Raleigh County teachers share concerns, say they’re ready to take action

Jan. 30--Several Raleigh County teachers say unless lawmakers can meet their demands, they're ready to take action.

Their main concerns are rising PEIA (Public Employee Insurance Agency) premiums, a proposed 1 percent pay raise which they say will not begin to cover PEIA premiums, an "invasive" Go365 health application and the proposed elimination of seniority.

Elsewhere in the state, including Wyoming County, school employees are considering a one-day walkout to protest the issues.

Crystal Yost, an elementary teacher in Raleigh County, said her health insurance premium is increasing by nearly $300 per month -- $3,600 per year.

"When compared to the insignificant pay raise, mine and other teachers' net take-home pay will drastically decrease," Yost said.

While she has other concerns, PEIA premiums are her main issue. As proposed, she said the premium would eat up 20 percent of her income.

Both she and her husband are educators. She said they consider themselves blessed to be able to help shape the future of youth in the state.

"But we're becoming more and more concerned about our ability to continue to be public educators in West Virginia."

When asked how many of the eight in attendance were considering leaving the state, seven hands were raised high.

Karen Miller, a 17-year employee with the school system, is the only one who plans to stay. She has to stick around at least three more years to lock in her retirement.

She also wants to allow her daughter to stay at her high school through graduation.

"I'm stuck," Miller said. "I'm trying to consider what we're going to do in this situation, and I'm thinking, 'Why should she be punished or why should I be punished for staying here?'"

Miller said she considers educators the foundation for a child's success.

"We're not saying we have to be paid at a doctor level, that's not what we're saying. But year after year, not only are they reducing our insurance, not only are they giving us a pay raise that they're actually turning around taking away, they attack us. This year, they're trying to take our seniority away."

For example, she said if a school consolidated, a 20-year educator could be replaced with a new hire just because the new hire would make less money.

"It's just not fair. Why would anybody want to stay here for that?"

For the past decade, she said it's felt like a constant attack.

"It's not just about PEIA. It's not just about the 1 percent. It's about everything."

No one has a plan, she said, and only one lawmaker she has reached out to -- Delegate Ricky Moye, D-Raleigh -- has actually listened to her concerns. Everyone else is focused on blaming the other political party.

Miller and others said they want the community to understand their concerns, and to reach out to lawmakers to show their support.

"We're ready to take action," Miller said. "We're not coming right out and saying we have a date, we have a time, we have anything scheduled. We just want the community to know why we're upset. We want Charleston to know why we're upset. We want them to know they need us, and those children need us."

Another meeting of school employees is planned this evening.

----The president of the West Virginia Education Association's Mingo County arm told The Charleston Gazette-Mail that majorities of professional and service personnel there have voted for a walkout.

Brandon Wolford, a special education teacher, says they include teachers, counselors and other staff, both from his union and non-union.

He didn't name a date.

In Logan County, teacher Leah Clay Stone says employees "did vote to not work one day."

Wolford says Wyoming school employees have already voted to walk out and at least 10 other votes are planned this week.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Email: wholdren@register-herald.com; follow on Twitter @WendyHoldren

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