed to the percentage because it would have more impact on starting salaries which, according to figures from the National Education Association, are $32,500...