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Continuing Contract Threatened Take Action! Write Your Delegate Today HB 576 denies experience teachers continuing contract, moving them to annual contracts. Thwart this attack on the teaching profession by writing your delegate now!

November 16, 2011 Dear xxxxx: I have not written since the elections. Partly because we've been extremely busy, and partly because I just needed to ponder the results. I thank each of you who worked in the campaigns for friends of education, and I thank all of you who voted. We won eight of our twelve targeted races. The VEA Fund recommended 36 House candidates. Twenty-three of those candidates won for a winning percentage of 64%. The VEA Fund recommended 25 Senate candidates. Nineteen of those candidates won for a winning percentage of 76%. We lost the Senator that has...

VEA Recommends Candidates for Election The VEA Fund for Children and Public Education is recommending a raft of pro-public education candidates for election. (Read more about the process below.) As of October 14, these Senate and House of Delegates candidates had earned recommendations. Recommended Candidates for Senate (Senate District) John Miller (1) Mamie Locke (2) Ralph Northam (6) Donald McEachin (9) David Bernard (10) Shawn Mitchell (13) Henry Marsh (16) Edd Houck (17) Louise Lucas (18) Brandon Bell (19) Roscoe Reynolds (20) John Edwards (21) Bert Dodson (22) Creigh Deeds (25) Charles Colgan (29) Adam Ebbin (30) Barbara Favola (31)...

October 17, 2011 Dear The news from the last few days could not have been more incongruous. Nor could it have revealed a greater misunderstanding of state government on the part of the electorate. First, the public is pleased with the direction of the state and the current General Assembly. Olympia Meola wrote, when reporting on the new Christopher Newport University/Richmond Times-Dispatch poll, "Virginians are a largely content bunch when it comes to the direction of the state …." Second, Virginians face an election which will completely change the direction of state government. Bob Lewis of the Associated Press wrote,...

July 18, 2011 Dear Governor McDonnell made it clear on CNBC that a pension battle lays ahead. Please listen to what he says from 1:37 to 3:51 relating to VRS. http://virginiapolitics.tumblr.com/post/7580306962/gov-bob-mcdonnell-made-his-pitch-for-taking It appears to me that the Governor is wrong on three counts. First, as you know state workers now pay the employee contribution. Second, almost all states have defined benefit plans, as do some private sector entities. Please see the article below that appeared in Financial Times on 4/25/11. http://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/04/25/why-young-workers-want-a-good-old-fashioned-pension/ Only Alaska and DC do not have defined benefit plans for teachers. Please see this study: http://www.nea.org/assets/docs/HE/CharacteristicsLargePubEdPensionPlans2010.pdf Third, Virginia’s...

Victoria Cobb, President Wednesday, February 16, 2011 Information Alert: Senate Finance Dems Reject Ed Freedom Yesterday, nine Senate democrats rejected education opportunity for low-income children by cowering before Virginia’s education establishment. By a 9-6 party-line vote, and in the face of overwhelming testimony, the committee defeated HB 2314, patroned by Delegate Jimmie Massie (R-72, Henrico). The legislation had the active support of Governor McDonnell and his staff. The Governor took the rare action of going office to office of committee members before yesterday's vote urging their support. I urge you to watch video from yesterday's meeting by clicking here. If...

Act to Stop School Voucher Bill! Take Action! Write Your Delegate Now! The House will debate Delegate Massie’s HB2314, a private school voucher bill, on Monday. The final vote should be on Tuesday. Please click on “Take Action!” to send your delegate a message urging the defeat of HB2314. If you no longer wish to receive e-mail from us, please click here.

I am asked about the Virginia Lottery money at virtually every public meeting I attend. The public perception is that education should be in no trouble because we are showered with lottery funds. Check out this news story on TV3 in Hampton Roads: http://www.wtkr.com/news/wtkr-va-lotto-school-budget,0,6190448.story To put the lottery proceeds for education on perspective, State General Fund Aid to Education in FY 2012 will be $4.9 billion. The lottery proceeds for education in that year will be $435.2 million. This money is not “bonus money” for our schools. It is used to fund ongoing programs, so the lottery is, in effect,...

