I speak in
support of SB 5003 and the Governor’s accompanying amendments, which will provide needed
additional funds to public education. Our state per-pupil support for public
education ranks 38th, our teacher salary ranks 37th, even
though we are the 9th wealthiest state in the nation.
Virginians
support better funding for our public schools. This year’s Commonwealth
Education Poll revealed that “65% of Virginians say schools do not have enough
funds to meet their needs,” and “75% say that the amount of funding affects
quality a great deal.” The poll also found that “Virginians are willing to pay
more in taxes to support school funding levels.”
As you know,
your colleagues in the more numerous legislative body do not agree with
Virginians in this regard—and that brings me to the issue at hand. As Joe
Flores clearly revealed to you at your November retreat, Medicaid expansion
offers a significant opportunity to take pressure off the
General Fund by providing funding for indigent care, and the medical care of
Department of Corrections inmates, for example. This use of federal funding,
with the federal taxpayer dollars paid by Virginians, will free up General Fund
dollars for our schools, and this is precisely what we see in Governor
McAuliffe’s budget proposal.
As you fulfill
your Constitutional obligation to “ensure that an educational program of high quality
is established and continually maintained” there is no more significant
variable under your control than our Commonwealth’s ability to attract and
retain teachers of high quality. Budget Amendment
78, Item 467 makes a step in the right direction in this regard, and it
puts public school employees on equal footing with other employee groups.
For years,
VEA has sought the option of participation in the state employee health plan
for school divisions. JLARC has estimated that this will save between $44 and
$64 million dollars annually. We thank this committee for securing funds for
the feasibility study, which was done in preparation for the 2014 session. Senator
Norment helped us with a study of this issue in 2007. Amendment 3, Item 81 jump starts this effort, and provides this
option to school divisions beginning on July 1, 2015.
We share
this committee’s commitment to addressing the needs of students in the
underperforming schools in Virginia. Amendment
15, Item 135 increases funding for the extended school year grant program,
a wise investment.
Investment
in Pre-K Education and in Drop-Out Prevention, too, are wise investments of
education funding. Both will increase
our students’ future prospects. Amendment
25, Item 136 provides hold harmless funding for the Virginia Preschool
Initiative, and Amendment 16, Item 135 increases
funding for one of Virginia’s most successful and accountable dropout
prevention programs, Jobs for Virginia Graduates.
I have
highlighted just a few of Governor McAulliffe’s amendments, which are
reflective of the leadership our Governor has shown in offering his plan to
break the budget impasse that serves us so poorly. This budget invests $150
million dollars more in public education than did Senate Bill 30 in the regular
session.
From my
perspective, SB 5003, which substantially increases Virginia’s investment in
public education, and which substantially elevates the quality of healthcare to
our citizens most in need, is worthy of your support.
1 comment:
April Fools right? Has to be.
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