WV teacher strke

[WVUtotheBig12]

I was shocked to learn how little teachers in West Virginia are being paid. It’s barely a living wage if at all. Not sure how people expect talented teachers to work in WV for so little money.

I totally agree. School districts located in counties bordering neighboring states face the constant issue of losing quality educators to these states. Most of the time, these educators don’t want to leave their current positions, but can’t turn down the significant pay increases. A large of the aspiring teachers WVU produces would like to stay in-state, but feel they need to leave WV to earn a livable wage.

 

[mdeer1]

I agree, pay them what they are worth. What are our national rankings for education?

They should be paid on that level.

I think we all should find ways to make money that are not dependent on a government or some other large entity . This includes me too.

 

[WVU enginEER]

Starting salary is 32 and they pay thousands plus for insurance premiums

Local school board can put up a levy increase to the voters with it dedicated to pay raises. Would be interesting to see how it would turn out. There is a local answer to the problem

 

[pacs life]

I think we all should find ways to make money that are not dependent on a government or some other large entity . This includes me too.

Agree. For the teachers, salary should be locality based, performance based and education should be privatized with competition.

The problem is, part of the deal the teachers are seeking is zero charter schools which limits competition.

 

[tjebarr]

Teachers in Jefferson & Berkeley County can make 20k more a year in Va, Md

 

[BASSMAN83]

Is it about pay? The rise of the cost of their medical insurance? Both?

Insurance is a big thing too. I would rather her give up the raise and fix her peia.

 

[WVUtotheBig12]

Is it about pay? The rise of the cost of their medical insurance? Both?

Both

 

[Orlaco]

Local school board can put up a levy increase to the voters with it dedicated to pay raises. Would be interesting to see how it would turn out. There is a local answer to the problem

Locals actually know the teachers... ...pretty sure they wouldn’t like the results of the voting.

 

[WVU enginEER]

I totally agree. School districts located in counties bordering neighboring states face the constant issue of losing quality educators to these states. Most of the time, these educators don’t want to leave their current positions, but can’t turn down the significant pay increases. A large of the aspiring teachers WVU produces would like to stay in-state, but feel they need to leave WV to earn a livable wage.

Local cost of living increases can be dealt with through local levy rate increases dedicated to teacher pay. Then every tax payer in the state does not have to pay for the higher cost of teachers in other counties.

I always hear "livable wage", yet I know teachers with big pickup trucks towing bass boats and camper trailers down the road. The got more vehicles than me.

 

[pacs life]

Teachers in Jefferson & Berkeley County can make 20k more a year in Va, Md

Firefighters in Fairfax VA can make 20K more per year than those in Winchester VA.

 

[GBC Eer]

Insurance is a big thing too. I would rather her give up the raise and fix her peia.

This is exactly what it is about. The comments opposing it are mostly people completely uneducated to why it is actually happening.

 

[pacs life]

Both

Crazy teachers are the only group in the country whose insurance rates have gone through the roof.

Love words like deserve.

 

[mdeer1]

Firefighters in Fairfax VA can make 20K more per year than those in Winchester VA.

Cost of living is higher in fairfax

 

[DavidsonEer]

Local cost of living increases can be dealt with through local levy rate increases dedicated to teacher pay. Then every tax payer in the state does not have to pay for the higher cost of teachers in other counties.

I always hear "livable wage", yet I know teachers with big pickup trucks towing bass boats and camper trailers down the road. The got more vehicles than me.

They should have fewer vehicles than you? (I can’t believe # of vehicles is a metric but here we are)

 

[BobbyBoucheer]

Everybody loses.

Either they do or don’t get raises.... ...and the students are still stuck with crappy educators.

some are crappy, some are wonderful............why paint with the broad brush..........would it be for responses?

 

[pacs life]

This is exactly what it is about. The comments opposing it are mostly people completely uneducated to why it is actually happening.

LOL High Insurance. Who did the Teachers Unions endorse recently.

I paid 20K in insurance and healthcare costs last year and that was on my own plan. Which was 33 percent cheaper than my employers plan.

