
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: MONDAY, March 12, 1990                   TAG: 9003122798
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A2   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE: CHARLESTON, W.VA.                                LENGTH: Short

W.VA. VOWS TO PUNISH TEACHERS

Gov. Gaston Caperton and the state's largest teachers union prepared for a showdown today. The union refused to end its strike and Caperton warned that teachers who stay off the job can be dismissed.

State School Superintendent Hank Marockie called the 55 county school superintendents to Charleston on Sunday to detail what he said is their duty to punish teachers who continue the walkout. Marockie said he would wait to see how many teachers return to work today before deciding what action to recommend.

Teachers are employed by county school boards, and it is up to the county school superintendents to take any action against strikers, including suspension or firing.

"The law's pretty clear," said Caperton, referring to a state attorney general's ruling that the strike is illegal. "County superintendents will follow those rules and make it strict and the consequences are pretty bad."

- Associated Press

by CNB