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VEA Daily Reports

By Shane Riddle

The first day of session is underway and lawmakers wasted no time debating procedural matters ranging from how many bills they may file before the January 22nd deadline and how long the session will last.

VEA priority bills have been introduced and committees are wasting little time getting them on the docket. And we must not forget the state of the state address by Governor Northam. But first things first, VEA priority legislation, which includes:

• Fully implementing and funding the revised Standards of Quality, as adopted by the Virginia Board of Education.
  SB 1257 – Senator Jennifer McClellan – Senate District 9
  HB 1929 – Delegate Lashrecse D. Aird – House District 63
• Requiring at least one registered nurse in every school building.
  SB 1191 – Senator Jennifer Kiggans – Senate District 7
  HB 1736 – Delegate Dawn M. Adams – House District 68
• Reducing the total number and type of required Standards of Learning assessments to the minimum federal requirements.
  HB 2094 – Israel D. O’Quinn – House District 5
  SB1401 – Todd E. Pillion – Senate District 40
• Studies the impact of COVID-19 on our public schools, students, and school employees, also measuring our public schools’ emergency preparedness for another pandemic or crisis.

SJ308 – Senator Louise Lucas – Senate District 18

HJ 549 – Delegate Nancy D. Guy – House District 83

Did you watch the Governor’s state of state address last night? ICYMI…We have a commitment from the administration to focus on educator pay. “We need to make this teacher bonus a raise, and make it more than two percent,” said Gov. Northam. “I look forward to working with you all to get that done.” You heard it right, now let’s contact our lawmakers and make it happen.

To compliment the Governor’s proposal for educator pay raises, a bill, HB 1915, introduced by Martha M. Mugler, would further require that public school teachers be compensated at a rate that is at or above the national average. Under current law, compensation at such rate is aspirational. The bill requires state funding to be provided to fund a 4.5 percent annual increase for public school teacher salaries, effective from the 2022-23 school year through the 2026-27 school year.

You can help support our legislative priorities by meeting (virtual), calling or emailing your lawmaker.

Make sure to sign up to become a VEA CYBER-ACTIVIST.

MORE TO COME…STAY TUNED!