CHARLESTON – West Virginia Education Association President Dale Lee addressed the West Virginia State Board of Education, offering to work with board members to deal with proposed cuts to public schools. 

Lee reminded state board members the governor promised that educators would be a priority to be vaccinated.  “Let us work together to make sure that promise is kept – that educators will be a priority in getting vaccinated so they can feel safe as they work with our students.”

On the topic of educators and the pandemic:

“We invited you to visit our schools to see the teaching and learning conditions our students and educators are living with every day last week. WVEA members are inviting you to their classrooms, some of which are too overcrowded to be safe. If you have not visited a school, I encourage you to do so to see the conditions our students and educators are facing.  And ask yourself – is this a safe situation in the midst of this pandemic?”

Lee also noted that Amy Willard, WVDE School Finance executive director, provided a way for county boards of education to use federal pandemic relief funds to extend COVID days for school employees.  “The State Board should encourage county boards to use those funds so educators won’t need to use sick leave during this pandemic.”

###

The West Virginia Education Association is the largest teacher organization in the state and is an affiliate of the 3-million member National Education Association (NEA).

WVEA represents teachers, education support professionals, higher education professionals and classified staff, retirees and college students pursuing a career in education.

 

WVEA: Standing Together for Public Schools