UPDATE 1/30/19 @ 6:25 p.m.

The West Virginia State Board of Education held an emergency meeting Wednesday to discuss the comprehensive and controversial education omnibus bill that is being discussed in the state Senate.

The meeting wrapped up after several hours of discussion. Members of the board went through every single provision of the 144-page bill and voted on their approval or disapproval.

"There are provisions in there such as charter schools, the savings account, the payday protection plan and so forth that I don't think we can support," said Board President David Perry.

Perry, along with other members of the board, said he is worried about how quickly the bill went through the education committee. In a rare move, members of the West Virginia Senate voted Monday to skip the committee process for the omnibus bill and send it straight to the full body.

The WVBOE voted to endorse issues such as tax credits for teachers, supplement for math teachers, teacher salary increases, school service personnel salary increases, and re-incentive personal days.

The WVBOE voted not to endorse the nonseverability cause, charter schools, payroll protection and education savings accounts.

The Board of Education also voted that items within SB451 be considered in separate pieces of legislation and that Wednesday's discussion be communicated to the state Senate, House and Gov. Jim Justice.

Lastly, the Board voted to create a commission made up of education stakeholder organizations along with legislative leadership to make recommendations ahead of the next legislative session.

.

ORIGINAL STORY 1/30/19

Education leaders in West Virginia are meeting to discuss a comprehensive and controversial

.

The West Virginia Board of Education is in an emergency session. It started at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday. You can listen to it live

.

Board members are discussing potential financial implications of the proposed legislation.

President Dave Perry said the meeting could take hours, and they will take as much time as they need to fully review Senate Bill 451.

Many teachers across the state have said the Senate's proposed omnibus legislation is detrimental to public education.

The 144-page bill has more than 60 components, including things like teacher salaries, education overhauls and funding for charter schools. Unions are in support of the pay raise, but don't believe the all-or-nothing approach is fair. At Monday's meeting, teachers spoke out about everything they say is wrong with the bill, like charter schools and increased class sizes.

West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice says

if it passes in the Legislature. Justice said at a news conference Tuesday that lawmakers should instead consider passing his original intent of giving teachers and other state employees a 5 percent pay raise without the multiple facets of the bill now before the Republican-led Senate.

At the meeting Wednesday, West Virginia Superintendent of Schools Dr. Steven Paine said he is happy with the governor's statement of disapproval. He said he hopes the Senate will pass the pay raise for teachers and public employees as a separate bill.

Perry, along with other members of the board, said he is worried about how quickly the bill went through the education committee. In a rare move, members of the West Virginia Senate voted Monday to skip the committee process for the omnibus bill and send it straight to the full body.

The state Board of Education plans to go through each and every statute Wednesday.