Both houses seek cuts to governor's programs

Byte me...

William Bailey wrote:

"And for those "holier than thou" folks writing "get a better job", stop showing your ignorance by writing dumb comments."

Holier than thou? No, I don't think so. Not only are we showing the ignorance of individuals that refuse to expand their minds and pocketbooks with education, but I think it's an even greater demonstration of who is "dumb (not the bus drivers)." William, name calling and comments such as yours show a strong defensive reaction, the type of reaction one usually gives when one has little to stand on.

"Not everyone has a college degree nor do they want one."

You reap what you sow in life...

Want a bus driver pay raise? Get 10-25 bus drivers to take a couple of days off for a couple of weeks and you'll see a raise coming soon. Don’t let the system abuse you.

And for those "holier than thou" folks writing "get a better job", stop showing your ignorance by writing dumb comments. Not everyone has a college degree nor do they want one. We all have different abilities and talents. I appreciate my children's school bus driver for her timeliness and for keeping my child safety on the way to and from school. You get what you pay for...

The State legislature does this EVERY budget cycle that I can remember. They propose teacher raises for December implementation, knowing FULL WELL that local school boards won't (can't) wait until mid-year to give raises. So what happens? School systems give raises which become effective in June, and the locality picks up the full financial effect of the 2 or 3% raise from June until November. The net effect, when spread over the full school budget year, is that the State of VA picks up only a measley 1 to 1 1/2% of the full annual cost of giving a raise to our teachers. You might then logocally argue that the school system should wait until December to give the raise once the state money becomes available, but that is not a practical approach given the ultra competitive stakes for maintaining a highly qualified teaching staff with the pressure of the SOL's, etc. It isn't going to happen when your teachers are in a mobile profession. The state simply isn't doing it's share where teachers are concerned! Too much effort is required of the localities.

USA teachers in the public school systems are paid more than most, but not all, of their western Europe counterparts.

Where does this article mention transportation infrastructure? Every Virginian knows that our roads are in bad shape. Every one of us knows what how it feels to get caught in daily gridlock. We all know both the unfair nature of those "abusive driver fees," and their failure to produce either sufficient revenue or safer highways.

I dislike taxes as much as anyone. However, our General Assembly and our Governor must increase the gasoline tax, and dedicate that tax to transportation infrastructure - roads, highways, public transportation, etc. We want out of gridlock. An additional nickel for a gallon of gasoline would add but $1.00 to a 20 gallon fillup, and produce in excess of $260 million per year to get us out of gridlock.

Charter Wells, Jr.
Spotsylvania, VA

The helping professions are always the last thought about. People who take care of those in need, who teach our children and drive them to school and who protect our citizens are the lowest paid. I work in mental health and even though money is being pumped into mental health, (an extra dime wouldn't have been allocated until Va. Tech.) that money has to be divided among 40 Community Services Boards. Believe me, it doesn't translate into a anything significant. Legislators need to get off of their high powered chairs and take care of those in need before there's another tragedy. I guess we have to wait for that to happen before more money is given.

To the person with Cranial-Rectal insertion that made the comment, "Better yourself...etc.". It's clearly obvious nobody grew up to have "aspirations" to become a School Bus Driver (DUH). Even people graduating from college w/ a general Business Degree is good enough to earn $12-$13/hr. here when they've spent an arm-leg on Student Loans. WHAT?? YES! Believe it! Low wages are an infection here in Hampton Roads due to Military pushing the wages to the bottom. A woman with (3) kids (even with a degree) can't afford child care. You say, "Tax deduction"? Not worth it. Child Care IS NOT a replacement for parents. Kids get sick and who has to take off work? The mother. SO the "flexibility" is a Bus Driver because they can take their kids on the bus or drive them to school. If BUS Drivers went on strike....that would put the VBPS System trying to get students to school. That happened in another state and the School System closed school for a week and the students had to make it up during the summer...but the Bus Drivers got their point across...and a RAISE also. Hmmm. Sounds like cause-effect theory 'eh?

Orion said: "Bottom line is we all make choices. If one chose to be a bus driver or teacher, then one KNEW what the pay scale was, no one put a gun to their head..."

You nailed it.

Coolguy: It took me 25 years, but I got a Master's degree without incuring any long-term debt. I did this while working, raising four kids and qualifying for govt assistance. Don't need to quit your current job to better yourself. People can do better for themselves, even if it takes 25 years. I'm living proof.

jmo

You sound like the majority of individuals in this country today, addicted to government. You want government to mandate that individuals get raises based on other states' numbers [not taking into account cost of living and environment].

