BECKLEY, W.Va. (WVVA) West Virginia teachers staged a walk-in before the start of the school week on Monday.

The educators are protesting an effort by Sen. Pres. Mitch McConnell to tie funding for charter schools and Education Savings Accounts (ESAs) to five percent pay raise for teachers in June.

According to educators, the concern is the proposal would away desperately needed funding for public schools.

“We’d rather they take up each item individually and let them stand on their own merit in the Fall,” said Wendy Peters, Raleigh County Education Assoc. Pres.

In Raleigh County, teachers and school staff gathered outside Beckley Elementary, Beckley Stratton Middle, and Daniels Elem., among others, but remained mum on whether any more collective action is planned before the end of school.

While lawmakers in Charleston convene Monday for a special session, they are not expected to take up education reform until June.