Teachers to wear black to 'mourn' statewide budget cuts

After facing $3.4 million in cuts in the governor’s proposed budget — after $10 million in budget cuts over the previous three years — the Pittsylvania Education Association is asking teachers to wear black Friday.

The association sent out an email this week asking all teachers in the state to take part in “Black Friday” since school systems across the state are sharing financial troubles.

Kitty Boitnott, VEA president called it a “statewide day of mourning to lament the lack of commitment to public education and the loss of respect accorded teachers by our elected officials” in a news release.

Kate Wells, of the Pittsylvania Education Association, asked school board members to support the teachers.

Wells said the state have been “disrespected” sand “devalued” teachers. She and Boitnott said the past three years of cutting education has resulted in Virginia going from third in the nation to 41st in class size.

Teachers in Danville Public Schools — which is facing $5.2 million in budget cuts — are taking part as well.

Nothing is final and parts of the governor’s proposed budget may change in the General Assembly, but the school board must work with the numbers that are currently available.

The county schools have proposed furlough days for teachers as well as a “One-Time Only Pension Enhancement Plan” — called PEP — which offers a $5,000 incentive to for eligible employees to take early retirement. There are 389 employees over 55 years old, but not all are eligible for the retirement incentive, according to McDaniel. But PEP could possibly save the schools $2.5 million.

“If not,” said McDaniel. “We are back to the drawing board.”

The last time the schools had an early retirement incentive plan, it saved $3.5 million.

A large part of the school’s budget woes are from a mandated increase in contributions to the Virginia Retirement System. In the budget proposal, these contributions are supposed to be made all at once. However, school board members have asked local legislators to spread out the time frame to make the VRS payments.

Delegate Don Merricks, R-Pittsylvania County, said he has been trying to work with other legislators in the General Assembly to do just that. He requested that the schools get three years to make the VRS payments. Delegate Danny Marshall, R-Danville, suggested the schools have five years to make the payments.

“We are hoping to spread it out,” said Merricks. “So it doesn’t hit everyone all at once.”

School board members said this could be a big help. But Merricks said that the VRS contributions are not a surprise and have been expected for some time. He also said to be mindful this budget is just a proposal and is expected to change during the General Assembly.