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State Legislative Update

5/6/2016

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The following was submitted to ARTA by past president Judy McConville, based on information from Bea Morris, Legislative Chair, VRTA.

This past session of the General Assembly was relatively mild in terms of legislation affecting teachers. However, it is important to note that The Commission on Employee Retirement Security and Pension Reform was established(HB665). This Commission will “ study and make recommendations relating to the financial soundness of retirement plans, the suitability of retirement, and attributes that will be suitable for future employees, the impact on state and local governments of the retirement of experienced employees between 2016 and 2026 and the strategies for replacing those employees, elements of compensation and benefits packages essential to attracting and retaining a highly productive state and local government workforce.”
The Commission will be made up of 11 members of the General assembly and 8 non legislative citizens and 2 state officials. VEA will have a voting representative on the committee. Other non legislative members include: Virginia Association of Counties, Virginia Municipal League, Virginia Governmental Employees Association, Virginia Sheriffs Association, and the Virginia State Police Association. The cost for this Commission including statistical analyses, actuaries, etc, will be paid by the VRS. I raised a question as to why no retired members were included in this Commission, since the cost of this is to be borne by VRS. I was told there is a “possibility” that a retired member “might” be included. I intend to follow up on this.
Another Commission, set up through (SJ85) provides for a joint 13 member Senate and House study of the future of public elementary and secondary education. This study was deemed necessary because of “wide array of education-related legislative proposals during each regular session of the General Assembly.”  It goes on to say that “many education-related legislative proposals require more discussion and study than the committees are able to devote during a regular GA session.” As a result, the General Assembly needs “to jointly examine innovative education reforms and emerging education issues on a year round basis” because “public elementary and secondary education in the Commonwealth will benefit from a deliberate, thoughtful, coordinated and year round approach to legislative education reform.”
This group will include representatives from the Department of Education, the Standards and Learning Innovation Committee, The VEA, the Virginia Association of Counties, the Virginia Municipal League, the Virginia Association of Elementary School Principals, the Virginia Association of Secondary Principals, the Virginia Association of School Superintendents, the Virginia School Board Association and other “interested stakeholders as deemed appropriate.“ Again, I asked about retired teacher representation. We shall see.  This could be a very interesting group, and all teachers should be aware of its activities.


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VEA Update

10/30/2015

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October 29, 2015

The November 3rd election of our 140 Delegates and Senators approaches, and to my dismay, far fewer Virginians will vote than vote in presidential or even gubernatorial elections. If you look at the last four-year cycle 71.78% of registered voters participated in the 2012 presidential election, 43% voted in the 2015 gubernatorial, but only 28.61% of registered voters showed up in 2011 when we last voted for all 140 members of the Virginia legislature.

This makes no sense, as state and local elected officials have a far greater impact on our daily lives, and the lives of our students, than our President. Look at education funding, for example: according to a September JLARC report, 6% of K-12 funding comes from federal sources, 38% from the state, and 56% comes from localities. We've really got it backwards -- more people should vote in state and local elections than federal elections. Those elections matter more!

I have served as both a recount official for the Richmond registrar, and a recount observer for statewide candidates. These two duties have driven home, in my mind, the fact that every vote counts.

The one election that haunts me is the 2005 McDonnell/Deeds race for Attorney General. After the recount, Bob McDonnell won by 323 votes. The VEA Fund supported Deeds, and if all 50,000 VEA members had voted, McDonnell would have lost, and would likely have never become governor. We would have been spared his war on teachers -- the attacks on continuing contract, the lack of meaningful progress on teacher salaries, and the reduction of pension benefits for teachers hired after 1/1/14. I remember one House of Delegates race, some years ago in Norfolk, which was decided by 8 votes! Your vote matters, and elections have consequences.

This year, the VEA Fund for Children and Public Education has recommended 29 Senate candidates and 55 House of Delegates candidates. We've backed candidates from both parties who are friends of public education. These recommendations are the result of a great deal of work on the part of your colleagues all over Virginia. They sent questionnaires to candidates, analyzed both the questionnaires and voting records, interviewed candidates, and ascertained electability. They did their best to judge which candidates will be best for public education. These recommendations are posted on the VEA website. Click here to see a list of our recommended candidates.

