23,000 VA School Jobs Dangling from State Budget Scissors
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January 29, 2010
RICHMOND, VA - 23,000 public school jobs are at risk in the Commonwealth as a result of nearly $2 billion in state budget reductions now being considered by legislators.
Dr. Kitty Boitnott, president of the Virginia Education Association (VEA), Virginia's largest union representing teachers, says the job cuts will be a disaster for not only those who stand to lose employment, but for the students, as well. She says the end result would be larger class sizes, and fewer educational programs and services for kids.
"All of those factors together could increase the probability we'll have children who will fall through the cracks; who will not get the kind of attention that they need, and certainly won't get the high level of services they have grown to depend on."
Today and in the future, Boitnott says it is important for the children of Virginia to have the best education possible in order to compete in a global economy.
"The United States is about to take a back seat to India and China in a way that I don't think Americans are prepared for."
Gov. Bob McDonnell has stressed the importance of funding for public schools, and that he would like to attract more businesses to the state to generate jobs. The VEA counters that, if the cuts to the education system take place, the workforce won't have the education needed to fill the jobs, and businesses will eventually look elsewhere.