It's the final week of the 2010 Session, and your voice can make a difference. 

- Send a message to your Delegate, asking him or her to "please do all you can to move the House Budget Conferees to concur with the Senate’s support for our students." Click here to send a message to your Delegate.

- Follow up your message with a call to the 12 Budget Conferees.  For a List of the Budget Conferees with Contact Information:  Click here.   Use these Alliance Talking Points! (1) The Quality of Education in Virginia is At Risk; (2) Programs Supporting At-Risk Students; (3) VPI Works!

 “To compete in this global economy every young Virginian must have the opportunity of a world-class education from pre-school to college.” Governor McDonnell, Inaugural Address, January 16, 2010.

"...We have to educate our way to a better economy." U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, June 9, 2009, NPR, Talk of the Nation

 

Weekly News Clips

Week of 3/9/2010

Culpeper Star Exponent   

School Board continues work on budget

Daily Press   

How deep are school district cuts for 2011? It depends on which budget you use
Gloucester school employees take retirement bonus while supervisors weigh more taxes
Hampton bus drivers losing extra pay for handling special-education routes
Jobs, stipends, salaries cut as Hampton makes school decisions
Gloucester schools see local funding drop slightly in proposed budget

Daily Progress   

Parents apply direct pressure as elected officials get hundreds of e-mails
Disputed funds could come early. Albemarle schools may get extra $2.8 million in fiscal ’11
Blasting The Budget: Residents demand funding for education
Schools may up retirement perks. City board seeks cost saving from permanent incentive

Free Lance Star   

Stafford Makes Cuts 

Leesburg Today   

Budget Work Begins With Schools, But Few Solutions

Martinsville Bulletin   

County school budget called a ‘moving target’ 

News and Advance   

Public challenges Bedford leaders on tax issue
Parents, teachers speak out for Perrymont
School funding amounts vary in state budget plans
Most Bedford teachers say they won’t take pay cut
Pay cuts likely in city schools; shorter calendar a possibility

News Leader   

City will convert Dixon Elementary

News Virginian   

Schools feel budget pinch
Augusta pares losses; schools still short

NV Daily   

Frederick County schools share what might be chopped

Richmond Times Dispatch   

K-12 cuts at center of budget talks
State budget cuts could bring large layoffs
Va. misses first cut for federal education funds

Roanoke Times   

40% take schools' offer to quit early
Cuts to schools will hurt kids, Salem Superintendent Alan Seibert warns

Virginian Pilot   

Norfolk, Portsmouth preschool at risk in state budget
Nofolk schools cuts would erase jobs, programs
Suffolk school rallies before budget talks
Norfolk schools chief proposes cutting 410 jobs
Pre-K programs face cuts under House plan

Washington Examiner   

Fees emerge as central dispute in Va. budget
Pr. William looks to raise property taxes

Washington Post   

Reallocating education money hurts poor children most

 

Week of 3/2/2010

Culpeper Star Exponent   

High school renovation: Is it only a pipe dream?

Daily Press   

Va. panel advances charter school legislation 
Windsor Middle parents, students fighting to keep school open next year
Gloucester citizens ask for higher taxes to help school budget
Budget item could threaten funds for at-risk kids

Daily Progress   

Albemarle teachers may get incentive to retire
County mulls way to cut teachers. Seniority may not guarantee job stays safe
County plan would cut taxes, slash funding for education
Charlottesville School Board OKs $68 million budget for 2011

Free Lance Star   

Orange's Grimesey delivers bad news
All eyes on state budget

Inside NoVA   

Proposed school cuts draw outcries

Kingsport Times News   

Southwest Virginia schools brace for state budget cuts

Leesburg Today   

Taxes vs. Teachers: Familiar Calls During Budget Hearing

Martinsville Bulletin   

Kizner projects 10 percent staff cut

News and Advance   

Crowd speaks out against Campbell school closures
Parents, teachers protest Bedford school cuts
Perrymont school’s closure considered; Innovation programs could be cut 

News Leader   

Residents remain riled in school discussions
Plan to close school worries some parents

Richmond Times Dispatch   

McDonnell offers to broker budget deal
Hundreds protest proposed education cuts
Budget cuts painful for many rural school systems
Chesterfield plans to close alternative school
Fewer jobs lost in new Chesterfield schools budget
House, Senate grapple with different budgets

Roanoke Times   

Teachers will likely feel sting of shortfall
Roanoke Co. loses Bent Mountain Elementary School to economy

Virginian Pilot   

Critics: McDonnell budget cuts cancel out possible job gains

Washington Examiner   

Alexandria considers shifting school boundaries, class size caps
House, Senate plans OK'd; now budget talks heat up
Arlington increases class sizes, salvages jobs

Washington Post   

McDonnell's charter school plan faces resistance from local officials
Fairfax County budget proposes tax increase, cut in school funding
Proposed Arlington schools budget cuts back in many areas

Week of 2/23/2010

Culpeper Star Exponent   
School Board to discuss budget shortfall
Furloughs possible in Greene Co. if state cuts school funds
Culpeper schools could take at least $3.6M hit

