This school year looks to be one with much promise and many challenges.  This will be the first year in the past four years where school employees will be receiving an increase in compensation.  It is also the 3rd year in a row where health care costs for school employees have been relatively stable with no increases to employee contributions for health care premiums.
 
However, the challenges we face are many.  Governor McDonnell has taken money from VRS and used it to claim that the state has a “surplus.”  He is also talking about making further cuts to education funding for 2012 and making changes to our VRS to “make it more affordable.”  If you are a VEA cyber-lobbyist, you received this information in an August update.  I encourage everyone to go to veanea.org to follow the activities of the General Assembly.
 
Did you know that the Virginia Department of Education is recommending a change to the teacher evaluation system that calls for 40% of a teacher’s evaluation to be tied to student performance?  Yup, that’s right! 
 
At the VBEA Rep meeting on September 14th, we will be doing a brief overview of the recommended changes.  But that’s not all the VBEA is doing.  VEA Specialist, Bekah Saxon, will be our guest speaker at the October 12th VBEA Rep meeting.  She will have details and insights into the proposed changes and will also be able to answer any questions we have.  Also, she will help us formulate a response to these recommended changes.
 
Any changes made by Virginia Beach School Administration will first go through the SO5 Committee of Compass to 2015, of which I am a member.  The meeting in October will allow me to represent the interests of our members very well with plenty of input from you!
 
Protecting VRS, making sure there is adequate funding for public education, ensuring salary increases, maintaining health care costs and dealing with changes to the teacher evaluation system are just a few of the challenges that
YOU as public education employees face.
 
Who is your voice in these discussions?  If you’re a VBEA member, it’s the largest education association in the city, state and country.  If you’re not yet a VBEA member, who IS your voice? 
 
My voice was heard at the NEA Convention in Chicago this summer, along with over 9,000 convention delegates as we sang “Standing strong for our students, standing strong for our schools, standing strong for America, the NEA is standing strong for me and you!”  These are the words to the NEA theme song “Standing Strong!”  Join our voice and stand with the over 3 million NEA members today by becoming a member of the VBEA.  Together we will make a difference!
 
Click here to download a membership form and mail it to the VBEA today, or talk to the VBEA Rep in your building.  Watch the incredible video of the NEA Standing Strong at http://www.nea.org/grants/nea-standing-strong.html, or go to www.vbea.org. 
 

2/9/11

VBEA HOSTS 8 OF 11 SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS AT THE FEBRUARY VBEA REP MEETING

Around 60 VBEA leaders joined 8 of the 11 school board members for table discussions about issues of planning time, new programs and many of the other issues and concerns raised by the VBEA Elementary School and Middle School Advisory Committees.  School Board members in attendance were: Todd Davidson, Em Davis, Dan Edwards, Brent Mckenzie, Sam Reid, Patrick Salyer, Sandra Smith-Jones and Carolyn Weems.  School Board members Bill Brunke, Dottie Holtz and Ashley McLeod all had schedule conflicts but said that they would have loved to have been there and would like to hear from any of our VBEA members about their concerns. 

The VBEA would like to thank the school administration for their support as both Dr. Jeanne Crocker and Ms. Shirann Lewis were in attendance.  We would also like to thank the administration for the recent announcement that they are conducting teacher focus groups to examine the workload of elementary teachers.  Each elementary school will be sending a teacher from each grade level, one specialist and one special education teacher to attend a meeting on Monday, February 28, 2011 from 3:30 to 5:00 pm in the Windsor Oaks Elementary School Cafeteria.  Thank you for creating this opportunity to address our concerns!

Team Picture!

Dr. Davidson's Table

Mrs. Davis' Table

Chairman Edwards' Table

Mr. Mckenzie's Table

Mr. Reid's Table

Mr. Salyer's Table

Ms. Smith-Jones' Table

Mrs. Weems' Table

Chairman Edwards addresses the group

VBEA President Melito addresses the group

School Board member Sandra Smith-Jones meets one of her former students, VEA Member Organizing Specialist Robin Gardner! 

