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Pay Increase Should be Tied to Reform

PAY INCREASE SHOULD BE TIED TO REFORM
State GOP Head Says Teacher Raises Should Require Teachers To Help WV

CHARLESTON, W.VA. – As soon as Wednesday, the Legislature will vote on an across-the-board pay raise for teachers.

“Teachers should not get a raise this year unless they agree to essential education reforms," said Mike Stuart, Chairman of the West Virginia Republican Party. “Teachers want a raise but so does every other hard-working West Virginian. Unfortunately, our education system is broken. It is failing our children and our state.”

“We cannot wait for Superman to fix our public schools,” continued Stuart. “West Virginia public schools rank in the top half of states in spending per pupil and well ahead of the national average but student achievement and test scores are poor in comparison to other states. More money is not the answer.”

“Any Legislator voting for this pay raise is caving to the pressure of the teachers’ union. Year after year, we hear the perpetual call for higher teacher pay,” said Stuart. “The sad reality is that until teachers and their unions begin to support serious reforms, we should reject throwing more money at the problem.”

“Most teachers support reforms but good teachers are held hostage to their unions. Good teachers deserve to be paid more. Bad teachers deserve to be fired,” said Stuart.

“Our teachers must begin to be participants rather than spectators in fixing our schools and building a better West Virginia. Our public school system is failing our kids,” Stuart said. “We need real education reform – cuts in administrative waste, incentive compensation, locality pay, charter schools, and a process to more easily fire bad teachers.”

“I am fighting for teachers who care about our students and I will fight for them every step of the way. And I am fighting for parents and students who need a better school system. Unfortunately, the special interests are fighting for themselves,” concluded Stuart.

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Paid for by the WV Republican Party