Our friends at the Virginia Political Access Project, VPAP, just launched a new tool. If you type in your address, it will tell you all sorts of information: where you vote, your representatives in the General Assembly, upcoming elections, newspaper articles about your community, and political donors from your ZIP code. Click here to take a test drive.

I implore, beg, and plead with you to go to the polls on November 3rd. Your vote could make all the difference in the upcoming General Assembly session and the sessions ahead.

 
Thank you,
Robley Jones
VEA GR&R

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VEA Update

5/24/2015

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May 21, 2015

The news at this morning’s Senate Finance Committee was good. Virginia’s revenues are exceeding projections by 2.8%. That’s about $470 million more than anticipated. That bodes well for the next biennium. It’s been since 2007 that a Governor has had significant revenue increases to work with when crafting a budget.
On Monday, the Virginia Early Childhood Education Foundation conducted a briefing on a recent research study which addressed the long term benefit of participation in the Virginia Preschool Initiative (VPI). In addition they have published a FAQ document regarding the study. The key finding is that students who had attended VPI were 4% more likely to be promoted on-time to 8th grade. However, VPI had no influence on 8th Grade SOL test scores. The nugget in the analysis was this: SOL test scores have little predictive value – other important educational outcomes such as student retention, course grades, and attendance are better indicators of students’ long-term school and life success. So I see two takeaways: we need to continue supporting Pre-K education, and we need to completely reassess the role of testing in education. 
If you have a primary I surely hope you plan on voting on June 9th. The Virginia Public Access Project (VPAP) just released a visualization of primary turnout. Between 1.4% and 16.4% of registered voters participate in primaries. This gives educators the potential of having great power if we all turn out. The VEA Fund for Children and Public Education has only recommended candidates in two of the eighteen primaries: Democrat Daniel Gecker in Senate District 10 and Republican Emmett Hanger in Senate District 24.

The Virginia Association of School Superintendents just did a survey which reveals some very interesting facts. State Superintendent of Public Instruction Steve Staples said in November of 2014 that” Since 2008, K-12 public education has been reduced by 5,000 positions in Virginia.” The VASS survey gives an update and the news is not good. The number is actually 8,001: 3,785 teachers, 232 school-based administrators, 3,701 support staff, and 283 division level administrators. Consider, too, that we have 51,818 more students in our schools today than we did in 2008.
They also detailed the cut back in programs as a consequence of the budget cuts: 47 school divisions have eliminated fine arts programs, 40 divisions have eliminated foreign language programs, 34 have eliminated physical education programs, and 88 eliminated career and technical education programs.Twenty-eight present of divisions have eliminated co-curricular programs: 53 eliminated academic clubs, 45 eliminated student clubs, and 58 eliminated athletic programs.These statistics are not reflective of a state which is putting kids first.The VEA continues to support fair, bipartisan redistricting. We participate in a coalition called OneVirginia2021. The Richmond Times Dispatch’s recent editorials (1, 2) on this topic have been quite good, as was the one in the Staunton News Leader.
Redistricting quote of the week: The point of elections, after all, is to let voters pick their leaders. The act of picking depends on having a choice. But in most of Virginia’s legislative districts, the voters have no choice. - RTD Editorial 05/20/15

Many years ago when I taught in Norfolk, the school board tried to save money by outsourcing student transportation services, it turned into a real nightmare. The bus drivers told the principals that they did not work for them and that they did not need to do what they said. There were all sorts of problems which led to the school system losing a lot of money when the repurchased a new bus fleet to go running their own pupil transportation system. A recent article about the problems Chesterfield County is facing now that they have privatized custodial service led me wonder, “When will they learn?”
Thank you,
 
