Apr 09

Budget Woes for Educators….Again!

Command and control; but do not compensate. That appears to be the new state mantra for K-12 personnel.

And the news on the compromise budget appears to bolster that view, as previously expressed by the Governor and others, that public school personnel are “local employees” and may be why we learned last week that funding is included in the proposed budget for a 3% bonus in 2012 (and possible 2% increase in 2013), for all state employees, including college faculty and employees of local constitutional officers and other state-supported local government employees – but not for teachers, administrators or school support staff.

The Standards of Quality drive state funding to schools and mandate staffing ratios, the SOA control accreditation, and, of course, there are strict state standards for instructional personnel. That’s how the state system of public education is organized, controlled and funded. And in the recent past, if state employees were recommended to receive a state salary supplement, the Appropriations Act also included the same supplement for instructional personnel, including principals and assistant principals. That’s the way it was; but, apparently, not any more.

Are you less productive, overpaid, over-rated or just out of luck?

Bet Neale

ELIZABETH HARRELL (“Bet”) NEALE

CAREER HISTORY: Twenty-five years of legislative experience in the Virginia political arena.
Bet began her career in the political arena as a Legislative Research Associate at the Division of Legislative Services, having first been mentored by her father Delegate Lyman Harrell, who served 12 years as a member of the House of Delegates. After moving with her family to West Point, where her husband Mark practices dentistry and where they raised their three children Nancy, Cheryl and Mark, Bet remained active in state legislative work as a consultant for a state commission and as a legislative assistant to Delegate Mary Marshall and Delegate Dorothy McDiarmid, Chair of the House Education and House Appropriations Committees. Beginning in 1990, Bet represented VASS as their lead lobbyist for 8 years, after which she served as executive director of the Henrico Education Foundation for HCPS.
Bet came on board with VASSP in 2000 as Director of Government Relations and lobbies on behalf of Association members during all General Assembly sessions and at meetings of legislative education committees and subcommittees. In her capacity as Director of Government Relations/Lead Lobbyist for VASSP, Bet also represents middle and high school principals and assistant principals at statewide education meetings, seminars and special commissions as well as at meetings of the State Board of Education.
Bet is a graduate of the University of Richmond with a BA in English and a Collegiate Certificate in Secondary Education. She has been a guest lecturer at the College of William and Mary and the University of Virginia as well as a presenter at various state meetings and seminars.