November 12, 2010 Dear xxxxx As we approach the 2011 General Assembly (GA), legislators are focusing on what is still a daunting budget situation. Incoming revenues continue to lag the projections upon which the current budget was based, and the Governor is working on his amendments to balance the budget and advance his agenda. He will present his amendments on December 17th. For that reason, this message concentrates on funding. More Cuts? The Governor has requested that state agencies submit budgets cutting 2, 4 and 6%. In the past, direct aid to public education has not been included when these...

October 13, 2010 Dear xxxxx, Many of you have asked me to provide information regarding the upcoming elections. Your elected leaders on the VEA Fund Executive Committee examined the records, interviewed the candidates and studied the questionnaires to pick the best congressional candidates for public education. Then, President Boitnott moved the recommendation of these candidates at the NEA Fund for Children and Public Education Council meeting in Washington. This year, NEA concurred with all of our Virginia recommendations. The NEA Fund recommends: Glen Nye in the 2nd Bobby Scott in the 3rd Tom Perriello in the 5th Jim Moran in...

Dear xxxxx As part of our Issues Advocacy and Grassroots Lobbying campaign we have begun running TV ads in the Richmond and Hampton Roads TV markets. We wish we had the funds to run the ads everywhere. You can help get the word out by watching the ad by clicking the link below: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4F46R6NRP7Q Please share the link with your colleagues, family and friends. Please go to the website (and encourage family and friends to do the same) and sign the petitions to McDonnell and Deeds. www.supportvirginiaschools.com Thank you, Robley Jones VEA GR

Deeds' Speech Shows Contrast with McDonnell More Info Creigh Deeds persuasively made the connection between public education and a strong economy today in a major campaign speech at George Mason University. "This election is about Virginia's future: how we deal with the economic challenges we face and how we make our public schools the best and most innovative we possibly can," Deeds said. The singular most important piece of evidence we have of the candidates' stance on public education is the historic 2004 bipartisan effort that gave a $1.4-billion boost to public schools. Deeds voted for the measure; Bob McDonnell...

August 17, 2009 Dear xxxxx: The Caps Hurt Kids rally is at the Bell Tower in Richmond's Capitol Square (9th and Franklin Street) at 1 p.m. on Wednesday. Certain rules do apply to events at the Capitol: No parades are allowed on Capitol Square (We'll be playing music, but resist the temptation to form a Conga Line). No stick-holding placards will be permitted (bring a sign, but no stake). No food may be served. No parking will be available on Capitol Square. No signs or other items are permitted to be placed on the Capitol Square fence. Please remember these...

July 22, 2009 Dear xxxxxx, Some of you will remember that the permanent cuts proposed by Governor Kaine and supported by the House to the Standards of Quality (SOQ) had a 2009-2010 price tag of $340 million, and state funding for 13,000 support positions was eliminated. We said then that the cost of the cuts would grow as enrollment increased. We'll they did. According to the Virginia Department of Education the permanent cuts, the imposition of the support cap ratio, will cut $754,301,683 from educating funding in the next biennial budget if adopted. I estimate that this will eliminate funding...

Victoria Cobb, President Thursday, July 9, 2009 Information Alert: VEA-NEA says ‘I Do’ to Same Sex Unions Read Our Latest Blog Posts @ www.familyfoundationblog.com Sign Up for Our Twitter Updates @ www.twitter.com/TFFVA Join Fans of The Family Foundation On Facebook @ www.facebook.com Visit Our YouTube Channel @ www.youtube.com/user/TheFamilyFoundation According to its website, the Virginia Education Association (VEA) delegation to the National Education Association’s national convention earlier this month tackled issues like “reducing the dropout rates, properly managing charter schools, controlling infectious diseases in schools, providing resources for boosting teacher quality, protecting substitute teachers, and expanding opportunities for preschool education.” What...

