Local Senator Hosts Public Education Forums

WEST VIRGINIA (WOAY) – State Democratic leaders are hosting public forums to talk about education policies in preparation for the governor’s special session.

The forums are not affiliated with the forum series that state leaders are hosting this week, but will involve the same topics. During Wednesday’s meeting, educators and parents voiced their opinions on topics such as charter schools and education savings accounts.

“What we do in Charleston has a profound effect on people in their lives back home, but I think we often miss the connection between what’s actually happening on the ground in the communities and legislation that we pass in Charleston,” said Senator Stephen Baldwin. “The point of this is to try to reconcile that to find out what is going on in classrooms on a day to day basis…to try and have real solutions.”

The democrats held the meeting in the same style as town hall meetings so that all present legislators could hear the ideas and concerns community members presented.

Gov. Jim Justice called the special session to address teacher pay raises and other education issues. He asked legislators to meet with teachers, parents and other stakeholders before returning to Charleston later this year. Officials have not yet set a date for the special session.

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Kassie Simmons
Kassie Simmons joined the team in January 2019 as a weekend journalist. She graduated from Virginia Tech in just two and a half years with a BA in multimedia journalism. During her short time at Virginia Tech, she served as the editor for the university’s chapter of The Tab. Kassie was named the top reporter for The Tab at Virginia Tech on multiple occasions and made the list for the top 30 reporters for The Tab in the U.S. She also studied theater performance and minored in creative writing. Before coming to WOAY, Kassie interned at WSLS in Roanoke and the Tidewater Review in her hometown of West Point, Va. She has loved following breaking news since her childhood and has a passion for delivering the stories people care most about. Kassie is excited to be working in Southern West Virginia and looks forward to all the adventures ahead of her. You can follow her on Twitter at @KassieLSimmons and like her page on Facebook. If you have a story you think she should check out, send her an email at ksimmons@woay.com.