The Virginian-Pilot
©
RICHMOND
A group of teachers and Democratic legislators gathered Friday to decry a budget proposal by Gov. Bob McDonnell to take more than $57 million that schools systems were expecting and use it to pay for new investments in the state pension system.
The money at issue was built into the two-year budget to help school districts that might be hurt by declining local revenues and changes in the local composite index, a complex formula that determines school funding based on measures of community wealth.
But McDonnell has other ideas for how to spend that money - a plan educators say would harm school systems across the state, including those in South Hampton Roads.
Under that plan, Virginia Beach would lose more than $7.3 million. Chesapeake and Norfolk would take hits, too, losing $5.5 million and nearly $4. 4 million, respectively. Suffolk's loss would amount to $2.1 million, while Portsmouth's would be $1.9 million.
State Sen. Henry Marsh, D-Richmond, has submitted a budget amendment to restore that funding to 97 school di visions across the state.
"The people of Virginia, not just educators, not just parents, but the people of Virginia, would like to see public education spared these draconian cuts," said Marsh as he addressed an audience of educators in the state Capitol.
The governor wants to use the "hold harmless" money to help cover the state's share of an increase in teacher retirement contributions.
The potential loss troubles educators who believed the composite index compromise would remain intact for the two-year budget cycle.
"That this proposal is being made at all is also of concern to those of us who participated in last year's discussions and are well into budget planning for the next fiscal year," Beach schools Superintendent James Merrill told local lawmakers during a recent gathering of the Hampton Roads Caucus.
Portsmouth schools officials said that to cover the shortfall created by the governor's proposal, the city would have to increase its contribution to the schools or the schools would have to reduce programs or staff.
McDonnell has proposed requiring government workers to start paying into the state pension system as part of a broader strategy to address the system's $17.6 billion future unfunded liability.
Pilot writers Deirdre Fernandes and Cheryl Ross contributed to this report.
Julian Walker, (804) 697-1564, julian.walker@pilotonline.com
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VIRGINIA INVESTS OVER ONE-THIRD OF BUDGET ON EDUCATION
For those arguing that education is not a priority.
From the Virginia Department of Planning and Budget website:
Looking at total operating funds from all sources, the majority of the money goes to education (39.4 percent), health and human resources (27.7 percent), and transportation (12.1 percent)
Considering only the general fund, money which can be used at the discretion of the Governor and General Assembly for a variety of government activities, the majority of the operating money goes to education (45.9 percent), health and human resources (24.2 percent), and public safety (11.1 percent):
http://dpb.virginia.gov/budget/faq.cfm
LAST STATISTIC FROM VIRGINIA PLANNING AND BUDGET OFFICE
Considering only nongeneral funds, funds that are earmarked by law for specific purposes, the majority goes to education (34.5 percent), health and human resources (30.3 percent), and transportation (20.9 percent).
About a third of the state's operating budget (all funds) either goes directly to localities for locally operated programs or is spent by the state on behalf of localities for specific programs. The majority of the money that the state sends to localities goes to operate public schools.
http://dpb.virginia.gov/budget/faq.cfm
and finally in this multi-part blog recognize the tracking
software covers office time for all employees. I do not believe increased salary or pension plans produce the better product.Private school educators K-12 have proven that;and how? Via the way public school teachers cry for:active system support/participation,active parent support/participation,and adequate(not lavish/wasteful) materials/supplies.As technology advances it costs more to produce the working class product schools are charged w/producing.Our politicians continue to expouse sophmoric rethoric regarding k-12 education because they know we depend upon schools to screen our basic needs: child care,babysitting(a.m./p.m. care) social service needs etc and education is at the bottom of the list;yet we want these services and we vote.
Just a few ways to cut costs in K-12 public schools w/o killing
the core curricula:Consolidate like services with city depts. such as procuremnt,warehouse,janitorial,landscaping,inspectors,refuse/dumpsters etc.States should rally to embrass the NFL,NBA,WNBA,and baseball to fund public high schools athletic programs,as these are the base level grounds for their personnel.Put the money in PE,art,music,dramatic arts educations and general education as these programs directly effect/affect the motor learning skills for math,science,deductive reasoning processes for core curricula learning.Track costs in schools and city depts via GBA or some other software to see where money is spent to include travel time, vehicle costs,salaries,materials/supplies,office time, contractor costs and more.
Obsessed2 because collective bargining is not permitted in the
south for public employeees that is why teachers and city workers can not go on strike a day before school starts or in the midst of a weather related disaster as do they in the north,west and midwest. The AFT(Am Fed of Teachs) is I believe a Teamsters affiliate. Private sectors recieve a very large amount of work from the government thus they employ workers to fill the stresst/roads contract,or get a government boat at the yard to build.In some states K-12 schools have contracted out all jobs in school houses to secular private school programs and they function under the hired private systems guidelines.Va. public schools can do much to downsize w/o hurting education; they simply are not used to doing it as it is a sacred cow vote getter.
Our System Has Lost Its Way
Although I kept faith in a year of horrible news articles, I have lost faith in my district. My love of students and teaching has not changed, but the disconnect between the reality of the classroom, building admin, and central admin has become so wide that the workplace is unhealthy. Administrators create goals and teachers are never told how to meet these goals just that they must. Administrators refuse to accept responsibility when projects end badly. When scores fall, teachers are at fault; students are never held accountable. We know how to improve instruction, but no one allows us a voice. When a referral is written, other students must verify because parents appeal all discipline actions. This is just the tip of the iceberg.
The sad truth
It is time for a teachers voice to be heard. They are the ones who KNOW what needs to be done to improve education. Why doesn't anyone listen?
LET YOUR VOICES BE HEARD
I'm all for teacher voices being heard to improve our education system, but the record is skipping with the same old song, money (for those of you who may rember what records used to do). We spend a higher percentage of our GDP on education compared to other modern nations yet we rank near the bottom in literacy, math, and science. Maybe it is time we take a look at how those countries do business. I know change is hard, but it has to come from within.
is Louis JOnes going to back off now
Will Louis Jones back off taking money fm school system now that the state has given the school board a $7.3M bill
schools
the Gov is simply plsying politics by setting up a false choice. There is plenty of money to cover schools and pensions. Just do away with the millions wasted on corporate welfare, cut out the silly advertising programs and focus on what the state should be doing...providing roads, schools, colleges and public safety. That is real conservatism. If the state provides educated people, good roads and a safe environment, businesses will come without bribes.