W.Va. House Gets Set For Public Hearing, Vote on Latest Education Omnibus

The West Virginia House of Delegates has advanced its own omnibus education bill and is getting set for a vote on the complex and controversial measure. The measure moved forward during a Tuesday floor session in which teachers lined the galleries to watch the proceedings.

House Bill 206 calls for pay raises for teachers and school service personnel but also allows for 10 charter schools, to be authorized only by county boards of education, which could open starting with in the 2021-2022 academic year. Majority Republicans originated the 144-page bill Monday in a select committee on education.

The measure does not include anti-strike language that is included in the Senate’s proposed education-reform bill.

However, union leaders call the bill more of the same and oppose the House and Senate omnibus bills.

The House will hold a public hearing at 8 a.m. Wednesday before considering the bill on a final reading with a right to amend.

If House Bill 206 clears the lower chamber, the Senate would need to give the measure three readings, which throws into question when the special session might wrap up.