The Virginian-Pilot
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VIRGINIA BEACH
The last time Gov. Bob McDonnell appeared at the Virginia Education Association's annual conference, he was running for office, and the group wasn't his biggest fan.
But he received a standing ovation Saturday when he again addressed the gathering of teachers and school officials.
During speeches at the Virginia Beach Convention Center, McDonnell and Kitty Boitnott, the association's president, touted their joint efforts during the recent General Assembly session. They said they worked together on charter school reform - an issue they'd disagreed on - and to reduce the severity of cuts to public school spending.
They also ribbed each other a bit. The association supported state Sen. Creigh Deeds, a Bath County Democrat, during the fall's gubernatorial election.
"No one worked harder for the election of the speaker's opponent than I did," Boitnott said. But "we worked through some tough issues this past session to the mutual advantage of all."
Boitnott said she was thankful to McDonnell for nixing a proposal that would have allowed localities to require existing employees, such as teachers, to contribute 5 percent of their paychecks to the state retirement fund.
"He listened," she said. "He offered a budget amendment to prevent this permanent reduction in your take-home pay."
McDonnell said his next goals are to attract more businesses to Virginia to create future jobs for today's students, bring more technology into the classroom and raise teachers' salaries closer to the national average.
"You are underpaid and under appreciated and work very hard," he told the teachers.
He also encouraged the association to continue working with his administration.
"There are going to be times when we disagree, but we can disagree civilly," he said. "I hope we can join together on the goal of... finding ways to take our public education system and make it better."
After the speech, a crowd gathered around McDonnell for photos and handshakes. About 900 educators from throughout the state attended the Virginia Education Association's 125th Delegate Assembly. They convened for three days for discussions - on topics such as how to deal with difficult behavior in the classroom - and to weigh in on which issues the association will support.
"It was actually kind of a courageous thing to do," Jeffrey Pennington, a special-education teacher from Portsmouth, said of McDonnell's appearance. "The VEA did a lot to get Creigh Deeds elected."
"I was encouraged," he added. But "I'm still cautious. There's still a long way to go. It's only been 100 days."
Kathy Adams, (757) 222-5155, kathy.adams@pilotonline.com
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I believe Mr. Pennington's
I believe Mr. Pennington's comment was nothing more than partisanship. He was just handed more from the current governor than he would have received if Kaine could have remained in office.
This team sports thing has to stop. It is not effective and hinders progress.
My advice to the teachers,
My advice to the teachers, keep your friends close and your enemies closer.
Good Job!!!
A tip-of-the-hat to the VEA, its staff, and especially Boitnott for working with McD to eliminate the 5% paid by current employees. This certainly would have been a slap in the face to those of us who have seen minimal increases over the last 10 years and nothing in the last two, nor expect anything next year.
But, the real test will be how the Republican's will respond when the economy improves. We are all aware of the financial crisis and are not blind to the fact that it will take years to fix transportation, but a quality education system is crucial for attracting business to the commonwealth. Continued education cuts will mean that some of the best and brightest will not go into the teaching profession or if they do, will find a state/locality that puts its money where its mouth is.
Where will the state and localities find funding to adequately fund education because, as students grow and graduate, incremental increases of 2.5% will not replace that lost potential?
True Fake
Mr. Bob McDonnell you are the biggest phoney!.
Beware of wolves in sheep’s clothing!
If the election was held today the UNION that looks after the needs of the teachers and it adult members not the children’s needs as the name implies would endorse any candidate that ran against a republican.
Republicans traditionally
Republicans traditionally opposed or at least do not support public education why would you expect teachers to vote against their own self interest and that of their students? Teaching is a profession. Why would you expect teachers to be martyrs to serve your political agenda?
typical unsubstantiated stereotype - you chose
Republicans now or then are not opposed to public education - we are opposed to ineffectual education. That is not saying that Democrats are opposed to ineffectual education just that the two parties have different approaches to solve the issue. One side believes in accountability and the other believes in protectionism of the educator and if it is broken then throw more money at it.
I am sure that you do not want our children to get a sub-standard education by ineffectual teachers that are supervised by ineffectual administrators. I am sure that you agree that the philosophy of just throwing more money to the educational system without firm standards is not a good thing. In reality, neither liberal or conservative would have a problem if parents were involved with schools by attending parent/teacher conferences, checking homework, reading with the child, attending PTA meetings, and watching school board meetings. If the parents were routinely involved with the educational process then there would be little to no ineffectual education.
Yes they are. Republicans
Yes they are. Republicans only solution to education is to give taxpayer money to support religious schools.
Guess what?
I don't expect teachers to be martyrs or to serve a political agenda? However I do expect them to do what is in the best intrest of the children even if it conflicts with their best intrest!
deacon
Teachers do that already, but I guess unlike oil execs or bank CEOs, teachers aren't allowed to look out for their interests as well. Clearly you have an agenda against teachers, like most right wingers.