MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Members of the Monongalia County Board of Education shared their concerns with District 51 delegates in advance of the next legislative session. Board members concerns focused on proposed consolidation of school boards and funding to enhance retention, staffing and needs that emerged through the pandemic.
With the help of American Rescue Plan money the district has added two counselors and full-time nurses in all buildings, school psychologists and outreach specialists. The district has also added Interventionists to help students with learning deficits and transition specialists to help students meet the challenges of moving from each level of education.
Those positions number about 40 and cost the district up to $5 million annually. Campbell doesn’t expect state lawmakers to bridge the total funding gap, but to weigh each based on the value added to the student experience.
“If the state feels having social workers or guidance counselors is important they might need to start planning for what to do and how to backfill some of these positions especially if mental health has become an issue,” Campbell said. ” Because if we’re addressing it through people and we take those people away that’s certainly going to be a disservice.”
Campbell said teachers aids are especially valuable and they are unable to fill positions that are available. An estimated cost of adding enough teachers aids statewide would be about $70 million. Campbell contends teacher aids are vital in Monongalia County.
Teacher salaries are also an issue. Campbell believes incremental increases earned by teachers as they gain longevity do not keep pay levels competitive with neighboring states. Something else Campbell would like state lawmakers to help with.
“The average teacher salary in West Virginia continues to drop to the point where I think we’re about 48th of the 50 states,” Campbell said.
Service personnel is another where the district struggles to get and retain qualified workers. These workers range from HVAC technicians, diesel mechanics and carpenters. Campbell said the base pay gap with the private sector is as much as $20,000 annually.
“Even though the benefits are better, when you’re talking about guys living paycheck-to-paycheck you can’t cut $15,000 to $20,000 out of take home pay and make up for it with the benefits piece of it.” Campbell said.
Current District 51 Delegate and candidate for the newly created 80th District House seat, John Williams said teachers are a very important part of the learning process and expressed a desire to focus on the issue.
“We need to realize that you get what you pay for,” Williams said. ” So, if we want to have good teachers remaining in the classroom we need to pay them a good wage to keep them here.”
Board members also expressed concerns over Senate Resolution 61. Senate Resolution 61 would find ways to reduce the number of school boards in the state by consolidating multiple counties. Board members believe that areas are so diverse geographically and demographically consolidation would save money, but would not be practical for the operations of most districts.
“However, once you start to actually talk about which counties would be put with other counties that’s when things get difficult and personal- everyone has pride in their county,” Williams said.
The West Virginia 2022 Legislative Session runs from January 12 through March 12.