News from Delegate Herring – Eighth Week of Session

Posted by The Farm Team on Mar 6, 2010 in NoVA | 0 comments

Eighth Week of Session Edition
March 5, 2010

In This Issue

Cutting the Arts Hurts Our Economy

Welcome to Delegate Herring’s Newsletter

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Thank you for taking the time to read my newsletter. I hope you find the information in here valuable. As always, please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions, comments, or concerns.

SAVE THE WINKLER PRESERVE

WINKLER
Anyone who travels up and down the I-395 Corridor can tell you, BRAC-133 is here to stay.  The construction is happening fast and as our community prepares for the traffic onslaught that will come with the new DOD complex, Alexandrians wonder, what will happen to the Winkler Preserve? 

 To alleviate traffic burdens, a recent study by VDOT recommends a direct access ramp through the Winkler Preserve.  I am totally opposed to this and have  asked Secretary Connaughton to explore other options including rerouting transportation patterns on the existing interchange before committing to Alternative  D-1.

 My voice isn’t alone on this issue, Congressman Jim stands with me and the community.  He refuses to allow federal funding to support VDOT’s recommendation.  There is a strong coalition of both community and elected leaders standing behind Winkler.  I hope you will join us too.  Pleas join their facebook page and become active in the BRAC-133 issue.  Look on the City of Alexandria’s website for public meeting times. 

Greetings!

The General Assembly is on the home stretch toward Sine Die (the Latin phrase for adjourning) next week and a lot is still left to be done.  The House and Senate Budget conferees are working on trying to find compromises in the two different budgets and our committees are still busy hearing all the bills that must be heard before next week.  Next week, we plan to come to an agreement on the budget.

Although it will be a long and difficult process, it is important and I look forward to working with my colleagues on this issue.  There are drastic cuts to both the Department of Education and the Department of Health and Human Services.

As always, please feel free to contact me anytime with questions, concerns, or comments.

-Charniele

CHARTER SCHOOLS:  WHY WE SHOULD BE CAUTIOUS

CPC Press ConWe are nearing the end of the 2010 legislative session in Richmond.  This week, the biggest issue that was considered was Governor McDonnell’s charter school initiative (HB 1390).  As a way of background, the Department of Education’s Race to the Top program will provide funding for certain states to utilize in their school reform programs.  Governor McDonnell proposed a charter school bill which is his school reform initiative.  As initially introduced, the bill had some constitutional concerns.  It restructured the charter school approval process taking ultimate authority away from the local school boards and placing it into the hands of the State Board of Education.  A broad range of interest groups such as the Virginia Education Association, the Virginia Black Caucus and constitutional attorneys raised concerns.  Simply, leaving the ultimate authority of the approval of charter schools in the hands of the State Board of Education is the same process that was instituted during the time of Massive Resistance when Virginia refused to integrate its schools.  Ultimately, the bill has changed to leave the ultimate approval authority with the local school boards.

Yesterday, after two days of strong debates, the House of Delegates passed the bill 65 to 35.  There is lingering concern about the charter school initiative as it will certainly have to rely on federal funding due to the simple fact that Virginia will cut education funding this year.  Under the Race to the Top program, President Obama proposes to provide $900 million in grants to states to help with their school initiatives.  Given that Virginia will ultimately cut direct aid to schools, these charter schools will have to mostly rely on federal funding in order to get them started.  Then, the next question that must be answered is, what happens if and when federal funding ends?  More than likely, General Funds that are used for Virginia’s existing public schools will be utilized to keep these additional charter schools alive.  The funding concern is also compounded by the fact that children who have the opportunity to attend charter schools are selected by a lottery.  It is only by "the luck of the draw" that a child is able to attend a charter school.

CONTACT US IN RICHMOND!

delcherring@house.virginia.gov (804) 698-1046
PO Box 406, Richmond, VA 23218

And don’t forget to find us on Twitter or on Facebook

Paid for and authorized by Friends of Charniele Herring.

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