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Budget Battles

In response to bleak economic forecast, VEA is fighting against permanent cuts to public school funding.

Weigh in! Sign our online petition opposing permanent budget cuts at www.fundqualityschools.org.

Why VEA is fighting for public school funding

In December, Gov. Tim Kaine unveiled his plan to address the deficit by ordering cuts to public education amounting to nearly a half-billion dollars. The cuts included the rescission of a state-funded 2-percent pay raise for teachers planned for July 2009, $82.5 million in cuts to school construction funds, and a $340-million reduction in state funding of the Standards of Quality (SOQ), the Commonwealth’s largest source of state aid to public schools.

One measure caps state SOQ aid for support (non-instructional) positions, with a projected savings amounting to $400 million per year. It would eliminate the state share of funding for 13,000 positions, including custodians, finance officers, human resource directors, assistant superintendents, and other central office personnel.

If unaltered, this change in SOQ funding strategy would result in permanent loss of SOQ dollars. Kaine’s rationale is that since state aid cuts are concentrated in administrative and support components of the SOQ, they’re less likely to impact instruction.

In a statement  VEA said: “We thank the Governor for cutting education less than any other program. However, we cannot cut one-half billion dollars from Virginia schools without adversely affecting what goes on in the classroom. We recognize that cuts had to be made in these tough times, but the cuts we most object to are the $340 million of changes in the underlying funding formula, which will go forward long after this recession ends."

What news media outlets are saying about the Commonwealth’s budget and school funding

• "Cuts Span Education System."  Richmond Times-Dispatch, 12-18-08.
• "Kaine's Plan Would Cut Millions in Education Funding in '09." Norfolk Virginian-Pilot, 12-18-08.
• "Lynchburg-Area Officials Awaut Details to Kaine's Cuts." Lynchburg News and Advance, 12-18-08.
• "Kaine Calls for Cuts, 1,500 Layoffs in Budget Amendments."  WWBT News-12, Richmond.
  http://www.veanea.org/press-room/news-archives.html

What you can do to help

Please join with your Association colleagues and make a difference for kids by doing the following:

• Sign our petition . Sign our online petition at www.fundqualityschools.org seeking to preserve school funding to the greatest extent possible. It takes just a minute. VEA President Kitty Boitnott will deliver the petition at a regional hearing on the state budget in Richmond on January 19.
• • E-mail your lawmakers . Legislators need to hear from you on the damage school funding cuts will do. VEA will create a model letter that you can modify with your personal testimony and e-mail to your elected representatives. You will be able to access it at www.veanea.org by clicking on the box “Action Alert.”
• Support your local Association . Local school boards, cities, and counties will be finalizing their budgets in the months ahead. Public school quality hangs in the balance. Please work with your local Association to show support for preserving school funding to the greatest extent possible.

Below: VEA President Kitty Boitnott explains VEA's position to Olympia Meola of the Richmond Times-Dispatch .