1/6/11

VEA SPEAKS OUT AT BUDGET HEARINGS ACROSS THE STATE

12/8/10 

VEA  PRESS CONFERENCE ASKING THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY FOR A 3% RAISE FOR ALL PUBLIC SCHOOL EMPLOYEES RECEIVES STATEWIDE MEDIA COVERAGE

VEA IS MAKING GAINS TOWARDS A 3% PAY INCREASE FOR SCHOOL EMPLOYEES

11/12/10

VBEA PRESIDENT DOMINIC MELITO AND VEA GR DIRECTOR ROBLEY JONES MET WITH DELEGATE TATA TO DISCUSS THE VEA LEGISLATIVE AGENDA 

On November 9th, approximately 100 teacher and ESP members of VBEA arrived at the School Board Budget Hearing to express their desire and support for a 3% salary increase to start in February of 2011. The initial funding for such an increase would come from a $14.4 million grant from the Federal Jobs Bill, continuing funding would have to come from support from the City of Virginia Beach and the state of Virginia through increased allocations to public school funding. The members that spoke each had budget concerns from their own unique perspectives.    The speakers included 20 year veteran Teacher Assistant Susan Edelson, 36 year top of the pay scale veteran teacher Trenace Riggs, Reading Specialist Karen Mallard, 5th Grade teacher Sonya Benshoff, 4 year veteran teacher Kaitlin Jensen, and VBEA President Dominic Melito.  Generally, members reiterated their need to keep pace with their expenses and that a third year at the same salary has created a hardship on their family and personal finances. They also asked the Board to step up to their obligation to put forward a genuine budget of need to the City Council, who has said that they have fully supported the VB Schools budgets, while taking nearly $16 million in reserved funds away from the budget carry-over funds in the last 2 years. In his address, VBEA President Dominic Melito pledged VBEA’s support for true fiscal responsibility from City Council as the Board makes its proposals to the City. Sporting lapel stickers that read, “We’re Worth More $,” the crowd applauded the speakers in turn, while at the same time the School Board seemed to be genuinely interested in what our members had to say. We hope that they will take our concerns to heart and do the right thing with this federal windfall, while pressing for proper funding from the City Council. Stay tuned for more news and opportunities to act to support this process.

 

10/11/10 Virginia Education Association Calling for state funding for a 3% Raise 

Please click here and send a letter to your members of the Virginia General Assembly!  The letter is already written (you can edit the letter if you'd like,) all you need to provide is your name, e-mail and home address.  The letter will automatically go to your State Senator and Delegate.  Please send your e-mail today!!

 

 

10/5/10 VBCPS CALENDAR COMMITTEE TO RECOMMEND BANKING 8 MINUTES in 2011-2012
On Monday, October 4th, the VBCPS Calendar Committee met to discuss plans for the 2011-2012 school calendar.  Dr. Maynard Massey led the discussion with help from Co-Chairperson Jeanne Crocker.  In attendance were seven teachers from all three levels (elementary, middle, high) including VBEA member and City-wide Teacher of the Year Karen Drosinos, PTA President and VBEA member Shelly Jones, 2 parents, Principals Barbara Sessoms, Dale Holt and Randi Riesbeck as well as Ann Murray, Nancy Soscia and VBEA President Dominic Melito.  
There are 2 proposed changes to the traditional VBCPS Calendar which include:

1) Adding 8 minutes to the instructional day, which will allow us to “bank” 2 days per semester (an A day and a B day.)  The teacher day overall would not be extended.  There may be adjustments to the starting times for teachers. 

2) Moving the extra adjusted dismissal days in the high schools for midterm exams in January to the same adjusted dismissal days as the elementary and middle schools. 

August 2011
29 - 31 Teacher Work Days

September 2011
1 - 2 Teacher Work Days
5 Labor Day - Schools Closed
6 First Day of School

October 2011
4 Early Release Day

November 2011
7- 8  Teacher Work Days
9 First Day of the 2nd Nine Weeks
11 Veterans Day - Schools Closed
23 Adjusted Dismissal
24 - 25 Thanksgiving Holiday

December
8 Adjusted Dismissal
26 - 31 Winter Holidays

January
2 New Year’s Day (observed)
3 First Day back
16 Martin Luther King Jr. Day
27 Teacher Work Day

February
20  President’s Day - School Closed
22 Adjusted Dismissal Day (recommended, committee voted to move to March 21)

March 21
21 Recommended Adjusted Dismissal Day

April
6 Teacher Work Day
8 Easter
9 - 15 Spring Break

May
28 Memorial Day - School’s Closed

June
*12 - 15 Early Release (HS)
18 Flex Day (Teacher Work Day)
 
*If there are fewer than 2 school closing days in the 2nd semester, the Early Release days will shift from June 12-15 to June 11-14, with June 15 being a Teacher Work Day.
This proposal must now go to the Superintendent’s Cabinet for approval. 