December 1, 2008 Dear xxxxxx, The revenue shortfall for the budget of the Commonwealth now exceeds $3 billion. It appears that it will be very difficult to stave off cuts to education funding despite our best efforts. The Governor seems intent, at this point, on making cuts of a permanent nature, rather than temporary cuts to be restored when the recession ends. In light of the fact that Virginia ranks 33rd in the nation in per-pupil state support for public education, this is not the way to go. Please personalize the message we have prepared (see link below) and write...

November 19, 2008 Dear xxxxxx, The House Appropriation Committee (HAC), House Finance Committee and House leadership held their annual retreat on Tuesday and Wednesday at the Hotel Roanoke. The focus was on the budget shortfall, estimated to be at least $2.5 billion and actions that can be taken to balance the budget in the legislative session ahead. Education is clearly the budget cut target. The committee was presented information on education cuts in other states. The staff went way back to 2000 and asserted that 35 states reduced funding for public education in at least one … of the years...

October 9, 2008 Dear xxxxxx: Two significant events have occurred regarding elementary and secondary education funding this week. In order of importance, the Governor released his budget cuts at an 11 a.m. press conference. Kaine's press release began: Governor Timothy M. Kaine today announced the official revenue reforecast, and immediately announced an executive spending reduction plan to meet the fiscal year 2009 shortfall. The Governor's plan reduces government spending by making operations more efficient and reducing the scope of some government programs, while protecting K-12 education and other critical government functions, like public safety. Thankfully, P-12 funding was spared for...

May 1, 2008 Dear xxxxxx, The 2008 Legislative Session officially ended on April 23rd. A special session on transportation will follow. We will need to work in that session to protect the General Fund and make sure that dollars that should go to schools don't go to roads But, we can reflect and hopefully learn from the most difficult 2008 session. VEA bills fared poorly; in many cases because there was no money. There is new money for education, on a per-pupil basis 7.4% in 2008-09 and 1.5% in 2009-10. Considering the budget constraints, this is remarkable and reflective of...

February 13, 2008 Dear xxxxxx, All knew that Tuesday’s news of Virginia’s Presidential primaries would dominate Wednesday’s front pages. The Governor chose this day to announce his budget cuts, including cuts to K-12 public education? Coincidence? Undoubtedly, the Governor did his best to spare K-12 given the constraints he perceives. But, given the fact that Virginians hold education to be the most important issue before the General Assembly, should he challenge the constraints that bind him? Is his decision the best one for Virginia’s children in the long run? At the Governor’s press conference revenue projections were downgraded. Anticipated increases...

January 6, 2008 Dear xxxxxx, I think it safe to say that all were disappointed and angry to learn that Governor Kaine’s budget included no funds for a salary increase for teachers in the 2008-09 school year. The fact that the budget doubled the teacher licensure fees when we are getting no salary increase added insult to injury. Having said that, our energy, as this point is best directed at those who can amend the budget bill, your Delegate and your Senator. The Governor proposes and the General Assembly disposes. Our battle is uphill, but it is worth fighting. Even...

November 11, 2007 Dear xxxxxx, As VEA members, we find ourselves in a unique position. Congresswoman Davis’ unfortunate and untimely death left a vacancy in Congressional District 1. This district extends from Hampton to Fauquier. Her successor will be elected in a special election on December 11th. One of our own, Philip Forgit won the Democratic Nomination at Saturday’s nominating convention in Williamsburg. Delegate Robert Wittman was nominated at the Republican Convention at Caroline County High School. Wittman had prior service on the Westmoreland County Board of Supervisors and as Mayor of Montross. Wittman’s VEA voting record in the last...

