Gloom and Doom

Make no mistake about it. Many in the General Assembly want to reshape public school education in Virginia.

Rob Bell’s HB 947, the bill forbidding local school boards from joining the Virginia High School League if the VHSL refuses sports access to home schooled children thus allowing home schooled students to participate in public school sports, was reported from the House Education Committee today.

Thursday, HB576, the Governor's vindictive bill that will eliminate continuing contract status for teachers in favor of annual contracts whereby teacher can be non-renewed without any right to appeal, will be debated in the Teachers and Administration Education subcommittee. If it passes there, it goes on to the full committee for a hearing -more of a hearing than any teacher has a right to if the bill is eventually passed. Why is this bill such a bad idea? First off, teachers don't have a "job for life." Our continuing contract status simply ensures us due process if we are in danger of termination. Any teacher can be fired or dismissed at any time regardless of contract status. Those with continuing contract status simply have the right to face the charges against them. It should be noted that teachers in our state were awarded due process rights back in the early 1900's after waves of teachers were dismissed for prejudicial or political reasons. Cronyism and nepotism were huge problems, and many lost jobs only to see their job given to someone else that the personnel director's favored. This bill makes no sense. It doesn't improve education; it only serves a destructive purpose.

...And in related news, the Roanoke County Board of Supervisors held a joint work session with the Roanoke County School Board Wednesday night. Lots of gloom and doom was discussed. Both the county side and school sides are deeply in the hole over the new budget. The schools are staring at an effective $12 million shortfall. As in the past, everything's on the table for cuts, including elementary school closings. Two supervisors and all board members made statements regarding the darkness descending upon us. Most want to work out a significant raise for employees, but the path toward that goal is illusive. Several board members stated that they would not support raises if it means that teachers would be laid-off.

The body also heard a presentation on a new "choice" health insurance plan. It was decided that such a choice plan will NOT be implemented for the coming fiscal year. More study and education is needed.

The school board will meet next Wednesday evening to begin its official budget debate. Things could get very hot.

Raise the Banner. Strike the Chord

Imagine that you are the average citizen of Virginia and you read the most recent article in The Roanoke Times. Would you understand what the heck is going on? $330 million this, $1.9 billion that. $731 million this, $240 million that. Freezing, unfreezing, making harmless, GIANT TSUNAMI's.

So what does it all mean? So what's real?


Here's what's real. State support for public school education is about to take a nose-dive. Historically, Virginia already under-funds schools. With this new effort, we may even take the gold medal over Mississippi in the under-funding championship.



This weekend, our friends in Orange County, Virginia are spear-heading a "Rally In Richmond." Educators and our friends will meet at the bell tower in front of the capital building between 11am and Noon. It's time to stand up...even louder than we stood up in 2004. We can't sit quietly by the wayside and let our school children be robbed. We need to MAKE OUR VOICES HEARD.


Check back on this blog for more information or join our Facebook group, "Roanoke County Education Association."

It's time to make time.


thom



PS A longer, more personal version of this commentary and call to action exists on my private blog. If you'd like to read it, visit Swimming Upstream.

Another $731,000,000 Taken

Are you having a hard time trying to grasp how large the proposed budget cuts are to public school education in Virginia? Are you getting a little angry. Watch this video from Support VA Schools.

Kaine Budget cut $1,200,000,000

McDonnell Suggests another $731,000,000 be cut as well.

$1,931,000,000 or More...

How many jobs is that? About 30,000 this year on top of the approximately 12,000 last year. If Norfolk and Southern laid-off that many people, politicians would be trumpeting job solutions.

On top of that, your VRS system is being changed. Thankfully, compassionate allowances are being made for vested members, but new VRS members (people who don't yet have five years contributing to the system), unfortunately and sadly, will have a less stable and weaker pension plan.


There is NOTHING good about this news, despite Governor McDonnell suggesting that localities will "... be innovative, ... be creative, and... find a way to manage better." If the Governor wanted localities to be creative, innovative, and manage better, he could have just asked instead of just axing.