March 3rd, 2018 by WCBC Radio
Gov. Jim Justice and school superintendents agree that a 5 percent pay raise must be passed by the Senate Saturday, with the governor warning, “It has to happen” or "we spiral off into no-man's land."
County superintendents also threw their weight behind the teachers Friday. Many of them came to Charleston and told legislators that if the pay raise bill does not pass out of the Senate this weekend, then schools will be closed Monday, extending a teacher walkout to an eighth consecutive day.
The bill has hit an impasse in the Senate, which assigned the bill to its Finance Committee Thursday. Finance Chair Sen. Craig Blair said the committee would meet Saturday, however, an agenda released Friday evening did not list the pay raise bill as a topic.
About 45 superintendents were among 7,082 people who crowded the corridors of the Capitol on Friday. They met with Senate leadership and Justice to voice their concerns with the process so far. Justice wants the bill passed this weekend.
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