The state Senate Education Committee meets later today at the State Capitol to consider changes to the governor’s education reform bill. The committee will likely take a vote on the measure before the day is over.
Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin says this is just the first step to what he believes will be the approval of the measure before the regular session is over.
“I think, at the end of the day, that there’s enough people in the Legislature that knows that it’s time that we make changes in education in West Virginia,” Governor Tomblin said on Wednesday’s MetroNews Talkline when asked whether the bill has enough votes to pass.
The Senate Education Committee will consider a committee substitute instead of the governor’s original bill and there will likely be a number of proposed amendments.
“Getting the best teacher in front of students is a #1 priority for student achievement,” Wayne County Senator Robert Plymale, the Chairman of the Senate Education Committee, said of the goal of the proposed legislation.
He says his committee’s amendments to the bill will clarify a number of policies dealing with planning periods and holidays, so it’s clear no teacher holidays are being eliminated. The Senate Education Committee’s version of the bill, the Senator says, will also address the teacher accreditation process.
“The ideas, the goals that we have in there remain in the bill, but those kinds of things happen,” Governor Tomblin said of the changes.
Generally, Senator Plymale says the Senate Education Committee will likely approve a bill that is similar to Governor Tomblin’s original proposal.
(You can read the education reform bill here.)
“What we’re doing is working hand in hand with the Governor’s Office,” Senator Plymale said on Wednesday’s MetroNews Talkline.
“We’ve met with the teaching entities, the groups, at very, very great length. We’ve had conference calls where we’ve gone over it to make sure that we understand it.”
The education reform bill is expected to face more opposition once it gets to the state House of Delegates. But Governor Tomblin says he thinks it will ultimately be approved.
“I feel very positive about the passage of this bill,” the Governor said.