HANCOCK COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION

RESOLUTION No. HCBE 2017-2018-01

PUBLIC EMPLOYEE COMPENSATION

WHEREAS, the Executive and Legislative Branch are sworn to uphold the Constitution
of the State of West Virginia, and
WHEREAS, the Constitution of the State of West Virginia requires the support of Public
Education, and
WHEREAS, the Hancock County Board of Education values its public employees and
believes they are deserving of a competitive salary, and
WHEREAS, the Hancock County Board of Education is responsible to recruit and retain
highly qualified employees in order to offer a free and public education, and
WHEREAS, the basis for public employees’ salaries and benefits is set by the State of
West Virginia, and
WHEREAS, these base salaries rank below any another border state to the State of
West Virginia, and
WHEREAS, the proposed salary increase by the Governor of West Virginia would
increase salaries 1 percent over 5 years, and
WHEREAS, changes to the Public Employees’ Insurance Agency (PEIA), would increase
public employees’ contribution, and
WHEREAS, many public employees would actually see a pay decrease, and
WHEREAS, a teacher in West Virginia, with a bachelor degree, will not reach the
$40,000 salary mark until after 13 years of service, and
WHEREAS, the current state of public employees’ compensation undervalues their
service and results in many traveling to bordering states to seek better employment
opportunities, and
WHEREAS, the current state of the West Virginia compensation system makes the
School Board’s ability to recruit and retain highly qualified public employees difficult, and
WHEREAS, teacher compensation in West Virginia ranks 48 th in the nation and reflects
the over 700 teacher vacancies in West Virginia, and
WHEREAS, the Hancock County Board asks the Legislative and Executive Branch, to
uphold its Constitutional duty and demonstrate support for Public Education, and
WHEREAS, the Hancock County Board of Education asks these branches to work
together to form a permanent solution to fully fund PEIA and increase teacher salaries to a
competitive national wage, and
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Hancock County Board of Education ask the
Executive and Legislative branches to improve public employees’ compensation by providing
for sufficient salary increases, and finding a permanent funding stream to fully fund PEIA
during the 2018 session so that Boards of Education can recruit and retain the nation’s best
public employees.

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Toni Hinerman, Board President

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Caroll Rosenlieb, Board Vice President

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Michelle Chappell, Board Member

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Tim Reinard, Board Member

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Larry Shaw, Board Member

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Timothy L. Woodward, Superintendent