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West Virginia Public Schools Are Still Closed Despite Pay Deal

Teachers were supposed to be back in the classroom Thursday as part of a deal proposed by Gov. Jim Justice earlier this week.

By: Briana Koeneman

Posted at 2:48 PM, Mar 01, 2018

and last updated 2018-03-01 14:48:58-05

All public schools in West Virginia were still closed Thursday as a teacher strike over pay and benefits continued.

Teachers were supposed to be back in the classroom Thursday as part of a deal proposed by Gov. Jim Justice earlier this week. He said he'd like to see a 5 percent increase in teachers' wages statewide.

Justice's proposal passed the House of Delegates 98-1 on Wednesday. But the state Senate's president expressed some hesitation about the deal. And that made many teachers nervous.

As one teacher told USA Today, "We have been promised so many things for so long, and none of it comes to fruition. We want to see a firm commitment before we go back."

Every public school in West Virginia has been closed since Feb. 22 because of the strike. Salaries for teachers in the state were ranked 48th in the nation in 2016.

A Senate committee is expected to take up Justice's proposal later Thursday.

Additional reporting from Newsy affiliate CNN.