Calhoun Schools personnel picket at the Grantsville bridge Tuesday
during what appears to be a brief strike against the Omnibus Education Bill
UPDATE: All schools in Calhoun County will be closed on Wed. Feb. 20, 2019 due to work stoppage. Calhoun County Schools will be operating on a Code Blue. Code Blue employees report at 11:00.
Union leaders say teachers will be striking again Wednesday, expecting all 55 counties to be closed .
The Republican-led House voted earlier to indefinitely table the complex Omnibus Education Bill that the unions oppose.
Without being specific, West Virginia Education Association President Dale Lee says the unions believe there's still a small chance there could be further developments with the legislation.
West Virginia School Service Personnel Association Executive Director Joe White says that although the unions' trust in the House has been somewhat restored, there is no trust in the Senate leadership, which has tried to rush the bill to passage.
Teachers walked off the job Tuesday in opposition to Senate Bill 451 which would have created seven charter schools in West Virginia and would allow 1000 students to use educational savings accounts.
Teachers believe that would divert taxpayer dollars out of public schools to privatize them. Some Republican leaders say those items would help public education, but on a close vote, Delegates decided to postpone the vote indefinitely, which in essence killed the bill.
The Omnibus Bill was directed toward neutering the states education unions, and privatizing education.
Dead in the bill appears to be the 1400 Rule, which would have increased the funding financially for about a dozen school systems, including Calhoun, and placing a police officer in all the states schools.
It was unclear what will happen with promised pay increases for teachers and service personnel.
Senate President Mitch Carmichael said the state needs new directions for education, saying its among the worst performing in the US.
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