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U.S. NEWS Wednesday 7 March 2018

West Virginia teachers cheer pay hike deal to end walkout

By JOHN RABY
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP)
— West Virginia's striking
teachers cheered, sang
and wept joyfully Tuesday
as lawmakers acted to
end a nine-day classroom
walkout, ceding them 5
percent pay hikes that are
also being extended to
all state workers. A huge
crowd of teachers packing
the Capitol jumped up and
down, chanted "We love
our kids!" and sang John
Denver's "Take Me Home,
Country Roads." The settle-
ment came on the ninth
day of a crippling strike
that had idled hundreds
of thousands of students,
forced parents to scramble
for child care and cast a
spotlight on government Gov. Jim Justice signs a bill increasing state workers salaries by 5 percent during a news confer-
dysfunction in one of the ence at the Culture Center after the House and Senate passed the bill earlier in the day in Charles-
poorest states in the nation. ton, W.V., on Tuesday, March 6, 2018. The settlement came on the ninth day of a crippling strike
that idled hundreds of thousands of students, forced parents to scramble for child care and cast a
State schools Superinten- spotlight on government dysfunction in one of the poorest states in the country.
dent Steve Paine said in a (Craig Hudson /Charleston Gazette-Mail via AP)
statement he was "pleased
that our students, teach- them how democracy is to sign off on. Instead the “We really have to move
ers and service personnel supposed to work, that Senate countered with an away from the idea that
will return to school" on you don't just bow down offer of 4 percent on Satur- education is some neces-
Wednesday. "We know and lay down for anybody. day, prompting leaders of sary evil that’s just got to be
that the end is in sight," said They got the best lesson all three unions represent- funded ... toward ... look-
Dale Lee, president of the that they could ever have ing the state's teachers to ing at our children and our
West Virginia Education As- even though they were out announce the walkout was teachers and education
sociation. "We know that of school." Tuesday marked being extended. process as an investment ...
they're going to be relieved the ninth day of canceled After a six-member confer- That’s all there is to it.”
to do what they love best, classes for the school sys- ence committee agreed Missed school days will be
and that's taking care of tem's 277,000 students and Tuesday to the new pro- made up, either at the end
the kids and educating the 35,000 employees. posal, the House of Dele- of the school year or by
kids of West Virginia." Teachers walked off the job gates subsequently passed shortening spring break,
The West Virginia teach- Feb. 22, balking at an initial 5 percent raises for teach- depending on decisions by
ers, some of the lowest- bill signed by Gov. Jim Jus- ers, school service person- individual counties. Justice
paid in the country, had tice to bump up their pay nel and state troopers on said that would not mean
gone without a salary in- 2 percent in the first year a 99-0 vote. The Senate fol- families would go without
crease for four years. They as they also complained lowed, voting 34-0. their summer vacations,
appeared to have strong about rising health insur- At a bill signing ceremony however. “Teachers seem
public backing throughout ance costs. after Tuesday’s vote, Jus- to be mistreated through-
their walkout. Justice responded last tice declared victory. out the country, so we are
"We overcame, we over- week with an offer to raise “Today is a new day for hoping other teachers and
came!" exclaimed one teacher pay 5 percent — a education in West Virginia. other public employees
teacher, Danielle Harris, proposal the state House No more looking back!” he step up and tell their gov-
calling it a victory for stu- approved swiftly but that proclaimed, surrounded by ernment they have had
dents as well. "It shows senators weren't so eager jubilant education leaders. enough,” he said.q

Florida debates amendments to school safety bill

By B FARRINGTON restrictions on rifle sales, tally ill and school safety said they wouldn't vote for
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — provide new mental health spurred lawmakers to act. the bill if it included the so-
A proposal to arm some programs from schools and The House began consider- called guardian program,
teachers and school em- improve communication ing dozens of amendments which would put more guns
ployees proved particularly between school districts, in the early afternoon, the in schools. The amendment
contentious Tuesday as law enforcement and state first of which would have to strip out guardian lan-
Florida representatives de- agencies. The Feb. 14 mas- stripped language from guage failed on 42-71 vote.
bated amendments to a sacre at Marjory Stoneman that bill that would create Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith
school safety bill. Douglas High School in Bro- a program to arm some said polls show there's little
House members spent ward County left 17 dead. teachers and school em- support for arming teach-
nearly three hours asking Students' anger at the ployees who have under- ers, yet overwhelming
questions about the legisla- availability of guns, access gone law enforcement support for an assault rifle
tion, which would put some to weapons by the men- training. Several Democrats ban.q