Robley Jones

VEA GR&R
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VEA Update

5/5/2015

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May 5, 2015

Virginia’s upside down tax system is one reason why we don’t have enough money to support core services like public education.  A recent report from the Commonwealth Institute points out that, “the lowest-income workers pay 8.9 percent of their incomes in taxes while the richest 1 percent only pay 5.1 percent.”
On another topic, it is increasingly clear that Virginia’s approach to solving the problems faced by our “Low Performing Schools” will take long-term solutions, including changing housing policies.  We are blaming teachers, administrators, and school divisions for the consequences of policies which have concentrated poverty.  In the 19th century, as John Moeser of the University of Richmond asserts, “blacks and whites lived in close proximity.”  The policies of the 20th century changed things.  These policies – race-based zoning codes (first adopted in Baltimore and later ruled unconstitutional), private covenants (deed restrictions on selling to “Negros and Jews”), bans on interracial marriage and accompanying bans on living in neighborhoods with those you could not marry, redlining (charging more for services like banking and insurance in minority neighborhoods), and the concentration of public housing in impoverished neighborhoods – have resulted in a concentration of poverty which leads to low educational achievement, high crime, and poor health.  Our cities are more segregated than ever.
Monday’s New York Times has an excellent article on the impact of concentrated poverty on children’s futures, and the accompanying interactive map is most revealing.  Check out Roanoke, Richmond, Petersburg, and Norfolk and contrast them with Fairfax.
Although we must do all we can in the short run to improve our low-performing schools, we also need to get real about the long, slow task of changing our housing policies to incentivize the de-concentration of poverty.  The policies of the 21st Century must counter those of the 20th.  All educators need to stand up for our urban colleagues when they are blamed for what they can’t control, and, for the sake of our nation’s poor children, we need to stand up for changes in our housing policies that will de-concentrate poverty.
Thank you, 
Robley Jones

VEA GR&R
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VEA Update

4/18/2015

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April 17, 2015

The General Assembly returned to the Capitol on Wednesday for the reconvened session to consider the Governor's vetoes and amendments.   HB1626, the Tebow Bill, was vetoed by the Governor, and the House, the chamber of origin, failed to override the veto on a 60-39 vote.  It was widely thought that the bill would survive the House, but die in the Senate.  The House vote was a bit of a surprise.  It takes two thirds of the votes to override, so this bill is dead. 
Here is an excerpt from the Governor’s veto explanation:
Allowing home-schooled students to participate in interscholastic competitions would disrupt the level playing field Virginia’s public schools have developed over the past century. For example, VHSL rules state that a student must pass five subjects or the equivalent in the previous semester, and be enrolled in five subjects or the equivalent offered for credit toward graduation, in order to participate in the league’s events. While the bill provides that home-schooled students must demonstrate evidence of progress in order to participate in interscholastic activities, the unique nature of their educational situation precludes conformity to the same standards.
Virginia’s public schools provide a complete package of scholastic offerings and access to extracurricular activities. Participation in athletic and academic competitions is a privilege for students who satisfy eligibility requirements.  Opening participation in those competitions to individuals who are not required to satisfy the same criteria upends Virginia’s extracurricular framework and codifies academic inequality in interscholastic competition.

We thank Governor McAuliffe for his veto of this bill, and I ask you to look at the House vote.  It is interesting! 
YEAS--Adams, Anderson, Bell, Richard P., Bell, Robert B., Berg, Byron, Campbell, Cline, Cole, Cox, Davis, DeSteph, Edmunds, Fariss, Farrell, Fowler, Garrett, Gilbert, Greason, Habeeb, Head, Hodges, Hugo, Joannou, Jones, Kilgore, Knight, Landes, LaRock, Leftwich, LeMunyon, Lingamfelter, Loupassi, Marshall, D.W., Marshall, R.G., Massie, Miller, Minchew, Morefield, Morris, O'Bannon, O'Quinn, Peace, Pillion, Pogge, Poindexter, Ramadan, Ransone, Robinson, Rush, Scott, Stolle, Taylor, Villanueva, Ware, Webert, Wilt, Wright, Yancey, Mr. Speaker--60.

