W.Va. Teacher Groups Continue Fight over PEIA Seat

Groups representing teachers are jockeying for a seat on the influential finance board of the Public Employees Insurance Agency, The Charleston Gazette reports.

With the seat reserved for the union with the most members, the American Federation of Teachers-West Virginia and the West Virginia School Service Personnel Association cite their partnership agreement to claim that status.

The seat has been held by Perry Bryant, who has represented the rival West Virginia Education Association. Bryant withdrew his nomination for re-appointment to the board last month, the newspaper reports.

Bryant "will continue to serve on the PEIA Finance Board until Gov. Joe Manchin appoints somebody else," the article said.

WVEA President Dale Lee told The Gazette that "the governor's office asked for Bryant's withdraw, and proposed that both Bryant and an AFT representative could sit on the finance board," but that the Senate later pulled the necessary legislation.