Daily Press   

Virginia House and Senate K-12 education budgets are a gulf apart
Hampton faces even tougher budget than previously feared
Gov. McDonnell's cuts hit public schools, health care, state workers
Virginia Education Association slams McDonnell's cuts, 28,500 jobs on the chopping block
Poquoson schools officials push back budget timeline, prepare for more cuts 
Governor's proposed K-12 budget cuts hit school breakfast programs and coaches' salaries    
Residents, board candidates voice concerns about Newport News schools budget
Williamsburg-James City superintendent: Brace for 'deep' budget cuts

Daily Progress   

Time runs short in regional revenue tiff
Local school funds change included in state budgets
City residents fear looming school budget hole
Albemarle defends use of block scheduling
Budget for county schools ups taxing pressure
Toscano: County, city need to meet
Schools brace to cut 40 positions

Go Dan River   

Danville Schools present first budget draft
Danville schools could see layoffs
Superintendents react to proposed cuts

Martinsville Bulletin   

Local officials unsure of budget proposals' effects
New round of budget cut proposals hit schools

News and Advance   

Two Bedford supervisors say they won’t support school closures
Bedford schools wrestle with pay cut idea
Lynchburg schools considering cuts as deficit estimate grows
Parents, students protest Thaxton Elementary closure proposal

News Leader   

Staunton will close Dixon or Ware
More K-12 reductions proposed

News Virginian   

Waynesboro School Board searches for revenue sources
Beware of parents scorned
Schools face over $5M gap
More school cuts loom

NV Daily   

Official: 'The face of education has changed'

Richmond Times Dispatch   

Budget writers’ plans soften blow to Richmond-area school systems
Group protests education cuts at General Assembly
Health care, education in for more budget cuts
Discretionary school funds to be proposed
McDonnell budget: furloughs, job cuts, reduced services for the sick and children, no new taxes

Roanoke Times   

Schools' finances look even more bleak

Virginian Pilot   

Portsmouth will send resolution on state cuts
Parents, teachers rally against suggested IB cuts
Budget for schools, health would be hit by legislators, too
School officials question $72.1M fund hike for N. Va.
Education funding bill dies, gets revived, then dies again

Washington Examiner   

Budget battle takes shape in Virginia

Washington Post   

Va. House, Senate pass competing budgets to close deficit
In private, Virginia governor pushes deep budget cuts

 

 

Week of 2/16/2010

Culpeper Star Exponent   

CCPS: $7.5M in cuts coming
School Board to talk budget
Public sounds off on school budget       
McDonnell proposal could net schools $872,000       

Daily Press   

Local school officials lobby General Assembly on funding formula
Poquoson schools offer early retirement incentive

Daily Progress   

Teachers possibly among Charlottesville cuts
Albemarle weighs higher taxes to help schools
County schools face ‘crippling’ cut 
Lawmakers debate school fund measure
Millions more in cuts possible

Free Lance Star   

Schools Feel Fiscal Pain
Spotsy board will vote on cuts 
Caroline school staff cuts appear likely

Go Dan River   

State to increase local funding requirements for area schools
Pittsylvania County School Board ponders budget, again

Inside NoVA   

McDonnell proposes thaw of local composite index

Kingsport Times   

Deficit-driven budget battle continues in Richmond

Leesburg Today   

Governor Answers Loudoun's Call On LCI Freeze 

Martinsville Bulletin   

Councilmen: Budget outlook worsens
County School board open to talks
Council endorses school merger talks
School consolidation raised

News and Advance   

Campbell schools chief proposes teacher cuts, school closures
Schuch says school cuts necessary; parents react
Job cuts, school closings in Bedford schools’ budget proposal
Local schools stand to lose millions under McDonnell plan

News Leader   

Waynesboro schools facing $2.5M deficit
Schools facing more budget cuts 

News Virginian   

Composite index will likely lead to funding cuts

NV Daily   

McDonnell pledges support in updating composite index

Richmond Times Dispatch   

Area schools may lose millions more in state funding
Va. counties again seek authority to levy meals tax without referendum
McDonnell open to formula review
Richmond-area, Hampton Roads officials oppose change to school funding      
Bill would curtail benefits of future state workers

Roanoke Times   

Roanoke Co. officials hear pleas for schools
New budget woes loom over schools
Roanoke County board members clash over schools budget 
Roanoke School Board searches for ways to make ends meet

Tri Cities News   

Washington schools could be looking at $8 million budget shortfall
Teachers, administrators, clerical staff and aids could be on Washington County chopping block

Virginian Pilot   

Outdated formula will cripple schools

Washington Post   

McDonnell privately proposes children's insurance, education cuts

 

Week of 2/9/2010

Daily Press   

School district considering from $10 million to $20 million in budget cuts

Daily Progress   

Atkins proposes smaller ‘11 budget for city schools

Free Lance Star   

Orange panel OKs school budget plan

Inside NoVA   

Some of Richmond’s proposals irk supervisors

Leesburg Today   

McDonnell Boasts Job, Economic Development Growth

Martinsville Bulletin   

School job cuts mulled 

News and Advance   

Superintendents: School budget cuts will set us back

News Leader   

County offering retirement incentives
Dickie Bell's education bill passes the House

