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Welcome to the Waller
Mill Elementary School
Fine Arts Magnet PTA!
Legislative Items |
Important!
Last year the School Division Budget was not fully funded by the York County Board of
Supervisors – who must approve the budget in order for the schools to receive funding.
Because the Board of Supervisors did not fully fund the School Division Budget:
• 40.5 positions were cut last year
• Of those, 19 were TEACHERS!
• Technology refurbishments slowed down from every 5 years to every 7 years – that would
mean that the computer a child started with in kindergarten would be the same computer and
software that they went to middle school using!
• Pay raises to teachers were the smallest in the ENTIRE region – of 9 school divisions –
that means it is more difficult to recruit new teachers and remain competitive with school divisions from James City County to Chesapeake.
WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT TO US?
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Because the children in school today are OUR children – that is why. Because the children
in school today will be the leaders of tomorrow – that is why. Because the children in
school today will be the workers of tomorrow – that is why. Because if we do not say
something, no one will – that is why.
York County Schools ranked 7th out of 9 regional divisions in teacher’s pay. And – get this
– York County School Division ranked 9th out of 9 regional divisions in the amount of money
spent per pupil! That is right – dead last! And YES! That includes federal impact aid. And
we are 4 out of only 5 school divisions in Virginia that is an Energy Star Leader – our
school division is one of the most cost-effectively run divisions in the state and in the
nation!
Yes, more money per pupil does not always mean a better teacher or a better education,
but….. it does mean that the classes are less crowded, which does mean that each child gets
MORE attention he or she needs – NOT LESS. It does mean that the students and teachers have
access to MORE current technology – NOT LESS. It does mean that our students can continue
to go on appropriate and supportive field trips – despite the hugely rising fuel costs –
NOT LESS. It does mean that our children can continue to have access to meaningful new
programs – like Chinese and “virtual learning” – that will make them more viable and
successful in the world of work in which they will live – NOT LESS.
SO WHAT CAN WE, AS PARENTS, DO?
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Simple – let the Board of Supervisors know that you, York County residents, parents, and
taxpayers support York County Schools. The budget priorities of reinstating teaching
levels, reducing classroom numbers, keeping current with technology, and offering relevant
courses – are important to you as parents.
Over the next couple of months the School Board and the Board of Supervisors will be
working on budgets. There will be meetings that are open for public comment. Attend! You
can speak if you want to, but just being there and letting the Board of Supervisors know
that you support York County Schools will help A LOT! Watch the meetings on television if
you cannot attend. Call the Board of Supervisors – check the website for your
representative and the phone number – just let them know that you want the York County
Schools to be the best they can be – and supporting the budget will help them be the best
they can be! Send a simple email or letter saying that you would like to see the schools
fully funded so that YOUR CHILDREN have the best teachers, the best schools and the best
resources available to them.
What we cannot do this year………is be silent.
Our children deserve better – our children deserve our voices.
If you have questions, the PTA Budget Briefing presentation made by the Superintendent and
School Board Chair on January 8, 2008, can be found on the YCC PTA link on the YCSD website
(www.yorkcountyschools.org). Also, you can call the School Administration offices or your
School Board representative. They are very willing to help us understand the process and
priorities better so that we can be a more effective voice for our children.
York County……it IS the Schools!
Contact your School Board and Board of Supervisor representatives today:
York County Board of Supervisors
224 Ballard Street
P. O. Box 532
Yorktown, VA 23690-0532
District 1: Walter C. Zaremba, Vice Chairman - zaremba@yorkcounty.gov
District 2: Sheila S. Noll - noll@yorkcounty.gov
District 3: Donald E. Wiggins - wiggins@yorkcounty.gov
District 4: George S. Hrichak - hrichak@yorkcounty.gov
District 5: Thomas G. Shepperd, Jr., Chairman - shepperd@yorkcounty.gov
York County School Board
302 Dare Road
Yorktown, VA 23692
District 1: Barbara S. Haywood - bhaywood@ycsd.york.va.us
District 2: Linda Meadows, Vice Chairman - lmeadows@ycsd.york.va.us
District 3: Mark A. Medford - mmedford@ycsd.york.va.us
District 4: R. Page Minter, Chairman - pminter@ycsd.york.va.us
District 5: Robert W. George D.D.S. - rgeorge@ycsd.york.va.us