November 7, 2007 Dear xxxxxx, The big news in last night’s elections is obviously the Democrats both gaining majority status in the Senate and gaining seats in the House. We congratulate the Democrats. However, VEA-PAC is party blind and issue driven, and we backed Independent, Republican and Democratic friends of public education with notable success. Our success race in Senate Elections was a most impressive 89%, and our success race in House elections for our recommended candidates was 78%. This success rate is reflective of hard work on the part of many VEA members, including President Moss and other VEA-PAC...

VEA-PAC Recommends Candidates Seventy-nine supported in November races Updated 10/09/2007 9:50 AM Who’s for kids, as the saying goes, and who’s just kidding? Virtually all candidates for public office say they support public education, but too many go on to slash education funding or propose damaging legislation once elected. The Virginia Education Association Political Action Committee (VEA-PAC), working with local Association PACs, sorts out the pro-public education candidates from the pretenders. And your VEA-PAC representatives on Saturday finalized the list of 79 candidates for the Virginia Senate and House of Delegates who deserve your support November 6. “The VEA-PAC process...

October 3, 2007 Dear xxxxxx, On December 17 our Governor will present his budget. Now is our chance to urge him to make it education friendly. Here’s the message for Governor Kaine: 1. Fully fund an honest rebenchmarking of the SOQ. 2. Keep your promise by moving Virginia’s teachers toward the national average. 3. Provide the Retiree Health Care Credit to all Education Support Professionals. These are VEA’s budget priorities, and we hope you will help us deliver the message to Governor Kaine. You can help by doing the following three things: 1. Call the governor at (804) 786-2211 and...

August 20, 2007 Dear xxxxxx, This morning, Governor Kaine presented some sobering news to the money committees of the General Assembly. There is a $641 million dollar revenue shortfall. Cuts must be made to the current budget, and the next biennial budget will be based on less optimistic revenue assumptions. At today’s meeting, Delegate Wardrup said, “The surrogates that drive rebenchmarking are not inviolate.” In plain English that translates,“Cut SOQ funding.” Delegate Hamilton suggested that “remedial education is a place to look” for needed funds. So, times are tough, and at least some are viewing K-12 education as a source...

May 11, 2007 Dear xxxxxx: In accordance with the recommendation of your elected leaders, VEA-PAC is recommending the return of Brandon Bell to the Senate District 22. Brandon won the open seat in November 2003 after having served previously from 1992 to 1996. With the retirements of three of our friends in the Senate Leadership (Chichester who chaired Senate Finance, Potts who chaired Senate Education and Health and Hawkins who represented Southside for 26 years), and the institutional memory that walks out them, protecting our friends takes on even greater importance. Brandon currently serves on the Senate Education and Health...

December 12, 2006 Dear xxxxxx, The Governor announced his budget amendments for public education today. A link to his release follows: http://www.governor.virginia.gov/MediaRelations/NewsReleases/viewRelease.cfm?id=299 The salary amendment provides the state share of a 3% increase beginning December 1, which, in fact, is a 1.75% increase when applied to the full year. It would take a 4.5% increase for the full year for two consecutive years to bring Virginia’s teachers to the national average. It appears that we will actually lose ground in our national ranking if the Governor’s amendment is all that is provided. Although the Governor did not mention this in...

November 29, 2006 Dear xxxxxx, The House Education Committee met yesterday (11/28/06) and voted 9 to 3 to report Delgate Nutter's HB1442. This bill increases the the requirements for graduating with a standard diploma by requiring two sequential career and technical education credits. Advocates for the bill said it will lead to better preparation of students for the world of work, while opponents said it would reduce enrollment in fine and performing arts and foreign language courses. Opponents also cited costs and the lack of career and technical classroom space. VEA does not have a positon on this bill, which...

September 20, 2006 Dear xxxxxx, It is time to provide Governor Kaine with input regarding the budget amendments he will submit to the General Assembly on December 15th. VEA is urging Governor Kaine to address salaries and the retiree health care credit in his amendments. Please go the VEA web site (www.veaweteach.org), and click on the word "message" under the title "Action Alert." This will take you to a letter to Governor Kaine that you can personalize and send. Please urge your colleagues to send this important message to the Governor as well. Our chances of a successful 2007 General...

