K

anawha County Board of Education members unanimously approved a resolution on Monday urging state officials to “stabilize the Public Employees Insurance Agency (PEIA).”

Dinah Adkins, speaking on behalf of the Kanawha County chapter of the West Virginia Education Association, said the resolution was just one in a statewide effort calling for changes to public insurance.

“These [PEIA insurance premium] increases...are really going to take a toll on your employees,” Adkins told board members during their Nov. 4 meeting. “It’s going to be another way to keep good teachers from coming to West Virginia and to Kanawha County.”

School officials voiced approval of the resolution.

“I think this is valuable to our employees,” Kanawha County Schools (KCS) Superintendent Dr. Tom Williams said, noting many of the district’s workers live paycheck to paycheck. “It’s going to be difficult for our employees to come up with [the increased fees].”

Others on the board agreed.

“We can pat ourselves on the back all we want up under the gold dome for giving raises to state employees,” board member Tracy White told her fellow panelists, alluding to state politicians. “But when you take it all away and then some, then we really haven’t given them anything.”

Panelists approved the resolution in a 5-0 vote.

Other business

Also on Monday, members:

• Heard a presentation from Amanda Mays, KCS’ Assistant Superintendent for Elementary Schools, regarding assistance being provided to elementary schools in need of targeted or intensive support;
• Approved a resolution that provides support for students with family members serving in the military;
• Approved changes in wording to a policy that establishes rates for students not attending public school to participate in extracurricular activities, among other agenda items.

The Kanawha County Board of Education’s next regularly scheduled meeting is set for 5 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 21 at the district’s Central Office, 200 Elizabeth St. in Charleston.