Ohio County Board of Education member Molly Aderholt, from left, board President David Croft and Superintendent Kim Miller listen to discussion during a meeting on Monday.

WHEELING — The Ohio County Board of Education on Monday unanimously approved a resolution encouraging state officials to stabilize the Public Employees Insurance Agency, or PEIA.

The resolution outlines the board’s commitment to urge the state to make changes to legislation that will lessen planned premium increases and benefit reductions for educational staff. Board President David Croft said PEIA will be asking taxpayers for an additional $113 million in 2025 to make up for increases in health care costs.

“There is a significant shortage going into next year, which is going to fall on the shoulders of public employees,” Croft said of PEIA.

Wheeling Park High School teacher and Ohio County Education Association member Timothy Triveri proposed the resolution to the board. He emphasized that PEIA instability over recent years has been difficult on public employees and their families.

Triveri and board member Molly Aderholt both noted that issues causing added financial burden, like increasing drug costs, are ongoing nationally and cannot be fixed locally.

However, there are “common sense” ways to update legislation and mitigate the burden on workers, Triveri said.

Asking that the state covers no less than 80% of health insurance costs and employees cover no more than 20%, rather than sticking to a hard 80/20 split, is one way to do this, he said.

“That flexibility will allow the state to put the record budget surplus into PEIA and basically stabilize that fund so that we won’t need special sessions to fund the rest of the year as well as continually rising costs in order to meet those needs,” Triveri said.

He added that not only do public employees rely on PEIA’s health care coverage, it impacts the community at large.

If public education staff like teachers and bus drivers are taking on part-time jobs to cover health care costs, that does not create a safe or stable learning environment for students, he said.

According to Triveri, this resolution is being proposed in all 55 counties in West Virginia, and several have already signed on.

Though the Board of Education does not have direct control over PEIA laws, the resolution outlines board members’ commitment to “take reasonable actions” to encourage state officials to ensure that the program is affordable and sustainable.

Croft pointed out that board members have a voice outside of the board. He noted that members have already met with state Sen. Ryan Weld, R-Brooke, to discuss PEIA changes, and will be meeting with Delegate Shawn Fluharty, D-Ohio, and Delegate-elect Bill Flanigan, R-Ohio, as well.

“If we dont keep a strong education system then all the wheels will fall off. That’s the foundation of this community,” Croft said.

The board also continued an ongoing discussion about several additions to local schools including a rooftop weather station for Wheeling Park High School that will provide more accurate weather updates for cancellations and delays.

Members also briefly continued discussion on the cost of purchasing one to two mobile metal detectors and will be seeking more information on whether there may be discounts available based on the number they purchase.

Additionally, several parents spoke at the meeting to raise concerns with the Woodsdale Elementary School administration’s handling of an ongoing bullying situation impacting multiple kindergarten students. The board did not make any immediate comments in response.

The board will gather for its next regular meeting on Monday, Dec. 9.