The President of the West Virginia Education Association says there’s been plenty of time to plan for pay raises for teachers.
“It’s disappointing,” Dale Lee said on Thursday’s MetroNews Talkline, a day after Governor Earl Ray Tomblin was on the show and said pay raises for state workers, including teachers, are unlikely during the coming year.
Lee says the current state of West Virginia’s budget should not be a surprise. “They’ve known for the last six years, with the proposed budget and budget deficits, that this was going to be a tough year,” he said.
More investments in education, Lee says, cannot wait. “We have to address the fact that there are more than 600 classrooms, across the state of West Virginia, without a certified teacher in them.”
Governor Tomblin will deliver his State of the State Address on February 13th, the first day of the 2013 Regular Legislative Session.
A number of education reforms are expected to be among his proposals to the Legislature.
Lee says raises should be part of that. “We have to entice people to get into the profession and stay in the profession,” he said.
“You simply can’t do that when the pay is so low that you can make more in any of the surrounding states or in most any other profession.”
The Governor has said he is not planning to propose any tax increases or fee increases to make up for budget shortfalls during the coming budget year, but he has asked most state agencies to trim their budgets.
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Comments
David
LOLL. Told you this was coming.
Same old whining and complaining.
Look Mr. Lee, you said the state knew for 6 years this was going to be a tight year. Well, the teachers know what they're going to make when they go in the profession. If they don't like it, they are free to do something else. The students will be better off getting rid of the dead weight who only want money and summers off.
Times are tough. The teachers are no better than anyone else.
January 31, 2013 at 1:26 pm | Report comment
Kathy
do you get paid to do your job? Do you think you never deserve a raise?
February 1, 2013 at 2:29 pm | Report comment
Uncle Fester
Teachers unions always with their hand out. The greed of these unions is just unbelievable. Pure and simple greed.
January 31, 2013 at 1:27 pm | Report comment
Highlander
The teacher could get a pay raise if they didn't have to be in the union. I'm sure their union dues would put some more food on the table if they could keep them.
January 31, 2013 at 2:44 pm | Report comment
Uncle Fester
Like my ole buddy Gomer Pyle used to say,
"Surprise, surprise, surprise!!!!!"
January 31, 2013 at 2:56 pm | Report comment
Jeff
Typical and expected pitch Mr. Lee. Teachers have had pay raises since the rest of the states employees have. Lets see.....almost 7 years now. Screw only teachers getting a raise. What about the rest of us that are way more dedicated and work regardless of the weather. If all state employees cannot have a raise...........screw the select few that only work 180 days.
January 31, 2013 at 4:22 pm | Report comment
TiredInTucker
Thank you WVEA for standing up for teachers and school employees. Most of the haters out there wouldn't last a day in the classroom and I don't see them pounding down the doors to work in the school system.
Asking to improve the pay of teachers who rank #48 in the nation in average salary is hardly greed.
January 31, 2013 at 4:22 pm | Report comment
Dave Jackson
Most posters make it easy to determine those that have taken advantage of educational opportunities versus those who couldn't care less, don't they Tired in Tucker? Teachers make easy targets because in most counties they are the vast majority of professional occupations. Education haters always hate.
January 31, 2013 at 5:09 pm | Report comment
NorthernWVman
What do they rank in comparison to all state employees? I would venture to say on average they make far more than any other state agency except a few such as maybe the medical examiners or AG's office, where most are either doctors or attorneys.
February 1, 2013 at 12:01 am | Report comment
Kathy
Agreed
February 1, 2013 at 2:30 pm | Report comment
ShinnstonGuy
I don't think there is anyone that would argue that teachers are underpaid. However, WV is approaching a crisis. We have the oldest population in the country, which will demand more services. Most of our folks work at Wal-Mart for nothing, and we have also been reminded that we have basically the most drug users (per capita) in the country. Oh, and let's not forgot the collection of severance taxes is down and our lottery revenues will never recover thanks to casinos in neighboring states. I feel sorry for the teacher's but unfortunately "that's the way it seems to be" for now.
January 31, 2013 at 5:25 pm | Report comment
joe_wvu
In 2008, 75% WV teachers voted to force the state to allow them back into the pension fund versus the 401(k) because it was "everyone else's fault we could not manage the 401(k) fund and save for retirement". Meanwhile, 25% of teachers who regularly interacted with the 401(k) advisors, and including their own research and periodic meetings with their own financial advisors, were making far more foe their retirement than the pension fund.
Then, gov. Manchin authorized tens of millions of taxpayer money to "make the teachers whole" moving back into a pension plan.
The best part was non-state private workers in 401(k) programs withstood the significant hit to their savings during the Great Recession, worked with their hometown financial advisors, and have slowly recovered a good bit, but not all of their balances. This is what grown-ups do.
Don't tell me about "avg pay which is 48th in the nation".
