The End of Education in VA

[muddrunner17]

Public schools will soon be dead in Virginia. The current budget process is stripping many schools of all the staff that can be stripped under the law. Those that are left will see decreases in pay, higher insurance premiums, and larger contributions to retirement. Right now my school board is considering up to a 12% pay cut. We are letting go of 81 teachers and support staff. If things get worse, we will have to let go more of our staff.

Equally difficult to stomach is the impact this will have on our children. They will see less access to competitive sports. We may get rid of all middle school sports, and either get rid of or have pay to play varsity sports. We are letting go of many music, PE, and art teachers. This means that students will have less access to all of those classes. Our technology budget is being eliminated, so we will not be able to upgrade any of computers and other technology that is already outdated. Our school buses have been on a 10 year replacement schedule which was already less than optimal. (7 years is optimal) So now we will probably be keeping many buses for 15 or more years before there will be money to replace them.

What will happen to our children that ride unsafe buses, to understaffed schools with limited education opportunities? How will teachers (Those lucky enough to keep their jobs) be able to effective teach classes of up 35 students? How will at risk students get the support services that they need? What will happen to all the teachers that loose their jobs and homes?

If you ask the governor or the General Assembly the answer is probably, it doesn't matter as long as we don't raise taxes and we balance the budget.

[blueworld]

1. Kudos to you for bringing this up

Bedford County is 6 million under budget for next year & will cut 124 teaching jobs, close 2 schools and cut other programs like music etc. I have not been able to fathom WHY when the state budgets get tight, they kill or maim education. I believe that money problems are part of the reason so many schools in Virginia have remained closed during the last 2 weeks of "inclement weather". Some days didn't seem to warrant it, but it does save money.

[damyank913]

2. Just give the kids a bible...

What is all this drivel about music, sports, and technology? Our general assembly has more important things to do like preserve our god-given right to have guns, and ensure the unborn arrive into a word devoid of opportunities or education-but they'll be able to buy more than one hand-gun a month, by god. Just think, our kids are gonna need those guns cause they won't know how to do anything else. And besides, after the rapture we won't need roads and bridges.