| By Dianne Weaver
The State Superintendent of Schools is on the fast track for a pay raise after approval by the WV House. His proposed salary would be 3rd highest among state superintendents in U.S.
House Education Committee Chairman Jerry Mezzatesta says his bill to increase the salary of the state Superintendent of Schools is about equity.
If the State Senate approves the increase, the salary increase appears more than equitable.
Virtually all the State Board of Education members, teacher union officials and State Department of Education administrators say the pay raise is needed.
But records say only two states â Illinois and Ohio â pay a larger salary, according to new data from the school chiefs association.
West Virginia's teacher salaries rank 41st in the nation. State teachers and service personnel have already been told there is no money in the budget for raises.
Stewart already makes more than school chiefs in Pennsylvania ($115,000), North Carolina ($112,000), Maryland ($135,000) and Tennessee ($95,500).
Mezzatesta says state's Chancellor of Higher Education is paid about $250,000, but the superintendent of schools oversees schools in 55 counties.
The plan calls for the current $146,000 a year pay be increased to $200,000 a year. The House passed the plan 77-23. The 23 no votes came from republican members.
Mezzatesta says he introduced his bill in January before Superintendent David Stewart announced his resignation. Stewart has since changed his mind.
House Minority Leader Charles Trump says his vote against the bill is not a reflection of Dr. David Stewart's work.
He says Stewart is doing a good job, but the state is not in solid enough financial shape to raise anyone's salary by 30 percent. The state is facing a multi-million dollar shortfall this year, and a recent study projects critical problems ahead.
Challenge WV, an anti-consolidation action group, said at least ten state education officials make more than the governor.
A recent Challenge WV study was debunked for its "funny math" by Dr. Stewart. It showed that state education officials have "more than adequately maintained their status" while not increasing teacher salaries and creating a consolidated school system that is producing poor results for kids.
The state Department of Education, which Stewart oversees, employs several hundred people.
"All the 'funny math' came from their records," said Linda Martin of Challenge WV.
"It is the biggest reason we are trying to pass a busing bill that does not have kids riding well over an hour in many counties," said Martin.
She said education officials have spun a story that the busing bill will cost millions to taxpayers. "That is just not true. It is a fresh start for the future," said Martin.
- Dianne Weaver is a member of Challenge WV, an advocacy group that promotes community schools.
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