From a press release:
School proponents will lobby to limit impact of state funding cuts
1 p.m., Wednesday, August 19
Bell Tower, State Capitol Grounds, Richmond
Supporters of public education will stage a rally at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, August 19, near the Bell Tower on the State Capital grounds.
The rally, expected to draw approximately 200 participants, is sponsored by the Virginia Education Association in an effort to raise awareness of the damage that would be caused by permanent cuts to state school funding.
In an effort to help close the state’s budget deficit, Governor Kaine proposed changes in the state funding formula that would limit the number of school support personnel that the state would help school divisions fund. The current school year’s funding was reduced by $340 million as a result of that recommendation, although federal stimulus money was used by the state to make up for that shortfall. If it were not for the federal funds, the reduction in state funding would have forced school divisions to eliminate approximately 13,000 school positions for the current school year.
Participants in the rally are expected to include parents, teachers and school support employees from across the state. They hope to convince the Virginia Board of Education, the General Assembly, and Governor Kaine to limit the reduced state funding to the current fiscal crisis and not to extend the reduction into future years.
Speakers will include representatives of the PTA, VEA and the Alliance for Virginia’s Students.
For further information, contact Rob Jones (804) 775-8320 or Bill Johnson (804) 775-8316.
I was told that this rally was planned long before the announced special session. But it can’t hurt that our legislators will be in town.
VIVIAN J. PAIGE | All Politics is Local 