The Latest from VEA

During VEA’s Lobby Week of Action, hundreds of VEA members and education stakeholders gathered to show their support for school funding. Lobby Week kicked-off with a VEA press conference.  Senator Jennifer McClellan and Delegate Lachercse Aird joined VEA President James Fedderman and other education stakeholders from the PTA and Fund Our Schools Coalition to bring attention to the critical need of funding our schools. “It is long past time that we invest in our children,” McClellan said at the press conference. “How long is it going to take for the commonwealth to fulfill its constitutional responsibility and fully fund the needs of students?” Check out the Press Conference here.

On Day 2, the VEA hosted our first-ever Virtual Teach-In with an audience of hundreds in attendance to learn the latest on topics including the Standards of Quality, COVID and our schools, racial and social justice in school funding, and the essential role of school nurses and education support professionals. Our speakers included nonprofit organization leaders, VEA President James J. Fedderman and Union members.

On Day 3, hundreds of VEA members and education stakeholders reconvened, once more, to rally and receive calls to action from VEA President James Fedderman. “We applaud McClellan and Aird for recognizing the needs of our students and for stepping forward to address them,” said Fedderman. “We must prioritize this investment for the sake of our students and communities. Students have the right to a high-quality education. Our underinvestment of our students today will have damaging implications for their future. We call on the members of the 2021 General Assembly to find the courage and commitment to support the School Equity and Staffing Act.” Check out the Rally here.

Throughout the week and beyond, many VEA members are reaching out and scheduling virtual meetings with their lawmakers to get their commitment to sign-on and support The School Equity and Staffing Act (HB 1929 and SB 1257). We have received reports that over 40 meetings have taken place since the start of lobby week between local association members and their lawmakers. These meetings are very important to impress upon our lawmakers the critical importance of funding our schools. Thank you to all VEA members that have or are scheduled to meet with their lawmakers back home. These meetings prove the importance of advocacy to provide the needed resources we need to support our students and communities.

Remember to contact members of the House Appropriations Committee and Senate Finance Committee and let them know that fully funding the SOQs as prescribed by the VBOE is essential and our students and communities benefit most from the passage of House Bill 1929 and Senate Bill 1257, the School Equity and Staffing Act. Schools are the foundation of our communities, and we must value them as such. TAKE ACTION HERE.