YEAS--Wagner, Hanger, Puller, Locke, McDougle,
Barker, Norment, Black, Reeves, Favola, Wexton, McWaters, Petersen, Chafin--14.
NAYS--0.
Currrently, if a teacher is accused of child abuse, they are
removed from the classroom with pay pending a finding from the local Child
Protective Services agency. The law
specifies that CPS has from 45 to 90 days to issue a finding - 90 if local law
enforcement is involved in the investigation.
However, the courts have ruled that the timelines are "merely
directory, not mandatory."
When these timelines are ignored and the investigations drag,
sometime taking more than a year, the teacher is out of the classroom, the
quality of instruction suffers, and the life of the accused is a hellish purgatory.
Norment's bill affirms the legislative intent in regard to
the timelines, ensuring that they will be adhered to.
This bill heads to Senate, probably on Monday, and it should
be on the uncontested calendar. VEA
owe's a special thanks to Senator Norment and to all members of the committee.
Delegate Orrock's HJ558, which calls on various entities to
study the teacher shortage, reported from the House Rules Subcommittee on
Studies today.
YEAS--Knight, Orrock, Joannou, Spruill--4.
NAYS--Landes--1.
ABSTENTIONS--0.
NOT VOTING--Ware--1.
This resolution and Delegate Ware's HJ504 are steps in the
right direction. Virginia is flying
blind in regard to teacher demographics and turnover rates, and we are in
danger of being wholly unprepared as baby-boom teachers retire in great
numbers.
The provision of some funds for school employee salaries in
the budget seems probable at this point.
It is important to understand that the introduced budget has no funds
for salaries, but the Governor expressed a willingness to work with the GA on
that issue. The House leadership took
the first public step forward, and the Senate leadership is working in the same
direction. Stones are being turned in
search of the needed funds, and, fortunately, revenue projections are
improving. Any salary funding will
improve the ability of your school division to provide a raise for the next
school year. It is of crucial importance
that we appreciate the efforts underway and not respond to them by saying
"That's not enough." Unless,
of course, you think nothing is better than something.
