STAFFORD — (Press Release) Stafford County Public Schools (SCPS) and members of Stafford Education Association (SEA) hope that a trip to Richmond to lobby state lawmakers will result in more funding for SCPS.
Thirty-five members of SEA will meet with their elected representatives on the morning of January 28, 2019, which is the Virginia Education Association’s annual Lobby Day.
They will also attend a VEA rally on the Capitol grounds. SCPS Superintendent Dr. Scott Kizner has plans to attend and join staff, teachers and other superintendents across the commonwealth to support this important event.
The rally comes as Gov. Ralph Northam is pushing for a 5 percent statewide teacher raise. The SEA is also pushing county leaders for an additional 5 percent raise for Stafford teachers.
SUBSCRIBE AND GO DEEPER: The SEA wanted the school division to give all county teachers the day off to attend the rallyÂ
“It is critical that the Commonwealth provide the necessary funding to invest in education. Teacher salaries are significantly behind other states and this is not an acceptable practice,” said Kizner.
SEA leaders say that state support for local public schools has declined:
- Since the Great Recession, Virginia’s state funding of K-12 schools has declined 9 percent when adjusted for inflation. Meanwhile, student enrollments have risen.
- Virginia is the 12th wealthiest state but ranks 42nd in per-pupil state funding.
- The gap between what Virginia teachers make compared to the national average is at an all-time high.
- Virginia teachers currently earn $9,218 under the national average, ranking the state 34th in the country.
SEA leaders say Stafford County Public Schools will benefit from greater state funding of local schools—and that is well worth the trip to Richmond.
“We need to send a very clear message that our schools, our students, our teachers and support professionals are worth this investment,” said SEA President Christian Peabody. “It’s time for the General Assembly to fund our future because that’s what our public schools are—they are our future.”
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