I don't know any teacher in Marion County under 30 who does not own a home and, if married, have 2 cars, sometimes a boat, and have plenty of disposable income for vacations.
Enough already.
Here's a question, how many teachers have a 2nd job during the school year such as tax preparation, contracting, etc. In which they work on during the school day, while giving students "study time".
We all work long hours and take work home with us.
January 31, 2013 at 6:59 pm | Report comment
jerry
YOU are tajking out your rear,with your fabricated non facts.
February 8, 2013 at 1:09 pm | Report comment
Jacob
Every worker in America wants, needs and deserves a raise. But when it comes to state employees those same workers want to be critical. I would love to see them spend one day in a classroom or as a trooper or any other state employee. They wouldn't last a day.
God bless state employees. They deserve a raise!
January 31, 2013 at 7:19 pm | Report comment
WV Patriot
Bust this union up immediately. Then perhaps we will be able to hold teachers accountable for student success and failure. I have now watched my three children complete public school. My wife and I did our part in the process. As so did the numerous private tutors who had to fill the gaps each year created by worthless teachers who simply handed out homework and with no teaching and expected them to complete it and subsequently pass the exams. One chemistry teacher even told me on one occasion that he did not have time to tutor my son before or after class since he was the track coach and very busy. I have heard this scene played over and over. Teachers spend 180 days at work (plus or minus), get multiple holidays, sick days, snow days and of course the summers off. And BTW, they officially only work 7 hours a day. And I don't want to hear the crap about taking work home. Any professional knows they take work home or they will not be successful. So quit whining, do your job or perhaps you just may be accountable one day just like the rest of us who are measured and evaluated on how well we do our jobs and randomly drug tested!!! At the same time, tenure should be abolished too! For the percentage of you that do your job, find a charter school or private school and you will do well.
January 31, 2013 at 8:12 pm | Report comment
jerry
Great idea jim,then everyone can work for minimum wage.not so sharp, are you?
February 8, 2013 at 1:12 pm | Report comment
Jim
Same refrain from Mr. Lee. This is how this taxpayer (educated) sees it. I would have no objection to teacher and school sevice personnel raises if WV's educational system was not on a downward spiral. Year after year teachers receive pay raises, all the while, year after year, test scores remain in the cellar and the education system continues its downward spiral. Unlike the teaching proffesssion, in the private sector, wage and benefit increases are tied to performance. If an employee's performance improves, they are usually granted a pay raise and enhanced benefits. Conversely, teachers in WV have received pay raises and enhanced benefits for decades, with no accountability for a failed education system. Again, in the private sector, not only would that prevent you from getting a pay raise, it would probably get you fired. But, thanks to the two teachers' unions in WV, nobody is held accountable and the education system continues its downward spiral! And, JOHNNY STILL CANNOT READ! At some juncture the teachers, not their unions, have to step out and tell the WV taxpayers the system will improve and they will accept pay raises and enhanced benefits tied directly to measured improvements!
January 31, 2013 at 9:15 pm | Report comment
joe_wvu
In 2008, 75% WV teachers voted to force the state to allow them back into the pension fund versus the 401(k) because it was "everyone else's fault we could not manage the 401(k) fund and save for retirement". Meanwhile, 25% of teachers who regularly interacted with the 401(k) advisors, and including their own research and periodic meetings with their own financial advisors, were making far more foe their retirement than the pension fund.
Then, the Governor authorized tens of millions of taxpayer money to "make the teachers whole" moving back into a pension plan.
The best part was non-state private workers in 401(k) programs withstood the significant hit to their savings during the Great Recession, worked with their hometown financial advisors, and have slowly recovered a good bit, but not all of their balances.
February 1, 2013 at 5:03 am | Report comment
susanf
I have no problem w/the teachers asking for a pay raise; however, I think ALL state employees need to do just what the teachers have done - form a union and start demanding to be heard AND appreciated. Maybe a wave of "blue flu" is needed so that our politicians and the general public will see what the much maligned state employees do contribute to the operation and economy of this state!
February 1, 2013 at 7:29 am | Report comment
Jeremy
Not a good move
February 1, 2013 at 3:30 pm | Report comment
susanf
Why not, Jeremy?
Maybe it would make the public more aware of the important jobs that the underpaid and underappreciated state employees do for the rest of the state!
February 3, 2013 at 12:02 pm | Report comment
Jim
susanf---State employees have had a union for years.
February 1, 2013 at 10:47 am | Report comment
susanf
Maybe so, but it is useless and completely ineffective. Need to put some "teeth" into it!Maybe if state employees held a strike, it might get the attention of the lawmakers.
February 3, 2013 at 12:03 pm | Report comment
A Taxpayer
Maybe when the teens working at a store or a restaurant can count out change to return to the customer we should consider raises for teachers. Obviously someone's not doing their job and only wanting a paycheck and a title.
February 1, 2013 at 11:28 am | Report comment