Rally to keep the freeze
A group of concerned citizens (who are not affiliated with any particular organization) have organized a rally to protest Governor McDonnell’s proposed education cuts, hoping to “keep the freeze,” referring to the Local Composite Index which if updated would mean a redistribution of funds to Virginia schools.
A group of concerned citizens (who are not affiliated with any particular organization) have organized a rally to protest Governor McDonnell’s proposed education cuts and “keep the freeze,” referring to the Local Composite Index which if updated would mean a redistribution of funds to Virginia schools.
From their flier:
With Governor McDonnell’s cuts and a change in the Local Composite Index, Richmond Public Schools stands to lose over 38 million dollars. But Richmond is not alone in this; Henrico, Hanover, Chesterfield, Chesapeake, Norfolk, and Hampton Roads are in the same boat. Our legislators need to know where we stand on this issue. Please help us get out the word, and meet us at 12:30pm this Sunday, February 21st, at the Capitol Building in support of the “SAVE OUR SCHOOLS – KEEP THE FREEZE” campaign. We encourage you to take a stand for the education of our children!
Please bring homemade posters, banners, ribbons, and buttons with “SAVE OUR SCHOOLS – KEEP THE FREEZE” as we rally together to keep our classrooms free of drastic cuts!
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Valerie Catrow
Valerie Catrow is editor of RVAFamily, mother to a mop-topped first grader, and always really excited to go to bed.
Notice: Comments that are not conducive to an interesting and thoughtful conversation may be removed at the editor’s discretion.
I was talking about this budget cut with some friends of mine last night and we think it is terrible. Not only are these cuts going to eliminate jobs in the educational sector, but existing teachers will not be paid for extracurricular activities, such as coaching a sports team.
This could lead to our teachers spreading their time that was once dedicated to teaching students on other part time jobs to make enough money.I think that is awful because not only will the teachers be affected, but the kids will receive a less than stellar education.
Also I hear that the free breakfast program available to students in public schools will be eliminated. This program is vital to student acheivement, as it is proven that a healthy breakfast is linked to positive academic performance. Also, how much can this program really cost? I mean its a basic breakfast, probably not even the price of a denny’s grand slam breakfast when you break it down to cost per child.
Although these budget cuts have been proposed by the Governor McDonnell, they still await approval in the GA…From what I hear a few Republican delegates are taking issue with some of these issues as well….Hopefully, they won’t pass….
Hang on Virginia, this is going to be some ride…
This LCI has been around for 40 years. Every year someone wants to change it and there probably has been some tweaking through the years, but to just arbitrarily “freeze” it is changing the rules in the middle of the game.
Yes, I understand the crisis schools are facing. It is serious even in schools not being hurt by the new LCI. But if you want to change the formula do it the right way- in the General Assembly.
These are economic times without precedent in any of our lives. People want to protect important funds for a necessary public service. The ‘right way’ is to not kick our public schools in this time of great need.
If this is a game to you, perhaps you do not understand how devastating further cuts will be.
Here’s a link for the Rally Facebook page:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Metro-Richmond-Parents-Against-Cuts-in-School-Funding/312387036495
I would note that this rally is for all counties in the Richmond area, not just Richmond City.
I’m very happy that Virginia might be cutting the budget and attempting to make the government smaller. I don’t need a nanny and neither do my children.
I’d like to say as far as breakfast and lunches for underpriveledged children, let’s let the community help.
I for one, will step up to the plate and provide breakfastes for the kids in my area for one week.
How can we make this happen.. The people can take care our people. We don’t need the government.
Betsy, are you able to go into the schools and teach violin and Spanish? Or coach a high school football team? How about text books? Are you trained to teach Advanced Placement courses in high school so that students are eligible for entrance into Universities?
Losing breakfast is just one of many issues we face with the proposed school budget cuts.
On the subject of breakfast: Are you willing to provide breakfast for the schools with a poverty rate of 80 to 90 percent? You could feed from your own pocket 400 students for one week in one school?
Wonderful to see a grassroots campaign hit the press! Check it out – http://voices.washingtonpost.com/virginiapolitics/2010/02/do_lawmakers_hear_the_voices.html?wprss=virginiapolitics