MARTINSBURG, W.Va. — A Berkeley County teacher says she’s worried about what the omnibus education bill could do to her county.
“They have tied far too many pieces of legislation it to really give any kind of singular, coherent thought on the whole thing in totality,” said Spring Mills High English teacher Jessica Salfia. “I mean, I can’t tell you the last time I’ve seen such a massive piece of legislation.”
Salfia admits there are good parts of the bill like a proposed teacher pay increase and banked time. She said she shares concern with her colleagues about the part of the bill that would allow charter schools in West Virginia concerns her.
“We’re not really sure what kind of affect that would have on public schools in Berkeley County. They don’t really have to answer to anybody at a state level. They are so highly unregulated and a charter school is run by a corporation like a business. Which I know sounds appealing to a lot of people until you understand that the product of that business is children.”
Salfia was a guest on Wednesday’s “Panhandle Live” on WEPM (listen to the full show here). On MetroNews “Talkline” Wednesday, Emily Schultz of the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools shared why she is in Charleston advocating for the creation of charter schools in the Mountain State.
Emily Schultz of the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools joins @HoppyKercheval at the Capitol to discuss the arguments for public charter schools. WATCH: https://t.co/wkudfIAoe1 pic.twitter.com/hvWxIqHjsa
— MetroNews (@WVMetroNews) January 30, 2019
Live updates from the omnibus bill debate are available from statewide correspondent Brad McElhinny.