THE VBEA DOMINATES THE CITY COUNCIL BUDGET HEARING!

Speaker after speaker told the City Council last night to fully fund the school board budget, and the VBEA led the way.  VBEA speakers included President Dominic Melito, President-Elect Trenace Riggs, Vice President-Elect Kaitlin Jensen, Treasurer Karen Mallard, Alanton Elementary School Rep and Candidate for At-Large School Board Bev Anderson and VBEA member Glenn Morrill.  Also in the audience were dozens of VBEA members and supporters. 

The Pilot published an article titled "Opposition to Tax Hike Muted" (click here to read it.)  Those who are opposed to the funding of the school board budget will be energized and will probably pack the next budget hearing.  WE MUST HAVE AN EVEN BIGGER CROWD at the City Council Budget hearing on Tuesday, April 24th at 6:00 pm at City Hall to ensure that our voices are heard once again.  Please click the RSVP button below to let us know you're coming.  We need at least 10 people from each school to attend! 

The VBEA led the effort in early March in persuading the School Board to submit a $661.7 million budget (which exceeded initial funding targets by $36.4 million) to City Council. This budget stops the 3 day furlough, preserves middle school planning time, gives employees a 2.5% "hold harmless" salary adjustment, keeps 12 month employees' schedules intact, preserves middle school and JV sports, and ensures transportation to the acadamies. 

A few weeks later, City Manager James K. Spore presented his recommended municipal budget – which includes funding for schools - to City Council. It provides about $17.6 million less than what the School Board had requested.

In order to ensure that we get all the money the school board budget needs, we MUST have a strong showing at the City Council Budget Hearing.  Please click on the picture below to watch a short video from VBEA President Dominic Melito and Virginia Beach Council of PTAs President Shelly Jones, urging everyone to come out to the public hearing on the budget at City Hall on April 24th beginning at 6:00 p.m.

 Please click on the button below to RSVP for the Budget Hearing.

The Virginia Beach Education Association is the local affiliate of the 58,000 member Virginia Education Association, which is the state affiliate of the 3.2 million member National Education Association.  The VBEA Office is located at 445 Kings Grant Rd. Virginia Beach, VA 23452 (757) 486-0202.

The Virginia Beach Education Association:
1) serves as a voice for public education
2) advances the cause of public education for all individuals
3) promotes professional excellence among teachers and education support professionals 
4) strives to gain recognition of the basic importance of the professional educator in the learning process
5) protects the rights of teachers and education support professionals and advances their interests and welfare
6) promotes and protects human and civil rights and
7) obtains for its members the benefits of an independent, united teaching profession.