NAYS--Albo, Austin, BaCote, Bloxom, Bulova, Carr, Filler-Corn, Futrell, Helsel, Herring, Hester, Hope, Ingram,James, Keam, Kory, Krupicka, Lindsey, Lopez, Mason, McClellan, McQuinn, Murphy, Orrock, Plum, Preston, Rasoul, Rust, Sickles, Simon, Spruill, Sullivan, Surovell, Torian, Toscano, Tyler, Ward, Watts, Yost--39.
First, note that there are only 99 votes.  That’s because Delegate Joe Morrisey’s seat was vacated in accordance with the Virginia Constitution when he moved away from his House district. Second, note the Republicans who supported the veto:  Austin, Bloxom, Ingram, Orrock, Rust and Yost. Finally, note that only one Democrat opposed the veto, Johnny Joannou. 

I hope to see you at the Put Kids First Rally tomorrow!
Thank you, 
Robley Jones

VEA GR&R
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VEA Update

4/14/2015

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April 13, 2015

Former VEA Vice President Dom Melito used to say, "In Virginia we only have elections in years that end in a number." Dom was right, and in the months ahead we have two elections -- primaries on June 9 and the General Election on November 4.

The entire House and Senate are up for election, all 140 seats. Control of the Senate is in play -- the Republicans now have a 21-19 advantage. In the House the Republicans enjoy a super majority, but the Democrats hope to change that. They'll only need to gain two seats to do so, and that would empower them to demand recorded votes on legislation.

In many of Virginia's gerrymandered districts winning the primary is tantamount to winning the election, so participation in the primaries is important. Please check the list below to see if you live in a district with a primary. Many localities are divided, so checkhttp://whosmy.virginiageneralassembly.gov/ to find your state house and senate district numbers.

Let's take a look at June 9th to see if you have a primary.

Senate

District 8 -- Virginia Beach
Bill Desteph vs. Craig Hudgins - Republican Primary

District 10 -- Chesterfield, Richmond and Powhatan
Emily Francis, Daniel Gecker and Alexander McMurtrie -- Democratic Primary

District 11 -- Chesterfield, Colonial Heights and Amelia
Amanda Chase, Steve Martin and Barry Moore -- Republican Primary

District 12 -- Henrico and Hanover
SiobhanDunnavant, Vincent Haley, Bill Janis and Edward Whitlock -- Republican Primary

District 14 -- Chesapeake, Virginia Beach, Suffolk, Portsmouth, Isle of Wight, Southampton and Franklin City
John Cosgrove vs. William Haley -- Republican Primary

District 24 -- Augusta, Rockingham, Staunton, Waynesboro, Greene and Madison
Emmett Hanger*, Dan Moxley and Pattie Marshall -- Republican Primary
*Please note that Emmett Hanger is recommended by the VEA Fund for Children and Public Education

District 29 -- Prince William, Manassas City andManassas Park
Michael Futrell, Jeremy McPike and Atif Quarni -- Democratic Primary

House

District 2 -- Prince William and Stafford
Timothy Ciampaglia vs. Mark Dudenhefer -- Republican Primary

District 17 -- Roanoke City, Roanoke County and Botetourt
Harry Griego vs. Christopher Head -- Republican Primary

District 28 -- Stafford and Fredericksburg
Bill Howell vs. Susan Stimpson -- Republican Primary

District 29 -- Frederick, Winchester and Warren
Mark Berg vs. Christopher Collins -- Republican Primary

District 44 -- Fairfax
Justin Brown vs. Paul Krizek - Democratic Primary

District 45 -- Alexandria, Arlington and Fairfax
Larry Altenburg, Craig Fifer, Julie Jacopic, Mark Levine and Clarence Tong -- Democratic Primary

District 63 -- Petersburg, Chesterfield, Dinwiddie, Prince George and Hopewell
Lashrecse Aird, Larry Brown, Mouse Jones, Atiba Muse and Derry Rawlison -- Democratic Primary

District 69 -- Richmond City and Chesterfield
Betsy Carr and Preston Brown -- Democratic Primary

District 74 -- Henrico, Charles City and Richmond City
Stephen Adkins,Lamont Bagby and Leonidas Young -- Democratic Primary

District 79 -- Portsmouth and Norfolk
Stephen Heretickand Johnny Joannou -- Democratic Primary

The voter turnout for the primary contests is historically very low. Let's make sure that VEA members show up in big numbers to prove that we are a force to be reckoned with.

