I stand with the students of Pocahontas High School who walked out yesterday in protest of losing classes and staff to cuts. Across the state, we’re seeing how funding formula issues are leading to cuts due to declines in enrollment. That’s only one of many issues facing WV public schools. Meanwhile, Jim Justice and his administration are requesting a second waiver from the U.S. Department of Education after failing to meet rules put in place to keep state education spending at a certain level in exchange for use of more than $1.1 billion in COVID-19 funds from the American Rescue Plan. If the waiver is not granted, the state could be on the hook for approximately $465 million in education funding. Since the state legislature would rather focus on using taxpayer money on private schooling, homeschooling, and charter schools, it’s up to the federal government to continue picking up the slack in funding for county school systems. Their only other funding is property taxes. I’m proud of these students for speaking up and walking out and I will do all I can to amplify their voices on the campaign trail!
@zachshrewsbury Join us in supporting @zachshrewsbury for US Senate in West Virginia 2024. He can win if we all help. #SCOTUSisOnTheBallot
@zachshrewsbury Cutting the budget for education doesn’t ever work out well for anyone. It sounds like you have it in your plan to make sure the schools are important to the success of families lives and the communities we live in. Thank you for caring!