VA PTA ACTION ALERT! 03-25-06 Dear Virginia PTA member, Gov. Tim Kaine has scheduled additional transportation town hall meetings. We should make every effort to attend these events and take a friend. The meetings will be held as follows: Monday, March 27 - Danville 5:30 p.m. Institute for Advanced Learning and Research - Executive Auditorium 150 Slayton Ave., Danville, VA 24540 Tuesday, March 28 - Loudoun County (Sterling) 7 p.m. Dominion High School 21326 Augusta Dr., Sterling, VA 21064 Wednesday, March 29 - Chesapeake 6:30 p.m. Chesapeake Conference Center 900 Greenbrier Circle (off of Woodlake), Chesapeake, VA 23320 Also, on...

Yesterday, the Senate Finance Committee went on record for the first time in its history in opposition to giving parents in Virginia the freedom to choose the most suitable education environment for their children. In past years, any school choice legislation presented to this committee was killed without a vote. In fact, the bill had never received a motion for any action at all. But yesterday, to the apparent dismay of several Republican members of the committee, Democrats Dick Salsaw (D-35, Springfield) and Janet Howell (D-32, Reston) motioned for the bill to be "Passed by indefinitely" or defeated, forcing a...

The battle to renew the rights of parents to be involved in the lives of their children will be at the forefront of many initiatives The Family Foundation will support during the upcoming General Assembly session. For too long, government officials and legislators have interfered in the parent/child relationship, assuming that the government and its institutions are better suited to raise our children. Liberal activist groups like Planned Parenthood, the ACLU and the Virginia Education Association spend tremendous amounts of effort to block attempts to protect the relationship of parents and children. Among the several initiatives we will work to...

Dear Cyber-lobbyist: Channel 12 and the Richmond Times Dispatch are conducting an on-line poll on the Kaine/Kilgore race. VEA-PAC has recommended the candidacy of Tim Kaine, and I urge you to go on-line and vote for Tim. The link to the poll is as follows: http://www.timesdispatch.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=RTD%2FPage%2FRTD_SectionFront&c=Page&cid=1058750344173 Many thanks, Robley Jones VEA GR

February 3, 2005 Dear Education Activist, Now is the time to contact the Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates, your own Delegate, and your State Senator and ask them to keep the teacher salary increase in the state budget. Click here to find a pre-written letter to the Speaker, and to identify your Delegate and Virginia Senator and send them a pre-written letter. You can send the letters as they are, or add your own talking points and personlize your letter. Last week in response to Delegate Plum's resolution calling on Virginia's Governor's to move teacher salaries to the...

January 10, 2005 Dear Cyber-lobbyist: Some of what will be considered in the General Assembly session, which starts on Wednesday, is beginning to become clear. Although not all of VEA?s bills have been pre-filed by the patrons, the first list below gives you the numbers of four of our bills. The VEA Legislative Committee met last night and took positions on some of the bills that have been pre-filed. Below you will find a list of bills VEA supports, bills VEA opposes and bills that the committee has placed on a ?Heightened Watch? because of attributes, concerns or questions. This...

Please goto http://www.protectfairfaxschools.org/guide/school_summary.htm online and view the school board candidate ratings. Rita S. Thompson, Stephen M. Hunt and E.J. Hurley are Republicans and got rated BOTTOM OF THE CLASS. Ilryong Moon, Janet S. Oleszek and Lynn G. Terhar are Democrats and got rated TOP OF THE CLASS. The Democrats on the school board were the ones who hired the Superintendent Dr. Domenech. Our local school PTA newsletter contained a full-page free advertisement of this website telling parents to check it out to find out who is pro-school and deserves the vote. What I need urgently is FREEpers to go visit...