The Virginia teachers association yesterday likened the state's proposed budget to an "out-of-control freight train" barreling down the tracks.
Virginia Education Association officials estimated that state public schools could shed as many as 23,000 jobs under the proposed two-year budget. And with that, the quality of instruction "will unquestionably plummet," VEA President Kitty Boitnott said.
She said the state's public schools help to attract business to Virginia and that the proposed cuts to education put the state's business-friendly rankings in jeopardy.
Gov. Bob McDonnell has made job creation a central issue to his administration and says his team actively will recruit businesses to move to the state.
"While Governor McDonnell looks for money to attract movie-makers and businesses and to reopen interstate rest areas, we suggest that he give serious thought to how we can preserve the quality of the public schools that we have grown accustomed to here in Virginia," Boitnott said.
The VEA estimates that the proposed biennium budget, put forth by then-Gov. Timothy M. Kaine, cuts $1.2 billion from public K-12 education. They calculate the 23,000 layoffs using the state's share for an educator's average salary of $33,000.
McDonnell spokeswoman Stacey Johnson said: "The governor's proposed budget initiatives to attract more tourists and major film projects will generate more state revenue that will be used to support hiring and paying teachers."
McDonnell must make $4 billion in cuts to balance the budget for fiscal 2010-2012. Kaine proposed $2.3 billion in cuts, plus an increase in the state income tax, but that was rejected by McDonnell and the House of Delegates.
"Virginia parents, beware. Virginia business leaders, beware. Local taxpayers, beware," Boitnott said. "The budget under consideration in the Virginia General Assembly is a disaster waiting to happen."
Contact Olympia Meola at (804) 649-6812 or omeola@timesdispatch.com.
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