Thank you, 
Robley Jones

VEA GR&R
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VEA Update

4/8/2015

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April 3, 2015

Barring an unforeseen special session, the work of the General Assembly will end on April 15th with the reconvened or veto session. So, allow me to be abrupt in asserting that it is already time to begin working on the 2016 session.

November's elections give us the opportunity to elect 51 friends of public education in the House and 21 in the Senate. We need to make sure that those issues of importance to our schools (early childhood education, over-testing, low pay for school employees, and a lack of state support) are election issues.

The session ahead will be crucial as it is a budget session, and Governor McAuliffe will be presenting his first budget. We need to be the squeaky wheel as the budget is being developed, and that process is ongoing.

So, I have two things to ask of you at this crucial juncture.

First, come to Richmond to participate in the Put Kids First rally on April 18th.  Check out http://www.goodforvirginia.org/putkidsfirst for the details and to RSVP.

Second, mark two dates on our calendar. June 9th will be the date of the House and Senate primaries in many districts in Virginia. In many of our partisan districts that is the only vote that matters. So if you have a primary, please plan to vote on June 9th. And please mark November 3rd on your calendar. This will be a crucial election day as all 140 members of the House and Senate will be up. Please ask all you know to mark their calendars.

These two actions will make all the difference in the 2016 General Assembly.

Thank you, 
Robley Jones

VEA GR&R
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VEA UPDATE

2/11/2015

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As you may be aware, Senators Chafin and Vogel carried a bill, SB866, for VEA to provide a statewide health insurance option for school employees.

Moving to a statewide insurance option for local school divisions could save millions of dollars in the years ahead. These savings could be used to provide needed school funding. The Commonwealth would have much greater leverage in rate negotiations with insurance providers than any one of the 132 individual school divisions. The Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission estimates savings of $44 to $66 million annually.

SB866 passed the Senate on a 38-0 vote. Now it goes before seven delegates on the House Appropriations Committee Compensation and Retirement Subcommittee. This committee has killed similar legislation in the past years.

Please call their offices and leave this simple message: "Please vote for SB866."
Delegate Charles Poindexter - (804) 698-1009 DelCPoindexter@house.virginia.gov
Delegate Riley Ingram - (804) 698-1062  DelRIngram@house.virginia.gov
Delegate Scott Lingamfelter - (804) 698-1031 DelSLingamfelter@house.virginia.gov
Delegate Tag Greason - (804) 698-1032  DelTGreason@house.virginia.gov
Delegate Scott Garrett - (804) 698-1023  DelSGarrett@house.virginia.gov
Delegate Johnny Joannou - (804) 698-1079  DelJJoannou@house.virginia.gov
Delgate Daun Hester - (804) 698-1089  DelDHester@house.virginia.gov

I have also included their email addresses in the event that you would prefer to send an email message.
Thank you, 
Robley Jones

VEA GR&R
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Act Now to Prevent Charter School Constitutional Amendment

1/29/2015

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Send a Message to Your Senator Now! 
Send a message to your senator urging him or her to vote against SJ 256, a Constitutional amendment which transfers the power to establish charter schools from local school boards to a nine member board appointed by the governor. 


Take Action!
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VEA UPDATE

12/18/2014

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December 17, 2014

Please bookmark our VEA Daily Reports and check out the blog daily as we head into the 2015 General Assembly Session.
 
The URL is
http://www.veadailyreports.com/
Today’s post details Governor McAuliffe’s budget amendments which were presented today to the money committees of the General Assembly.


Thank you,
 
Robley Jones
VEA GR&R
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