Why Virginia Educators United’s 10% and 10% pay increase
is the Reasonable and Appropriate Choice for Virginia
Governor Northam’s proposed 2 year Virginia budget calls for
0 increase for teachers in the first year, and 3% in the second year.
Virginia Educators United, the campaign begun in 2018 to raise funding for
public schools, is putting forward a 10% and 10% Demand structured to reach all
by making it easier for localities to accept the state funding.
“Good luck with that, never happen.” Is the reflexive
response many people knowledgeable about school funding in Virginia have to
that recommendation. But a look at just the facts, reveals a strong case
that #10&10in2020 is the more appropriate number for this budget than
either the Governor’s or other proposed lower figures.
First of all, educators in Virginia are $8,000 per year
behind national average pay in spite of Virginia being 10 or 12 in wealth
(depending on whose figures you use). Two years ago the legislature passed
legislation that directed a goal of at least national average salaries for
public school employees. No attempt has been made as yet to start
monitoring or scheduling attaining that goal.
It would take a 9% and 9%
increase during the next two years to just reach the legislatively directed goal
of the national average.
Secondly, for several years the issue of teacher shortages
has been widely publicized as a major concern for the commonwealth. The
Governor’s budget, which would be the equivalent of a pay cut, is likely to
make the shortages far worse, accelerating the growing flood of teachers from
Virginia schools, and making it nearly impossible for districts to compete
against other states in attracting qualified candidates. The 0% & 3% is
also likely to discourage college students from enrolling in education programs
which have dropped in enrollment to dangerously low levels already, at least in
part because $31K less than your other graduating classmates is too big a hit
to take with today’s heavy student loans. With anything less than the national
average, the exodus will continue as well because no one wants to work in the
lower half of the market.
The third reason 10%&10% is appropriate is because
virtually every elected official in the state’s aspirational campaign message
was about supporting education. To renege on K-12 educators, students,
and communities now would expose the Democratic party and individual electeds
to accusations of falseness which would undermine looming and future elections
by breaking trust with the families of Virginia in a glaring way.
However, taking the bold move to fully fund the SOQs as
recommended by the Board of Education at $2B (which would provide adequate
dollars for the 10% increases), would give credence to a grand new vision for
the Commonwealth as a point of destination for the best schools in the country.
Since educators already achieve rankings that place Virginia near the top (4th
in the nation) with their current miserable provisions, it makes sense to take
pr advantage and give them some real funds to work with, which would affirm
both their achievements and the state’s commitment to high quality
schools.
The fallback argument that there is not enough revenue for
#10&10in2020 is seriously embarrassing. Whatever combination the
legislature decides on – from distributed Corporate returns to the lowlow 40
year old corporate tax with loopholes that allow 40% of large corporations to
pay no tax, to the $500M in revenues that exceed expectations announced in
December, to a more progressive income tax structure, to the gaming funds, the
potential marijuana funds, and, and, and- there are clearly enough ways to
provide for the schools without making anyone too uncomfortable.
Why would Virginia not be proud to be first in the nation in
education instead of 40th in funding, even if it meant dropping to 2nd
or 3rd in the nation for business? Yet, educators are not asking for
top pay in the nation, or even top levels for all school funding. They are only
asking for the national average – 25th- and what the Board of Ed
says is needed to make up for prior losses. It is what is needed before the
public service disruptors in both parties collapse the school system that
contributed so heavily toward making us first in the nation for business.
#10&10in2020 is neither outrageous, nor unattainable.
It is what our educators should be receiving already without having to
ask.
Pass it on #10&10in2020- the sensible and appropriate
choice.
