WV Teachers AKA Bullies
Date: Mar 1st, 2005 1:27:08 am - Subscribe
Mood: perturbed
{Teachers get raises every year when state police officers don't. State troopers get shot at and they don't get raises. I think there is a very big problem there and it's called "the union". The teachers' union has the ability to strike and force kids to cross picket lines to get to school. Other state employees don't have the right to strike and are therefore at a huge disadavantage. All we hear about is that teachers aren't paid in WV what they are paid in other states. I would be interested to know what the tax base is for all the other states. Naturally, teachers in states with a large tax base are going to get paid more. West Virginians need to start thinking about things like that instead of allowing the bullies, aka teachers, hold their childrens' education hostage for money that WV may just not be able to afford.}
Proposed raises to cost state $213 million
By MICHAEL ERB
PARKERSBURG - A pay raise proposed by a teachers union and endorsed by the Wood County Board of Education would cost state taxpayers about $213 million in a three-year period, union officers said Wednesday.
The board of education Tuesday unanimously approved a resolution drafted by the West Virginia Education Association, promising it would support the union's quest for higher pay.
But board members later said they did not know the cost of the proposed raises, and several disagreed on exactly what the board's role would now be in approaching the state Legislature.
David Haney, president of the education association, said the union estimated across-the-board pay raises would cost $212.7 million over three years.
"This is an estimate of the cost as we get data in," he said.
The plan would call for a 4 percent raise the first year, a 5 percent raise the second year and a 6 percent raise the third year.
"For teachers the increase would be $39.3 million the first year, $51.1 million the second year and $64.3 million the third year," he said. "The total over the three years would be $157.7 million."
The raise was lower for service personnel, but still significant. The cost of that raise would be $14 million the first year, $18.2 million the second year and $22.8 million the third year for $55 million for the three years, he said.
All four members of the school board said they were unaware of the cost when they voted for the resolution.
"I don't know what it would cost the state to do that," said board President Jim Fox. "I'm assuming the Legislature would pass that with full knowledge of what it would cost."
"No, I haven't looked at the specific dollars," said board member Rick Olcott.
"That is a very good question," said board member Lori Williamson. "I think it is a question that needs addressing."
"I have no idea," said board member John Marlow.
Local representatives of the education association this week said they did not know the cost of the raises. WVEA regional representative Bruce Boston, who has spoken to several school boards about the resolution and was on hand at Tuesday's meeting, said he did not know the potential cost to the state and directed questions to the union's main office. The projected cost is not included in the resolution drafted by the education association.
The resolution was approved by the school board after a short presentation by Valerie Roberts, a co-president of the Wood County Education Association. The resolution was listed as an action item on the board agenda and no discussion was held before a vote was taken.
Fox said he believed the board did not discuss the resolution prior to approving it because board members had read and understood it prior to the Feb. 22 meeting. Copies of the resolution were given to board members immediately after a Feb. 8 board meeting was adjourned.
All four board members have expressed their support of higher wages for teachers. According to the education association numbers, West Virginia ranks 43rd in average teacher salaries nationwide. All of West Virginia's bordering states offer salary averages above the state average, including Ohio, which is more than $8,000 above the West Virginia average.
"If we can help our teachers and bring them up to a fair pay scale compared to our surrounding states, that will ultimately benefit the county," Marlow said.
"If we are going to attract the best and the brightest we are ultimately going to have to pay for that in the long run," Fox said.
Though the resolution was passed by a unanimous vote, board members differed on what they believed would be the next step.
"I think this information will be passed on to the Legislature. We will be seeing what other counties think as well," said Fox, who added he would likely bring the topic and resolution up as items for discussion when he attends a statewide meeting of the West Virginia School Boards Association Committee on Legislation, formerly known as the Committee of 55, which brings together school board representatives from all 55 counties.
"We are going to be in Charleston in March," for school board training, said Olcott. "We plan to reinforce the importance of the Legislature supporting this."
Others said the board's role in the matter had already ended.
"I believe what we did was just to show our support for our teachers to the state," Marlow said. "I don't believe we are going to do anything more than what we've done at this point."
"My understanding was we put our support behind them (the WVEA) going to the Legislature," said Williamson.
Fox said any further action in supporting the resolution would not require a board vote because members had already approved the resolution itself, but several board members said it may still be an item of discussion.
So far about 20 school districts across West Virginia have adopted the resolution, Haney said. The Pleasants County Board of Education passed the resolution last week as well.
However, even with so many school districts adopting the resolution, Haney could not provide a clear picture of how the raises would be paid for by the state.
"It is a matter of priorities," he said. "The state has declined the amount of money they have put into public education over the past several years. That money is going to other places in state government."
Haney pointed to several cost cutting plans already being looked at by Gov. Joe Manchin.
"If we are able to pass the pension bond issue, there are resources that can be used," he said.
Board members similarly did not know how the funds could be raised.
"I don't want to presume to try and find them," said Williamson. "If the funds are available, I would hope the Legislature would use them as appropriate."
"Well, I hope it doesn't come at the cost of something the state really needs," Olcott said. "That is where we trust our legislators."
"I think we all trust the Legislature to be fiscally responsible," Fox said. "This is what (the WVEA) is asking for. Even though they've asked for that they may not get that, but they may get something."
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