Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, February 8, 1994 TAG: 9402080086
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Medium
"We feel we've never gotten the money we need," said Gilley, a teacher at the Stuart Elementary School in rural Patrick County.
"We're from an area where there is a low tax base and many of the people are senior citizens," Gilley said.
"We need more funds from the state. The local money is just not there."
Carol Clement, a teacher at Blue Ridge Elementary in Patrick, echoed Gilley. The county needs more state funds so it can attract and keep good teachers, Clement said.
The Patrick County teachers were among hundreds of teachers who packed meeting rooms at the General Assembly and sought legislators' support on education issues.
They came from as far away as Lee County, at the southwestern tip of the state, for the Virginia Education Association's lobbying effort.
Some focused on the disparity issue and the need for more state money for rural and inner-city schools so they can provide the same quality of education as rich, suburban counties.
Others appealed for more money for teachers' salaries, increased funding for the state's standards of quality and a reduction in the class size in elementary schools.
All agreed on one point: The General Assembly must provide more money for schools or watch quality decline.
Rob Jones, VEA president, said the state has shifted the financial burden for education to localities and slighted the children in the poorest localities.
Jones said the state is shirking its responsibility as a partner in education.
In 1968, approximately 50 percent of the state budget was earmarked for public schools. That has steadily dropped in the past two decades to 35 percent.
Jones said the legislature has failed to fully fund the state's standards of quality by refusing to recognize necessary staffing levels and allowing teachers' salaries to fall farther below the national average.
In the past five years, Virginia's average salary for teachers has declined from $400 to $3,000 below the national average.
Despite the state's financial troubles in recent years, Jones said, the legislature can provide more money. Virginia is the 12th wealthiest state in the nation, he said, but it ranks 25th in per-pupil expenditure and 27th in teacher pay. It ranks 43rd in the nation in state and local taxes per $1,000 of personal income.
The VEA contends that the current funding formula is flawed and needs to be replaced with a new funding proposal to eliminate disparities and provide adequate salaries for teachers.
The teachers' organization has proposed a $500 million plan that would be phased in over four years or more to end disparities and provide higher salaries. The VEA is lobbying for the proposal, but its fate remains in doubt.
In the meantime, the teachers are supporting a proposed $100 million plan by Del. Richard Cranwell, D-Roanoke County, and state Sen. Hunter Andrews, D-Hampton, to help end disparities.
The plan would provide funds to lower the student-teacher ratio in schools with a high concentration of children from low-income families and would provide additional Head Start programs.
The proposed state budget for the next two years includes a 3 percent raise the first year and 1.3 percent the second year.
But the teachers are lobbying for a 4 percent pay raise in each of the next two years. State Sen. Elliot Schewel, D-Lynchburg, has introduced a bill to provide the 4 percent.
As long as Virginia has disparities in educational funding and teachers' salaries remain below the national average, Jones said, the VEA has no reason to apologize for its aggressive lobbying.
"We're angry at the status quo," he told the teachers.
"Virginia is a low-tax state. The underlying problem is not money. It is political will," Jones said.
The VEA is opposing a bill by state Sen. Brandon Bell, R-Roanoke County, that would provide vouchers for children from low-income families to attend private schools. The teachers said they will oppose any legislation that directs public funds to be spent for private schools.
Sen. Charles Robb spoke to the teachers briefly, recalling his close working relationship with them while he was governor.
Jones praised Robb, saying no governor has done more for education. He predicted the teachers will support the Democrat in his race with Oliver North, the likely Republican nominee.
"We are ready to go to work for you - and help you get re-elected," Jones told Robb.
Keywords:
GENERAL ASSEMBLY 1994
by CNB