Virginia superintendents protest cuts, mandates

By Warren Fiske
The Virginian-Pilot
© January 22, 2009

RICHMOND

School superintendents across Virginia on Thursday bemoaned Gov. Timothy M. Kaine's proposal to cut more than $400 million from public education.

“There is no doubt that these cuts will adversely affect the quality of education in the Commonwealth,” said Donald Ford, president of the Virginia Association of School Superintendents, during a news conference.

Kaine proposed the cuts as part of a comprehensive plan to erase a $2.9 billion budget shortfall. Much of the governor’s education savings would come from reducing funding for school support personnel such as clerical workers, custodians and curriculum specialists.

Should the General Assembly approve the funding reduction, however, local school boards would be free to decide whether to cut support personnel or make up for the loss of money by trimming other programs.

Several superintendents voiced concern that the reductions would filter down to classroom instruction.

They were also concerned that schools would not be able to recoup the lost state aid when the economy improves.

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