The 2011-12 calendar will be on the School Board Agenda for November 9th as an information item.  

Finally, the 2011-12 calendar will be voted on at the November 23rd School Board meeting. 

 

10/1/10 VBEA TO RECOMMEND A 3% RAISE TO BEGIN THIS SCHOOL YEAR! 

At the VBEA Every Member Meeting on October 13th in the Kellam High School Cafeteria beginning at 4:30 pm, the VBEA Board of Directors will ask the VBEA Membership to support a campaign calling for all school employees to receive a 3% raise beginning in the second semester (February 15 paycheck.) 

We need each and every VBEA member at Kellam High School on October 13th! 

Come out and vote on the recommendation and also find out what you can do to help us achieve our raise with our 3 for 3 campaign!

Pizza from Cal'z Pizza will be provided, and there will be door prizes at the beginning and end of the meeting. 

The 1st door prize (to be drawn at exactly 4:30 pm) will be 4 free AMC Movie tickets!  
 
Also...
VEA Government Relations Director Rob Jones will be at the meeting to present the VEA Legislative Agenda for 2011.  The VEA Legislative Agenda includes a call for a 3% raise for school employees.

Do you have concerns about what's happening in your building?  You can share your concerns with the new VBEA Advisory Committees that will convene during the Every Member Meeting (see below.)  Their discussions and subsequent recommendations will then be shared  with the appropriate Assistant Superintendents. 

Elementary School Advisory Committee

Middle School Advisory Committee

High School Advisory Committee

Educational Support Professional Advisory Committee

Please call the VBEA office at 486-0202 or send an e-mail to ldurham@vbea.org to RSVP.

9/27/10

 9/27/10 VBEA President Dominic Melito (shown above) comments on President Obama's request for a longer school year.  Click on the picture to watch the interview. 

 

8/27/10 PICTURED ABOVE IS VBEA PRESIDENT DOMINIC MELITO TALKING TO NEWS CHANNEL 3 ABOUT SCHOOL EMPLOYEES GOING WITHOUT RAISES AGAIN. CLICK ON THE PICTURE TO WATCH THE INTERVIEW. 

 

WATCH THE MEETING WHERE CITY COUNCIL VOTED TO TAKE $8.8 MILLION FROM THE SCHOOL RESERVES

In spite of a 120 person protest, a packed city council chamber with many speakers speaking in favor of the school system, City Council on Tuesday, May 11th voted to take $8.8 million dollars from the school board reserves, most of it going back into their own reserves with over $150 million already in it.  Click on the picture below to watch the meeting.  You can use the "view specific segments of this video" link and go to Item 6- Public hearing FY2010-11 Resource Management plan.  You will see empassioned speeches and ultimately who our friends are and aren't on the City Council. 

 

  Click on the picture to see WAVY-TV 10 Coverage of an interview with rally participants, Mayor Sessoms, school board members and VBEA President Dominic Melito.

To watch news channel 3's coverage of the rally, click here.  To watch the City Council meeting click here.  13 News had virtually no coverage of the rally...

VBEA City-wide PTA Rally at City Council Tuesday May 11th 
FAQ

Q1) Where is Virginia Beach City Hall?
Answer: City Hall is located on the corner of Northlanding and Courthouse Rd. 

Q2) Where should I park for the rally?
Answer: There is parking on Courthouse Rd. across the street from City Hall.  There is also parking behind City Hall on George Mason Drive (off of Northlanding.)  If you park behind City Hall, simply walk towards the 3 large flag poles and use the stairway to the left.  It will take you to the front of City Hall. 

Q3) Where exactly will the rally be held?
Answer: We will be gathering by the big tree to the right of City Hall as you face the front.

Q4) Should I bring signs?
 Answer: We will have a few dozen signs for people to use, but we encourage people to bring their own signs as well!  Messages like- Support our Schools (SOS) and keep class sizes down.  Please do NOT have any signs that talk about the animal shelter and or the rec center.  We will provide signs that address that issue! 

Q5) What time should I arrive?
Answer: The rally begins at 5, so you should plan to arrive around 4:45 or 4:50 in order to find a place to park.

Q6)  Who is speaking at the rally?
Answer: VBEA President Dominic Melito and City wide PTA President Felicia Bailey.  A few school board members may speak as well.

