CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Republicans and Democrats have been working on whether additional compromise is possible on an omnibus education bill being considered Saturday in the Senate.
Compromise could have three results.
Senate President Mitch Carmichael has said he would like to complete action on the bill in one day. Doing so would require a four fifths majority vote to suspend a rule requiring bills to be read on three separate days. That would probably mean all 20 Republicans plus eight Democrats.
Carmichael has also said he would like bipartisan support for the bill. That would encourage public buy-in, while also giving the bill momentum as it goes to the House of Delegates.
And Democrats, who introduced seven individual education bills, want more of those policy measures to be represented in the omnibus education bill.
Senators will gather at 10 a.m. Saturday to consider the broad-ranging education bill.
The bill includes a variety of proposed changes to the education system, including pay raises, charter schools, increased support personnel for schools, open enrollment, incentives to fill in-demand positions and financial support for small or struggling counties.
The bill already removes components that were controversial during the regular session, including education savings accounts, “paycheck protection” and a nonseverability clause.
Additional compromises may be possible.
“Republicans and Mitch Carmichael have extended an opportunity to us to get everything that we wanted in our bills we introduced, and we’ve accepted his kind courtesy and we’re negotiating in good faith,” Senate Minority Leader Roman Prezioso said in a Friday afternoon telephone interview.
“I think it’s incumbent on the senators, who are the deliberate body, to try to work across party lines to come out for the betterment of education. It’s incumbent upon us to now negotiate those points to get a good education bill out.”
Lawyers for the majority and minority caucus were working on the bill on Friday afternoon.
Democrats want a charter school component of the bill to remove a provision allowing higher education institutions to establish public charters. There has also been talk of putting a cap on the number of charters that could be established.
More Democratic proposals deal with vocational education and the role of special needs parents on Local School Improvement Councils.
Even if those provisions wind up in the bill, votes won’t be easy for some Democratic senators.
“It’s going to take courage to do the right thing,” said Prezioso, D-Marion.
Carmichael, appearing Friday morning on MetroNews’ “Talkline,” acknowledged that compromise talks have been ongoing.
“Roman and the Democratic caucus understand the current condition of the WV education delivery mechanism is not serving student success as it should,” said Carmichael, R-Jackson.
“Yes, we speak frequently, the minority leader and I we’ll move toward a compromise solution and hopefully get it done on Saturday.”
He suggested the Republican caucus is considering proposals by the Democrats.
“The Democratic caucus has floated those ideas and we’re receptive to hearing more about that,” he said. “I think we can find our way forward.”
Carmichael said he has increased confidence that the omnibus education bill can be considered in one day.
“Yeah, we’re gonna get it done. We’re gonna get it done,” he said. “I believe the minority caucus will see the value of getting it done in one day and not wasting any more taxpayer dollars.”