[The day Florida teachers resigned en masse in the country’s first statewide strike]“Work stoppages by public employees are not lawful in West Virginia and will have a negative impact on student instruction and classroom time,” West Virginia Superintendent of Schools Steven Paine said in a statement this week. West Virginia teachers went on strike on Feb. 22 over pay and benefits. (Aaron Scheinberg)Thousands of demonstrators flooded the state’s Capitol on Thursday, said Kym Randolph, West Virginia Education Association director of communication. Jim Justice announced Wednesday he had signed legislation to give teachers and state police a 2 percent raise. They’re reaching out to the legislators at record numbers.”The salary for beginning teachers in West Virginia is $32,435 a year, and the average teacher salary is $44,701, according to the state teachers union.

Source: Washington Post February 22, 2018 18:45 UTC