Q7) What happens after the rally?
Answer: The rally will end around 5:30, in order to give people time to find a seat in the City Council chambers for the City Council meeting.

Q8) Can I sign up to speak at the City Council meeting?
Answer: Absolutely!  Call the City Clerk at 385-4303.  Remember, you will only have 3 minutes to speak. 
 

CITY COUNCIL RECOMMENDS TAKING $8.8 MILLION FROM SCHOOL BOARD RESERVES TO USE FOR THEIR OWN RESERVES! 

In March the School Board sent City Council balanced budgets for 2010-2011 and 2011-2012.  Council went through their usual public hearings and budget workshops as they attempted to balance the City’s needs and avoid increasing taxes.  However one week before City Council was scheduled to vote on the budget, they informed the School Board that they would be taking $8.8 million from the School Board’s “reserve” funds.  These reserve funds were slated to help balance the Schools’ 2011-2012 budget.

Virginia has been under funding its public schools for decades, but the economic crisis of the past two years has brought that funding to an unheard of low.  Only because of federal stimulus money were many school divisions able to avoid terminating teachers and other school employees.  Virginia Beach anticipated dire school funding and began “saving” reversion funds which are normally used for one time expenses.  (Reversion funds are monies not spent during the school year that revert back to the City but are returned to the schools.)  With the federal stimulus money and their “reserves” the School Board has avoided raising class size and terminating employees.  Now, $8.8 million of that proposed funding will be gone.

The City said the $8.8 million will be used help build the Animal Care and Adoption Center and the Williams Farm Recreation Center.  These are two very worthwhile projects.  However, by using the schools’ reserves, it also frees up about $7 million in City funds that can be used to maintain the City’s over $150 million reserve fund. 

To say that Superintendent Merrill and School Board members were surprised and dismayed by the Council’s actions would be a huge understatement.  School Board Chairman Dan Edwards called an emergency School Board meeting later that night where Board members voiced outrage at Council’s actions.  School Board members sent Council a resolution asking City Council not to take the money.

It is VBEA’s goal to restore these funds to the School Board budget.   Last year, City Council took $8.9 million from the school board reserves, saying it was a one-time emergency.  Now they think that they can do it again!

The bottom line is, taking $8.8 million from the school board budget will force the school board to have to increase class sizes and/or layoff teachers.  

In spite of the School Board resolution against taking the $8.8 million, the City council can still vote to take the money.  In order to stop City Council from taking the money, we must attend the

VBEA/ Virginia Beach Council of PTAs Rally

Where: City Hall

When: Tuesday, May 11th

Time: 5:00 pm to 5:30 pm 

Please  e-mail the VBEA president at dmelito@vbea.org if you intend to come to the rally!  We need as many people as possible to be at the rally on Tuesday.  After the rally, we will all go into the City Council meeting.  We will also need people to sign up to speak that night.  They can do so by calling the City Clerk at 385-4303.

 

CITY COUNCIL TO RECOMMEND CUTS TO SCHOOL BOARD BUDGET!

The Virginia Beach City Council is meeting this afternoon in a workshop at 4:00 pm to discuss the 2010-11 City Budget.  They will be recommending cuts to the proposed Virginia Beach School Board budget at this meeting.  Please make every effort to attend this meeting!!  We need to send a message to City Council that we are against any cuts to the proposed School Board budget!! There will also be an emergency school board meeting at 6:00 pm in the school administration building.  Please make every effort to attend one of these two meetings! 

VBEA IN THE NEWS!
Now that the General Assembly has passed a budget, the question remains- How will the state budget impact public education?  Recently, news reporters have been coming to the VBEA office for some of the answers. 
1) News Channel 3 did a story about how the lottery money doesn't go to public education the way that people think it does.  Click here for the video of the story and the interview with VBEA President Dominic Melito.  Special thanks to reporter Mike Mathers for bringing this issue to light.  

2) WAVY TV 10 did a story about the re-opening of rest stops in Virginia and where else the money could have gone.  Click here to see the story and interview with VBEA President Dominic Melito and hear a great quote by State Senator Don McEachin.  Special thanks to reporter Andy Fox for his decision to cover the story based on how the money for re-opening the rest stops could have gone to public education instead. 