Anyone with a modicum of intelligence can look at the top needed jobs in this country and get training/educated to perform these jobs. In today's Pilot, is ANOTHER story about the shortage of nurses. You can't outsource that job and their pay is quite good. Not to mention bus drivers can take classes in between their routes and after they are done.

Bottom line is we all make choices. If one chose to be a bus driver or teacher, then one KNEW what the pay scale was, no one put a gun to their head...

To the poster who commented that the solution was to "get a better job". Gaining training, and a degree, is no guarantee of a good job, or even a better one, but it is a guarantee of a huge amount of debt for that training. This isnt the 1960's, a piece of paper is no longer a passport in to middle class. The good jobs are leaving this countries shores, and they are being replaced by "McJobs" if you will, or low paying service jobs. The answer certainly is to pick the minimum standard up, not to force more risk on the individual (surging student debt), for the chance of less reward (dwindling well paying jobs).

Where does this article address bus driver salaries? If you don't like driving a bus then just flip burgers for minimum wage. Stop complaining about the job you have or what the job requires. If you don't want to put up with kids then why are you driving a school bus. Everyone expects to be paid a CEO salary for minimum wage experience. There are people who would jump at the chance of making $10.00 plus an hour right now but for what ever reason can not. Stop complaining! Maybe we should stop the bus service and have the parents bring the kids to school. Oh wait, them all the bleeding hearts would say "those poor unemployed bus drivers what are they going to do now". I know, lets make a new TAX to cover all the pay raises we would like to give everyone. Ok now lets get back on the subject of the article!

No, I believe the obvious answer to low wages is to get a higher paying job. Not making enough as a bus driver? Aspire for more. Take some classes, get a degree. You can do it!

The only person keeping you in a low paying job is you.

jmo

to teacher and bus driver pay increases: Eliminate public education. It's so politically influenced and controlled by social engineers that it's ruined anyway.

I would like to see our legislators wait 2 years for a raise in their pay. I doubt that would ever fly. What really kills me is that they can afford it. When it comes down to the choice between a new program or the ability of thousands of state workers having the ability to make ends meet, I would hope our ELECTED officials would choose to support those who support them... first and foremost.

I agree that school bus drivers should get a raise. For all the reasons mention above, and more! Let’s look at this logically however. If you raise the beginning pay from $10.86 to just two dollars more ($12.86), you have to increase this pay across the board for ALL bus drivers. Why? A Bus Driver who has been driving for say 1 month, is now being paid the same as someone who has been driving for 6 years! Just think about how much money it would take to accomplish this. The problem is that Bus Drivers and all Support Services for Virginia Beach City Public Schools are looked over when it comes to pay increases on a consistent basis. It is catching up with the school system because these people are now being paid below market value for their jobs. You have to be consistent with raises and not try and band-aid the problem with a big increase one year, and nothing the next!

It always makes me laugh when the miniscule pay raises that teachers and people in the profession make the news. But somehow the congress and higher officials' pay raises barely raise an eyebrow. And you wouldn't walk in and ask the manager at Target or Wal-Mart how much they are earning and if they are getting a raise. But your money pays for that too...

It is very true that bus drivers and teacher's assistants and cafeteria workers and secretaries should also get raises. What they do is important work. But many take jobs in schools because of the fact that they have children of their own and can't get the guaranteed hours in the retail sector. They also don't have the extensive degrees that teachers have (who thus have more options). The city knows many are locked in and so giving them raises is a very low priority.

I am a teacher and I agree that our bus drivers aren't paid a wage commensrate wih their levels of responsibiliy (or levels of crap they have to take). Additionally, teacher assistants don't get paid enough either.

WOW! Payraise for Teachers? That should also include School BUS Drivers. Starting wage for Virginia Beach Public School (VBPS) Bus Drivers is (pathetic/insulting) $10.86/yr. and $6 UNDER the National Average for the responsibility for transporting 40+ students to school. Bus Drivers are considered "Professional" drivers and should be paid as such. VB Public School System pays their bus drivers less than "babysitting" wages. Not to mention the responsibility to discipline students that don't have manners and can't conduct themselves accordingly. Bus Drivers write them up & the School (maybe) suspends them for (1) or (2) days. More severe infractions that would be considered grounds for expulsion they're only given (1) week off the bus? All this for $10.86/hr? Time to "part your wallet" and pay the bus drivers at least $16/hr. (Part-Time) what the "National Average" calls for. STOP the GARBAGE of saying "Budget Cuts" & then bragging VB is richest city in Hampton Roads. What would VBPS System do if every bus driver went on strike? You couldn't hire quality substitute bus drivers fast enough.