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NEW MEMBERS ARE FREE THRU JUNE

 Call Kathy Martin WVEA field rep today at 304-932-6467

 

NEW TEACHER EVALUATION PLAN BEGINS IN 2012-13

The legislature has approved a bill that requires annual evaluations of teachers and principals in West Virginia's public schools. 

WVEA President Dale Lee and GCEA President Richard Dulee have both served on the WVDE Work Group that created the preliminary teacher evaluation plan. It is currently being piloted in 25 West Virginia schools.  The vast majority of participants in the work group were classroom teachers.

The new law will expand the pilot to 2 schools in each county in 2012-13 and provide for full implementation the following year.  WVEA President Dale Lee has expressed concern that adequate planning time and support be provided teachers and administrators to implement the program.  WVEA is working to make sure adequate funding is provided for support.

The evaluation program provides for 80% of its value to be determined by teacher compliance with our current state teacher standards.  15% is determined by student performance on objectives determined by the instructor.  5% is determined by standardized test scores. The standadized score component is the lowest percentage of any state evaluation in the U.S.

 WVEA succeeded in minimizing the use of standardized scores in the new evaluation proposal because, it is our belief, standardized test scores do not provide a valid and accurate measure of teacher performance given the varied situations and populations teachers work with on a daily basis. Unfortunately, these student performance measurements are required by Federal law.

OPEB BILL PENALIZES PUBLIC SCHOOL EMPLOYEES

“No man's life, liberty or  property are safe while the legislature is in session”

The quote is often attributed to Mark Twain. It was actually uttered by an obscure New York legislator.  Somehow that misappropriation seems par for the course when we are talking politics.  Take the Other Post Employment Benefits (OPEB) settlement as a good example.  Governor Tomblin hailed the bill as a great triumph for our state.  He nearly swooned in declaring, "This is the state's last outstanding liability, and it will be gone by 2036!"

Unfortunately, what the OPEB solution actually does, is transfer $5 billion in debt onto the shoulders of teachers, school support personnel and state workers in the form of increased health premiums. It caps state contributions to a maximum  3% yearly increase.  Unfortunately, medical inflation is running at near 10% a year, so the difference is left to retirees to make up.

WVEA succeeded in getting provisions added to the bill that require additional cost savings efforts on the part of PEIA.  Additionally, WVEA was able to include a provision dedicating $5 million yearly to a retirement insurance fund for new hires. New hires currently receive no help from the state on retirement insurance costs.

However, it is not enough.  Real relief for retirees must be sought elsewhere.  WV is one of a handful of states that tax social security benefits and the exemption for state employee pensions on state income tax is a mere $2000. An end to the tax on social security benefits and an increase in the exemption to $20,000 is long overdue.  This is the type of relief that will make a long term difference to our retirees.

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BIG CHANGES IN GREENBRIER COUNTY

It is a year of big changes at the top and throughout our school system.   Recent months have brought about the announced retirements of both  Mr. John Curry, Superintendent, and Mr. Charles Callison, Assistant Superintendent.

New school construction in Lewisburg and Rainelle continues, with an expected opening of the new Lewisburg Elementary by August 2012.  The completion of the renovations at Greenbrier West should, according to information at recent Board of Education meetings, happen within weeks.

Additionally, our county has continued to see a generational transition as teachers and educational support staff retire and are replaced new staff.

The old adage:  “Nothing is as constant as change” is in full flower, bringing renewed energy and attendant anxiety.

Regardless of what happens we promise this: the Greenbrier County Education Association and the West Virginia Education Association will fight the good fight for teachers, service personnel and students every day.  Nothing will change that!

Membership Actually Pays

Your WVEA Membership Card Gives You Discounts at Local and National Merchants!

Use It Today!

A WVEA member can actually recoup their entire dues by using the discounts offered through this program.

Visit www.wvea.org to learn how.