IT'S CRUNCH TIME!
The House and Senate have each passed a budget bill.  There is now a conference committee made up of members of the House and Senate that will come up with one version of the budget.  Right now, the Senate version calls for over $666 million more in public education funding over the next two years than the House version does.  Please, follow the next three links to send an e-mail to:

1) Conference Committee members from the House asking them to adopt the Senate budget.  Click here.
2) Conference Committee members from the Senate asking them to adopt the Senate budget.  Click here.
3) YOUR member of the House of Delegates encouraging them to support the Senate budget. Click here.

If the House version is passed, hundreds of teachers will be let go in Virginia Beach, and class sizes will increase dramatically!  Please, Please, Please, ACT NOW!!

THERE WILL BE $41 MILLION MORE IN CUTS TO VIRGINIA BEACH'S SCHOOL BOARD BUDGET IF YOU DON'T ACT NOW! 

Governor McDonnell has announced that his state budget  calls for another $720 million in cuts to K-12 education.  This is in addition to the $1.12 BILLION  in cuts that have already been made since last year!  These cuts are a clear violation of the Virginia Constitution!  Our Children are being robbed of their Constitutional right to high quality education that is continually maintained.  You can't cut 2 billion dollars out of K-12 education and continue to maintain high quality education!

Let your voice be heard!  Please do the following!

1)  The Senate is getting ready to present their budget on Sunday, February 21st. Click here to send an e-mail to your State Senator, asking him/her NOT to make any further cuts to K-12 Education in Virginia! 

2) Send an e-mail and/or call your delegate, telling THEM not to make any further cuts to K-12 education in Virginia.  The House of Delegates will be proposing a budget that cuts another $720 million out of K-12 education. This will mean $42 million more in cuts in Virginia Beach over the next two years.  These cuts are beyond what our school board has been basing its budget.  Class sizes will rise and we may lose a day or 2 of pay if something isn't done!  Click here to find out how to contact your Delegate.

3) Click here to send an e-mail to the Governor and your General Assembly members, telling them not to make these additional cuts to public education! 

4) Sign up to receive e-mail updates on what's happening with public education in the General Assembly by clicking here

5) Tell EVERYONE YOU KNOW to e-mail and/or call the Governor and their General Assembly members!  WE MUST STOP THIS NEXT ROUND OF CUTS TO K-12 EDUCATION!

WHAT'S THE LATEST NEWS IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY?
What's the latest on the education budget?  What's going on with VRS?  Check out veadailyreports.com to find out. 

SUPERINTENDENT MERRILL VISITS
VBEA BOARD OF DIRECTORS, JANUARY 27, 2010
Dr. James Merrill, Superintendent of the Virginia Beach City Public Schools, attended the regular meeting of the VBEA Board of Directors to discuss the lastest information affecting his upcoming proposal for the 2010-2012 biennial budget.

Dr. Merrill is anticipating a reduction in revenue of between $34 and $46 million for this year with an additional $15 million in 2011-12. These figures are predicated on the restoration of the car tax and holding the composite index steady at the state level. As you can imagine, both the school division and VBEA and VEA, through its lobby cadre, are watching closely as the state budget debates unfold.

Here is what he is committed to with regard to VB Schools employees:
First, he wants to protect people and their jobs across the school division. That means that the only reduction in force that he anticipates is that which comes from normal attrition. Second, he is working to hold health care costs steady for the next year. And, finally he wants to continue to hold VB School employees harmless for their VRS contributions.

However, he doesn’t believe there will be raises in the coming year nor are they likely in 2011-12. Further, class sizes may go up by one student as a cost saving measure, and, as an absolute last resort, the division may look at what would amount to furloughs in order to save money.

Dr. Merrill has postponed his Estimate of Needs presentation that was to take place on Tuesday, February 2nd.  It is likely that the Estimate of Needs (school board budget) will be proposed on February 16th at the School Administration Building at 4:30 pm.  Check back here later at vbea.org for an update of the budget calendar and for the meetings that we need every school employee to attend!
 It is vital at this stage of the game for all of us to become involved.  The more money the state gives us for public education, the better off we will be here in Virginia Beach! 

Here are two things you can do:

1) Send a letter to your General Assembly members by clicking here.

2) Sign up to receive updates on the state budget by clicking here. 

HELP PROTECT SCHOOL FUNDING AND OUR VRS.  CLICK HERE AND SEND AN E-MAIL TO YOUR GENERAL ASSEMBLY MEMBERS. 

