WORK STOPPAGE — Educators and service personnel took posts throughout Hancock and Brooke counties Thursday as part of a two-day statewide work stoppage in protest of issues over wages and healthcare benefits. Schols across West Virginia were closed as a result. The stoppage continues today, with schools currently scheduled to be open Monday. -- Craig Howell

Rallies were held in Charleston last week, with those in attendance decrying low pay, small proposed increases and projected increases in insurance costs. The work stoppages were announced Saturday, with all 55 West Virginia county boards of education agreeing to close school.

While state lawmakers, in recent days, have passed legislation to provide increases in pay, local officials say it is not enough when looking at the big picture.

“We’re not happy with only 4 percent over the next three years,” Melanie Donofe, spokesperson for the Hancock County teachers union, said. “We’re not happy PEIA is frozen for the next 17 months, because then we’re looking at a hike of at least 15 percent. We can’t afford that.”

In Brooke County, the teachers’ signs reiterated their dissatisfaction with rising insurance costs that outweigh proposed wage increases.

PICKETERS  — To protest rising healthcare costs and modest pay offered by the state Legislature, teachers and school service personnel members picketed under tents outside Wellsburg Middle School and each of the county’s other eight schools Thursday and were expected to return today. -- Warren Scott

One noted salaries for West Virginia teachers rank among the lowest in the U.S., reading, “You can’t put students first if you put teachers last.”

Earlier in the week, the Legislature finalized a bill which would provide teachers with a 2 percent raise in the next fiscal year, and a 1 percent raise in each of the two following years. All other state employees are set to receive a 2 percent increase beginning July 1, with an additional 1 percent in fiscal year 2020.

Gov. Jim Justice announced Wednesday he had signed the legislation.

“We need to keep our kids in the classroom,” Justice stated. “We certainly recognize our teachers are underpaid and this is a step in the right direction to addressing their pay issue. The PEIA board has also voted to approve changes I recommended — I’ve asked and the PEIA board has voted to eliminate the mandated participation in the Go365 program, the use of combined household income to determine rates, and to freeze the plan for 16 months while we examine it and enact a long-term solution to the PEIA problems.”

Wednesday night, state Attorney General Patrick Morrisey also released a statement, calling the work stoppage “unlawful,” and pledging to assist “any relevant state agency or board with legal remedies,” as well as any county board of education or county superintendent if they would decide to take legal action as a result of the two-day stoppage.

DISTRIBUTING FOOD — Teacher Tricia Hays, left, and Virginia Huff, a food service worker with Brooke County Schools; gather a bagged lunch and breakfast for 9 year old Alexander Ferrari, who was greeted by Kelsey Blackburn, an aide with the school district; at the Wellsburg Fire Department Thursday. Brooke County school personnel and volunteers will continue to distribute food for students at several public places today while the schools are closed for the announced work stoppage. -- Warren Scott

“Our teachers and school service personnel are among the state’s best and brightest, and I wholeheartedly support their cries for higher salaries and affordable healthcare, however a work stoppage of any length on any ground is illegal,” Morrisey stated. “State law and court rulings give specific parties avenues to remedy such illegal conduct, including the option to seek an injunction to end an unlawful strike.”

When they weren’t picketing, many Brooke County school personnel could be found at local fire departments, two churches and other public places handing out bagged lunches and breakfasts supplied by the school district’s nutrition program and C.H.A.N.G.E. Inc.

The Weirton-based community action agency has used a federal grant to provide food to students through after-school programs and summer distributions at local parks.

All students at all age levels were invited to partake of the food, but the effort was influenced also by the large number of students in low income households that has qualified all Brooke County schools for free breakfasts and lunches through a federal program.

Such food distributions in Hancock County are available at Weir Middle School and Oak Glen Middle School.

While the state’s teachers groups have indicated future work stoppages may occur, Hancock County Superintendent Tim Woodward said schools would re-open Monday at their regular times. Brooke County Schools Superintendent Toni Shute said schools would re-open there on Monday, also, but on a two-hour delay schedule.

(Howell can be contacted at chowell@weirtondailytimes.com, Scott can be contacted at wscott@heraldstaronline.com)