 

[WVUtotheBig12]

I agree, pay them what they are worth. What are our national rankings for education?

They should be paid on that level.

You get what you pay for. This isn’t surprising when quality teachers are leaving for significant pay raises in other states and graduating aspiring teachers from our state’s universities feel they can’t stay in WV to work and afford to live.

 

[Orlaco]

....people completely uneducated ......

...with high school degrees from schools in WV.

 

[pacs life]

Cost of living is higher in fairfax

As it is in Loudon and MD than WV. Either way, someone can drive 30 mins and make 20K more.

 

[pacs life]

You get what you pay for. This isn’t surprising when quality teachers are leaving for significant pay raises in other states and graduating aspiring teachers from our state’s universities feel they can’t stay in WV to work and afford to live.

So the previous 80 years are to blame?

 

[Orlaco]

You get what you pay for. .

You’re being pretty hard on our current teachers...but yes, I agree they suck.

 

[DocEER]

Insurance is a big thing too. I would rather her give up the raise and fix her peia.

I don’t want to sound like an ass but every other private payers premium has increased dramatically since the ACA passage. PEIAs low cost was bound to implode at some point. How much of a percentage rise was it?

 

[mdeer1]

some are crappy, some are wonderful............why paint with the broad brush..........would it be for responses?

Do they really get 3 months off ? I looked it up average salary is 46 K.

 

[WVU82]

The 5 percent is the raise Gov. Jim Justice proposed in a negotiated deal with unions intended to end the statewide walkout by West Virginia's public school teachers.

The House Finance Committee has approved an amended bill that would provide average 5 percent pay raises to teachers, school service personnel and state troopers in the coming year.

The West Virginia House has voted 98-1 to provide average 5 percent pay raises to teachers, school service personnel and state troopers in the coming year.

The senate said 4%....

There is the issue.

 

[Orlaco]

some are crappy, some are wonderful............why paint with the broad brush..........would it be for responses?

Most are crappy...and that’s from my long ago experience.

I hold a grudge.

 

[WVUtotheBig12]

They said on the radio the average is $47,000 per year for 9 months work.

This one of the most ridiculous arguments I’ve heard, but it’s not surprising coming from you based on some of your previous comments. Teachers are paid on a salary basis. Do you think a teacher’s day ends when the final bell rings. Do you think they’re getting paid for the hours they put in lesson planning and grading each week at home? If you totaled all those extra hours, you’d see that most teachers put in as many or more hours than people who work 40 hours/week, 12 months/year.

 

[TimWVU01]

Fed employee here...pay 550 bucks my portion a month on FEHB Blue Cross Blue Shield Standard Family plan...no Fed raise in 2010, 2011 and 2012....FEHB went up all 3 years = result net loss for me

Virginia resident. Paid 4000 in Real Estate tax last year, 1000 in car tax (including 150 dollar tax annual in my 2005 Ford Truck with 150k miles on it).

Should I mention NoVa also pays an extra commuter tax as well.....

Cry me a river WV teachers....

 

[rog1187]

I really don't care about your office situation, my wife is a teacher that cares about kids and takes pride in her job. Think about what they spend on a education to work for peanuts, their pay is ranked 48 out of 50.

What do they get paid per pupil...where does it rank them nationally...you might be shocked to learn its 23rd.

 

[roadtrasheer]

I may not know all the small print , but my understanding is that the cost of medical is eating up the pay raise. ...well I hate to break it to them , but as a union man I haven't had a pay raise on my check in 4 years ....the cost of insurance has devoured it ...well that's a lie ...ive received a .10 on the hr every year ...

 

[BobbyBoucheer]

Agree. For the teachers, salary should be locality based, performance based and education should be privatized with competition.

The problem is, part of the deal the teachers are seeking is zero charter schools which limits competition.

I'm all for performance based salary.........that will never happen tho. Just like every other aspect of life the better teachers always cover for the shitty teachers.......I've got both in my family.

Two cousins that teach are worthless...yet they have been teaching unfettered for over 12 years. One teaches in Taylor county and one teaches in Garret county Md. The one in Maryland makes about 8K more on the year and they both graduated in 2005.