 The total SOQ cuts, including the support cap, in the introduced budget total $1.15 billion for the biennium.  This cuts state funding for approximately 14,375 positions in our local school divisions.  If the budget is amended to re-insert the $1.9 billion for the car tax, the situation will grow much worse.  This will lead to approximately $340 million a year in additional cuts for K-12, $682.1 for the biennium.  This is an additional loss of the state share of over 8,500 jobs.  If this course is taken, we may have a reduction of 22,875 staff in our schools – a 12.4% reduction in force.

VBEA PRESIDENT DOMINIC MELITO RESPONDS TO THE VIRGINIAN PILOT ARTICLE ON DECEMBER 6TH CONCERNING VRS

On Sunday, December 6th, the Virginian Pilot ran an article on the front page entitled "As the Economy Sank, Virginia Retirement Payments Soared."  While the article did have some excellent information about what has happened to VRS over the years, it seemed to come to the conclusion that the system is too expensive for Virginia to afford anymore. 
In a Letter to the Editor printed in the Pilot on Sunday, December 13th, VBEA President Dominic Melito points out that most other states have a more generous pension plan than Virginia, as we rank 39th in retirement benefits in the United States. He also states that we will not be able to attract and retain the best and brightest teachers in Virginia if we weaken our retirement system any further. You can read the original article by clicking here, and read President Melito's letter by clicking here. 
We are going to need everybody's help to fight changes to the VRS in the General Assembly in January and February.  If you haven't already signed up to be on the VEA e-mail list for updates from the General Assembly, please click here and sign up now. 

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT POTENTIAL CHANGES TO VRS

Efforts to change the Virginia Retirement System from a traditional pension plan to a personal risk account have been made in the General Assembly for the past few years.  The support for such changes has been increasing.  However, two major events have occurred recently that increase the likelihood of a change to our VRS system:  a mounting state budget deficit and a report issued by the Joint Legislative Audit Review Commission (JLARC). 
Virginia is facing a 2.7 billion dollar deficit for the 2010-2012 biennial budget.  Cuts have already been made across the board; including public education.  Another 2.7 billion dollars in cuts have got to be made unless state revenues are enhanced.  Many of us are concerned that cuts to our retirement may be made.  Why?  Because of the JLARC recommendations on how to cut costs in the state budget by decreasing VRS benefits. 
JLARC made 7 recommendations:

R1 - Require employees to contribute 2% to VRS.
This option would amount to a 2% cut in pay when we didn’t get any salary increase last year!

R2 - Reduce the Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) cap from 5% to 4%.
Our traditional pension plan calls for up to a 5% increase in our retirement benefit each year in order to keep up with the cost of living increases.  Reducing that cap from 5% to 4% will result in an overall loss of between 6 and 12% of your retirement benefit; depending on how long you live after you retire.  Imagine the impact if we enter a period of high inflation!

R3 - Increase the minimum age for retirement from 50 to 60.
This option may or may not affect currently-vested employees.  However, the General Assembly can vote to make whatever changes they want to make. 

R4 - Replacing retiree health care credit with a health care personal risk account.
Instead of getting a set guaranteed health care contribution when you retire, the money would go into an account for the retiree.  When the account is used up or if the account loses money, that risk is shifted to the retiree!

R5 - Create a “combination plan” of the traditional pension and the personal risk account.
This plan would lead to a 15% reduction in our overall retirement benefits!

R6 - Create a personal risk account with a 5% guaranteed benefit. 
This plan would lead to a 43% reduction in our overall retirement benefits!

R7 - Change completely from a traditional pension plan to a personal risk account.
 This plan would lead to a 48% reduction in our overall retirement benefits! 

For more information about options R5-R7, please see the chart on the next page.

THE VEA IS AGAINST ANY CHANGES THAT WILL WEAKEN
OUR VIRGINIA RETIREMENT SYSTEM!

We will be lobbying the members of the General Assembly to keep our VRS intact.  Some of these options are being considered only for those of us that don’t have 5 years in the VRS system.  However, the General Assembly can vote to have these options apply to everyone!  Defending our VRS is not the only thing VEA will be lobbying about.  For a full list of legislation that the VEA supports and opposes, check out the VEA Legislative Agenda at www.veanea.org or by clicking here.  
 

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

Sign up to be a VEA cyberlobbyist.  As the members of the General Assembly begin to introduce bills, you will find out which bills are detrimental to public education and our employees and be given instructions as to whom to call and/or email.  When state legislators get thousands of calls and emails on a topic, they listen!!  Click here to become a cyberlobbyist.

