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Union: W.Va. Teachers’ Protest Among Options in Bill Debate
By: Associated Press
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CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) – West Virginia’s Senate has bypassed a key committee in advancing major education legislation as a union official declined to rule out mobilizing teachers in protest for the second time in a year.
The Republican-led Senate approved a rare motion by voice vote Monday to skip the finance committee and instead let the entire Senate consider the bill with witness testimony.
Teachers unions and other groups oppose it, saying they were left out of its drafting. Some say that’s retaliation for last year’s teachers’ strike.
The bill would create public charter schools, establish savings accounts for families to pay for private school and require teachers to sign off annually on union dues.
Asked if another walkout is possible, West Virginia Education Association President Dale Lee says, “everything is on the table.”