2018 Legislative Actions

The West Virginia Legislature began January 10, 2018.  This was an important and eventful time in education, and the West Virginia Association of Elementary/Middle School Principals believed many important programmatic changes occurred, including the historic work stoppage by our dedicated public employees.  The WVAEMSP is always working with Senators and Delegates to make your feelings known on topics such as assessment, school rankings and PEIA benefits.  We strongly believe our children, now more than ever, need increased physical and mental health services.  We adamantly believe that school vouchers and charter schools are unnecessary and dangerous for our state.

The West Virginia Association of Elementary/Middle School Principals recognizes that 2018 continues to be year of action and development of programs and content for students and educators throughout our state. Although many financial challenges exist, it is imperative that our Governor and Legislature resolve to support public education. The WVAEMSP strongly supports the following:

  1. Dedication to the physical and mental well-being of the children of West Virginia by ensuring the proper staffing of school counselors and nurses.
  2. A sensible approach to combatting the opioid crisis that threatens our students’ well-being on a daily basis.
  3. No reduction in PEIA financial support of services from the State of West Virginia.
  4. Professional pay for all professional educators.
  5. A refusal to expand the school voucher and charter school system.
  6. Continuity of WV Educational services from West Virginia Support Systems including the West Virginia Center for Professional Development, the West Virginia Department of Education and the School Building Authority.

WVAEMSP 2018 Educational/Governmental Resolutions

  • Whereas the WVAEMSP supports that students’ need for school safety and mental health begins at an early age, and whereas the WVAEMSP supports the cognitive, emotional and social well-being of the children of West Virginia and recognizes these qualities contribute to a positive and contributing citizenry

BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED, the WVAEMSP supports Governor Justice and the WV Legislature to provide the full financial funding of school counselors to the students of West Virginia with a full-time counselor in every school with a roster of more than 100 students and a daily, part-time counselor to all school with a roster less than 100 students.

  • Whereas the WVAEMSP supports the current benefit packages provided to public employees and acknowledges that they have been provided in lieu of salary raises in the past, and that any reduction of these benefits and the lack of pay increases in relation to neighboring states and costs of living increases are equal to systematic and purposeful decreases in compensation and respect for public education:

BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED, the WVAEMSP supports Governor Justice and the WV Legislature to support professional pay increase for all employees in the West Virginia educational system.

BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED, the WVAEMSP supports Governor Justice and the WV Legislature provide the full financial funding of PEIA benefits package.

BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED, the WVAEMSP supports Governor Justice and the WV Legislature to not reduce educational funding in 2018.

  • Whereas the WVAEMSP supports the removal of inauthentic and one size fits all accountability:

BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED, the WVAEMSP supports Governor Justice and the WV Legislature support a fair and relevant accountability process that accurately reflects a school’s performance with a variety of measurable objectives, not a single, one day, test result.

BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED, the WVAEMSP supports Governor Justice and the WV Legislature continue to implement student engagement time as opposed to the instructional day as the standard measure of instructional time.

  • Whereas the WVAEMSP supports the public school structure that has successfully and continuously provided a comprehensive system of cognitive, emotional and physical support to the children of West Virginia:

BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED, the WVAEMSP supports Governor Justice and the WV Legislature support the existence of public schools and their financial stability by denying legislation that would allow the existence of school vouchers and charter schools.

Furthermore, in assessing the financial requirements of a balanced budget, the WVAEMSP recognizes that certain services and programs may be affected.  However, the State must ensure that if structural changes occur, the providing of the services must continue.  We pledge to work with all legislative organizations to provide the proper and professional education of the children of West Virginia.