You can send an email to your delegate and senator.  Click here to find out who they are and how to contact them.

You can send an email to the Governor, just click here. You can make changes to the letter if you’d like.  You can even create your own letter if you want to. 

WANT TO GET EVEN MORE INVOLVED?

Join the VBEA Lobby team.  The VBEA will meet with our local delegates and senators to encourage them to support the VEA legislative agenda.  We will meet once before the session begins and at least once while in session.  The VEA has chosen Monday, February 1st as the day for us to meet with our legislators while they are in Richmond.  If you are interested in meeting with our legislators either here in Virginia Beach or on February 1st in Richmond, please contact the VBEA office at 486-0202 or email VBEA President Dominic Melito at dmelito@vbea.org.

PETITIONS ARE NOW AVAILABLE FOR VBEA OFFICER POSITIONS (PRESIDENT, VICE PRESIDENT, SECRETARY, AND TREASURER)
AS WELL AS FOR DELEGATES TO THE VEA CONVENTION
(APRIL 22-24) IN VIRGINIA BEACH.  
COMPLETE PETITIONS MUST BE RETURNED TO THE VBEA OFFICE BY DECEMBER 18TH, 2009.  CLICK HERE FOR A PETITION.   

VBEA HAS A STRONG SHOWING AT THE VIRGINIA BOARD OF EDUCATION REGIONAL HEARING

 
VBEA members Susan Edelson, Carl Copon, Karen Mallard, Diane Rainier, Adam Henry, Dominic Melito, Hope Caraballo, Sam Caraballo, Sara Chiaverotti and Ed Gibbs pose for this picture with
School Board Member Patricia Edmonson.    

Approximately 1/3 of the audience at the hearing were employees of the Virginia Beach City Public Schools.  Speakers at the hearing included VBEA President Dominic Melito, VBEA member Susan Edelson from College Park Elementary and School Board Member Patricia Edmonson.  VEA UniServ directors were at the hearing giving out signs and stickers saying "Caps hurt Kids!"  Speakers ranged from reading resourse specialists, to school system CFO's to nurses and library assistants.  Clearly, the State Board of Education got the message to "save our ESP's!" Click here for more pictures. 

SAVE OUR ESP'S!
ATTEND THE VIRGINIA BOARD OF EDUCATION REGIONAL HEARING on 9/30

More than 14,000 jobs for Education Professionals, including Teacher Assistants, Library Assistants, Nurses, Secretaries, Custodians and Assistant Principals, COULD BE PERMANENTLY LOST across the state if Governor Kaine's planned budget cuts are enacted for the upcoming budget year.  Tell the Virginia Board of Education how you feel about these cuts at the  
VIRGINIA BOARD OF EDUCATION REGIONAL HEARING
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 30 at 7:00 pm
at JOLIFF MIDDLE SCHOOL 1021 Joliff Rd. in Chesapeake (directions below.) 
BRING YOUR FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES! MAKE YOUR VOICES HEARD!  THE JOB YOU SAVE MAY BE YOUR OWN!  To read more about the hearings, click here.  For more information call 486-0202.
Directions: From Virginia Beach take I-264 West toward Norfolk.  Merge onto I-64 East/Hampton Roads Belt toward I-664 North/Suffolk/Richmond.  Merge onto I-664 North/Hampton Roads Belt via exit 299B left toward US-13 North/US 8East/US-460 East/W. Military Highway merges onto US-13 North/US-460 East/West Military Hwy via exit 13B toward VA-191 North.  Turn left onto Joliff Rd/Va-191 North.

THERE WILL BE AN ESP WORKSHOP AT THE RENAISSANCE PORTSMOUTH HOTEL AND CONFERENCE CENTER ON OCTOBER 17TH.  Click here for more information about the workshop. 

OVER 200 VEA MEMBERS ATTENDED A "CAPS HURT KIDS" RALLY in Richmond on August 19th to protest the Governor's proposed 378 million dollar cut to the state education budget.  Click here to see some WAVY-10 coverage and here to read more about it at the VEA website.     

Barbara Powell (Hermitage Elementary) and Susan Edelson (College Park Elementary) are just 2 of over 200 VEA members at the Caps Hurt Kids Rally in Richmond.

Delegate Bobby Mathieson is shown here between VBEA President Dominic Melito and UniServ Director Norman Brown.