Brooke school board backs staff
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WELLSBURG -- Brooke County school officials are reiterating their support for striking teachers and service personnel while adjusting to their absence in the schools.
Prior to Monday's school board meeting, Superintendent Toni Paesano Shute confirmed there will be no school today as the school district's staff join school personnel throughout the state in the fourth day of a work stoppage to protest modest pay and rising healthcare costs.
Shute said local representatives of the American Federation of Teachers, West Virginia Education Association and West Virginia School Service Personnel Association have indicated they will alert each day after a vote is taken to continue the stoppage.
She said calling substitute teachers and other personnel isn't an option.
"If we have high numbers of employees off, we can't operate our schools schools safely for our students, nor can we transport them," Shute said, noting school bus drivers are among those involved in the stoppage.
In addition to teachers, other affected personnel include secretaries, custodians and cooks.
Shute was asked whether the school district will have to make up for the four days during the strike when schools were closed.
She said unless state officials indicate otherwise, the school year will be extended to May 31 to make up for the lost instructional time.
But Shute said concerns about flooding led to schools being closed on Monday and students were given work in packets known as Blizzard Bags to do, so that day won't have to be made up.
Brooke County Schools was among school districts given a waiver last year for limited lost instructional time if Blizzard Bags are used.
The school district still has a few such days left but it's not clear if they may be used to make up days lost to the work stoppage.
Shute said she and others with the school board continue to support their staff.
Board President Brian Ferguson opened the meeting by delivering to the public the following statement:
"Brooke County has always held education as a top priority. We value the support of our families, community and our staff. The Board of Education members, our superintendent and her directors are working to minimize the disruption to our schools and community that a work stoppage creates."
"Please be assured that the education of our students is our priority. That is why it is now more important than ever that we show our support for our professional and service employees. We can't provide our children with an exemplary education and student experience without our teachers and support staff."
"It is our hope the West Virginia Legislature and the governor will address the critical needs of our employees so we can avoid continued work stoppages. However, until that time, I hope you will join us as we stand with our teachers and support staff."
Ferguson added the school district will continue to provide meals for the county's children and any other assistance they may need.
Since the stoppage began, the school district has worked with C.H.A.N.G.E. Inc. to provide bag breakfasts and lunches at fire stations, churches and other public places.
On Monday the distributions were moved to each of the county's primary schools.
School staff members often have stepped away from picket lines to help distribute the food, and Shute thanked them for volunteering to do so.
Brooke County school personnel in picket lines have often received positive feedback from the community, with passing drivers honking to show their support and others bringing baked goods and other food to the lines.
Ashley Gurskey, a teacher at Hooverson Heights Primary School, was among staff who left the picket line Monday to attend a town hall meeting held in Wheeling by Gov. Jim Justice.
Gurskey said she left with the impression Justice was trying to sedate the protesting personnel, which also includes other state employees, instead of offering a solution.
"It was really sad. He didn't come with any facts. He kept telling us he loved us. If he loved use, he'd fix the problem."
Justice has signed across-the-board teacher pay raises of $808 next year and $404 percent the following two years.
And the state House of Delegates has allocated $29 million from the state's rainy day fund to freeze rates through the state Public Employee Insurance Agency for one year.
But many teachers say once the freeze is lifted, they could be faced with raises that don't offset increased healthcare costs.
(Scott can be contacted at wscott@heraldstaronline.com.)