The current General Assembly session has revealed the dark side of the majority of the members of the Prince William delegation to the the Virginia House of Delegates. Sadly, our freshman delegate, Paul Nichols, stands alone in the light as a true friend of public education.
During this session, it has been both disappointing and disturbing to witness delegates Jeff Frederick, Scott Lingamfelter, Bob Marshall and Jackson Miller favor House budget language that, if adopted, will successfully undermine future school dollars available for Prince William County by substantially altering the funding methodology for the Standards of Quality.
The scheme supported by Frederick, Lingamfelter, Marshall and Miller will axe $175 million a year from K-12 education beginning in 2010, and will have the immediate impact of reducing state support for salaries of school secretaries and instructional assistants by $78.8 million.
Apparently Frederick, Lingamfelter, Marshall and Miller have either forgotten or choose to ignore the fact that Virginia ranks 33rd in state per-pupil funding for public education. Why would any delegate deliberately choose to reduce public education spending? A pre-session poll conducted by Christopher Newport University indicated that Virginians view Education as their top priority. Yet delegates Frederick, Lingamfelter, Marshall and Miller have worked against the best interest of Prince William County’s children by voting to cut state funding for our schools. Does such action on their part REALLY represent the wishes of the majority of the voters in their respective districts?
I am angry NOW! Will you be angry AFTER your local taxes are increased to cover the shortfall in our local schools? Voters, please remember this sleight-of-hand attempt by the House of Delegates and respond accordingly in November 2009.
MEGAN S. LINK
Manassas
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