 

[82Mountaineer]

You get what you pay for. This isn’t surprising when quality teachers are leaving for significant pay raises in other states and graduating aspiring teachers from our state’s universities feel they can’t stay in WV to work and afford to live.

It's not just teachers. West Virginia's #1 export is brains.

 

[pacs life]

This one of the most ridiculous arguments I’ve heard, but it’s not surprising coming from you based on some of your previous comments. Teachers are paid on a salary basis. Do you think a teacher’s day ends when the final bell rings. Do you think they’re getting paid for the hours they put in lesson planning and grading each week at home? If you totaled all those extra hours, you’d see that most teachers put in as many or more hours than people who work 40 hours/week, 12 months/year.

I am guessing they didnt know that when they took the job? If teaching is so bad and the pay is so bad- get a new job or get a job where salary, and expectations are higher. We can replace the old with new. How much worse could our 45th place rank be for performance?

 

[tjebarr]

You’re being pretty hard on our current teachers...but yes, I agree they suck.

Don't you live in Pennsylvania

 

[BobbyBoucheer]

Do they really get 3 months off ? I looked it up average salary is 46 K.

They get a lot of time off a year. comes out to about 3 months total but a lot of teachers teach summer school..........six of my relatives teach summer school for more money.

 

[Orlaco]

This one of the most ridiculous arguments I’ve heard, but it’s not surprising coming from you based on some of your previous comments. Teachers are paid on a salary basis. Do you think a teacher’s day ends when the final bell rings. Do you think they’re getting paid for the hours they put in lesson planning and grading each week at home? If you totaled all those extra hours, you’d see that most teachers put in as many or more hours than people who work 40 hours/week, 12 months/year.

Can’t speak for every profession but I put PLENTY of hours in off the clock and I’m not salary (where it’s actually expected in most professions when needed).

Three months vacation....or alternate income...is a HUGE perk.

 

[rog1187]

TTeachers are paid on a salary basis. Do you think a teacher’s day ends when the final bell rings. Do you think they’re getting paid for the hours they put in lesson planning and grading each week at home? If you totaled all those extra hours, you’d see that most teachers put in as many or more hours than people who work 40 hours/week, 12 months/year.

LOFL...I get a salary...I work more than 40 hours in a week...welcome to adulthood.

 

[pacs life]

Live in a poor state, choose a historically low paying job and have your unions and Associations endorse a presidential plan that increases healthcare costs and expenses at a historical level and then strike because of your pay and healthcare costs.

Makes sense

 

[BobbyBoucheer]

Live in a poor state, choose a historically low paying job and have your unions and Associations endorse a presidential plan that increases healthcare costs and expenses at a historical level and then strike because of your pay and healthcare costs.

Makes sense

This is a valid point.

 

[WVUtotheBig12]

You’re being pretty hard on our current teachers...but yes, I agree they suck.

You know nothing about the education system or situation in WV. You took what I said completely out of context and that was not what I meant in the slightest. When quality teachers are leaving the state constantly and aspiring teachers graduating from WV feel they need to leave the state, you can’t use the national education ranking for our state as a valid barometer.

 

[WVU enginEER]

This one of the most ridiculous arguments I’ve heard, but it’s not surprising coming from you based on some of your previous comments. Teachers are paid on a salary basis. Do you think a teacher’s day ends when the final bell rings. Do you think they’re getting paid for the hours they put in lesson planning and grading each week at home? If you totaled all those extra hours, you’d see that most teachers put in as many or more hours than people who work 40 hours/week, 12 months/year.

Do you actually think people in other professions actually only work 40 hours per week? Grading papers versus researching an environmental issue and staying up late writing a report with a short deadline. Attending meetings at night dealing with a pubic life safety threat. In the office late preparing for a critical court case.

My sister always made the "but I have to bring papers home to grade" argument. To which I would say, "oh yea, well we were out till midnight in 32 degree weather working on a water main leak in the cold & snow so people can get their water turned back on. It's always as if teachers are the only ones putting in overtime.

In addition, teachers aren't the only ones who spend their own money on supplies and resources for work.