Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, April 13, 1991 TAG: 9104130450
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A-5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Medium
Wilder made the comment to reporters after promising teachers he will restore some funding to education in the next two-year budget he will propose in January.
Wilder and legislators have been at loggerheads since the state Senate rejected most of the governor's budget amendments last week. Many of the amendments would have cut funding for road, college and tourism projects favored by lawmakers.
One amendment approved by the assembly would have restored $15 million to schools, but Wilder said that because some changes were rejected the entire amendment package was dead.
Wilder has three weeks to sign or veto the budget or use his line-item veto. In response to a question, he said he has determined he can use the line-item veto to delete certain projects. He did not specify what he will veto.
In his remarks to the Virginia Education Association, Wilder said he remains committed to raising teacher salaries to the national average. The national average is $31,166; the state average is $30,926, according to the state Department of Education.
The governor received a polite but cool reception from the VEA members, who supported his campaign for governor but have taken much of the brunt of budget cuts.
"I know that those of you in this room - as well as your colleagues throughout the state - have made your share of sacrifices," Wilder said.
He said he will restore some of the $156 million he has cut from schools in the budget he presents in January. "It will include at least an additional $15 million for aid to education, if not more," he said.
Earlier, Lt. Gov. Don Beyer told the teachers they deserve better pay.
"Virginia's average salary for teachers must exceed the national average by the same percentage that average salaries in Virginia as a whole exceed national average salaries as a whole," Beyer said, prompting applause from the delegates.
He conceded, however, that the state budget crisis makes such strides difficult to achieve.
VEA President Madeline Wade said teachers are demoralized by the cuts that are forcing salary freezes and layoffs.
Wade, a former Frederick County teacher who is stepping down as VEA president after four years, said teachers are having difficulty supporting their families.
"The morale is the worst I've seen," she said. "They feel a lack of respect and totally unappreciated. When you have to go in year after year and beg and fight, you get tired."
by CNB