Richmond Times Dispatch   

Change in school funding formula may cost Richmond area millions
Proposed cut to Spanish immersion program draws comments

Roanoke Times   

Roanoke City councilman calls for increase in meals tax

Virginian Pilot   

GOP plan emerges to fix Va. shortfall
Chesapeake schools' budget plan $24M thinner 
Dwindling funding may mean bigger class sizes

Washington Examiner   

Fairfax supervisors call schools budget unrealistic

Washington Post   

McDonnell directing more education money to N.Va.
Virginia's effort for Race to the Top funds modest so far
Fairfax board okays new budget for schools
Pr. William schools plan 'unprecedented' cuts

 

Week of 2/2/2010

Culpeper Star-Exponent   

Culpeper Also Eyes School Sports Cuts 

Daily Progress   

Albemarle Wrestles With Idea Of Fewer Sports, Pay To Play
Bill Aims To Replace Charlottesville School Funding

Free Lance Star   

Spotsy Weighs Unpaid Leave
Spotsylvania School Board Balks At Cuts

Martinsville Bulletin   

Pluses May Trump Concerns With School Consolidation
School Closing Proposed
 
News Virginian   

Officials Search For Funds

NV Daily   

City Schools Eye Budget Reductions

Richmond Times Dispatch   

Bill Requires Schools To Spend More On Instruction
VA Senators Push For Tax Breaks For School Repairs
Teachers Association Predicts ‘Disaster’ Under Proposed VA Budget
VA Educators Rally Against Proposed Cuts
Henrico Superintendent Presents School Budget Plan
McDonnell: Expect Cuts In Health, Education
 
Roanoke Times   

Roanoke School Officials Face Drastic Cuts

Virginian Pilot   

Staff, Program Cuts, Larger Classes Forecast For VA Schools
Education Secretary Talks Charter Schools

Washington Post   

Students, Parents Try To Save Fairfax Music Program From Ax
Alexandria School Superintendent's Budget Could Close Gap

 

Week of 1/26/2010

Culpeper Star-Exponent   

Proposal Calls For CCPS To Cut 79 Positions

Daily Press   

Williamsburg-James City Schools Staff, Programs May Be Cut
Va. Schools 'Facing A Doomsday Budget'
Poquoson Superintendent Says $1 Million Will Be Cut From Schools Budget

Free Lance Star   

Board Looking Closely At Cuts 
Superintendents Plead Their Case At The Capitol
Hill's Budget Cuts 131 School Jobs Proposed Budget Cuts For 2011

Go Dan River   

Local Schools Face Steep Budget Cuts
Superintendent Wants Leftover Bond Funds

Kingsport Times   

Wise Schools Eye 47 Staff Cuts To Balance Budget
Retirements May Save Wise County Schools From Possible Cuts

Leesburg Today   

School Board Adopts Budget; Awaits News On Funding
Staff, Parents Raise Concerns About School Budget Proposal

News and Advance   

Teachers Likely To See Cut, Lynchburg Schools Chief Says In First Budget Forum

News Virginian   

County Schools Face $8M Cut

Richmond Times Dispatch   

Chesterfield Schools Chief Requests A 7% Pay Cut
Chesterfield Shifts From Building Schools To Maintenance

TriCities   

School System Faces $5.8M Budget Shortfall
Massive Cuts In State Funding Have Local School Officials Worried
‘Invaluable’ Support Personnel Jobs Are On The Education Chopping Block

Washington Examiner   

Teacher Salaries At Risk In Alexandria Schools

 

Week of 1/19/2010

Culpeper Star-Exponent   

School funding forecast grim

Daily Press   

Newport News School Board to hear updates on athletics, graduation coaches, discuss budget session
Hampton City School's expected budget shortfall drops from $24 million to $20 million
York superintendent gives budget cut recommendations

Free Lance Star   

Spotsy school budget bleak
Spotsylvania school layoffs likely

Go Dan River   

Pittsylvania County schools start process to balance budget

Leesburg Today   

Class Size Increase Draws Concerns At Hearing
Hatrick's Budget Seek 5 Percent Increase; Larger Class Sizes, Staff COLA Included

Martinsville Bulletin   

Instruction, officers' funding urged 

Richmond Times Dispatch   

Va. school superintendents urge state to keep maintain funding levels
Chesterfield focuses on communication during budget process
Charlottesville third-graders use Kindles to boost reading skills
Chesterfield schools request additional money from county
Chesterfield County won’t pull out of governor’s schools 

Roanoke Times   

Editorial: Honor the school funding formula
Roanoke schools eye more budget cuts
Franklin County gets jump on budget talks

Virginian Pilot   

Beach budget may take a bigger hit as property values slip

Washington Examiner   

Fairfax County threatens legal action over state school funds

Washington Post   

McDonnell sets out big plans, little funds
Loudoun braces for bigger classes
School funding bounty could bypass region