To: Shannon Abbs, Board of Supervisor Dist. One, Jim White, Board of Supervisor - Dist. Two, Teel Goodwin, Board of Supervisor - Dist. Three, Grover Wilson, Jr., Board of Supervisor - Dist. Four, Lee Frame, Board of Supervisor - Dist. Five, ...
Please support a modest increase in spending for public education in Orange County, VA.
Dear Board of Supervisors of Orange County,
Those signing this petition request that you give full consideration to the following remarks when addressing the 2013-14 school year budget in context with the proposed county budget.
Orange County Schools are one of the lowest funded school systems in Virginia. In 2010-2011, Orange County Schools spent the lowest amount of money per pupil out of 132 districts. See, e.g., Superintendent’s Proposed Budget Fiscal Year 2013-2014. Stated differently, Orange County Schools spent the absolute lowest amount per pupil in the entire Commonwealth, ranking it 132nd out of 132 districts. This is not a ranking to be proud of.
The dead-last ranking on education is out of balance with financial realities of our county. According to the Commonwealth, Orange County ranks 50th in its ability to pay for education (per the state composite index report). Accordingly, a strong factual argument could be made for radically increasing spending on public education.
Rather than proposing a radical increase, the Superintendent of Orange County Public Schools has proposed a bare bones budget that is not “over the top” in any of the Superintendent’s budget increase recommendations. Rather, the proposed increases are modest increases that begin to address the neglect of our county’s children resulting from our deficient education spending. For example, the proposed five year increases in teacher pay will close the gap in teacher pay relative to Culpepper County, but only after five years and assuming Culpeper County gives NO raises! See Teacher Salary Schedule Comparisons for Surrounding Divisions, presented to the Board of Supervisors on February 12, 2013.
This increase in education spending is necessary. Orange County will not be able to draw businesses here nor will our home values increase when our schools are not funded properly. Research proves the direct relationship between the quality of public schools and housing prices. See, e.g., Chiodo, Hernandez-Murillo, and Owyang, Nonlinear Effects of Schools Quality of House Prices, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis Review, May/June 2010, 92 (3), pp. 185-204.
Finally, we acknowledge with appreciation that the Board of Supervisors work tirelessly not to put a tax dollar hardship on us. We believe that Dr. Grimesey and the School Board have worked very hard in proposing a modest increase in education spending and we are willing to pay our share to fully fund this increase for the 2013-14 school year. Please vote “yes” to fully funding education for next year.
Thank you,
Your Constituents
Those signing this petition request that you give full consideration to the following remarks when addressing the 2013-14 school year budget in context with the proposed county budget.
Orange County Schools are one of the lowest funded school systems in Virginia. In 2010-2011, Orange County Schools spent the lowest amount of money per pupil out of 132 districts. See, e.g., Superintendent’s Proposed Budget Fiscal Year 2013-2014. Stated differently, Orange County Schools spent the absolute lowest amount per pupil in the entire Commonwealth, ranking it 132nd out of 132 districts. This is not a ranking to be proud of.
The dead-last ranking on education is out of balance with financial realities of our county. According to the Commonwealth, Orange County ranks 50th in its ability to pay for education (per the state composite index report). Accordingly, a strong factual argument could be made for radically increasing spending on public education.
Rather than proposing a radical increase, the Superintendent of Orange County Public Schools has proposed a bare bones budget that is not “over the top” in any of the Superintendent’s budget increase recommendations. Rather, the proposed increases are modest increases that begin to address the neglect of our county’s children resulting from our deficient education spending. For example, the proposed five year increases in teacher pay will close the gap in teacher pay relative to Culpepper County, but only after five years and assuming Culpeper County gives NO raises! See Teacher Salary Schedule Comparisons for Surrounding Divisions, presented to the Board of Supervisors on February 12, 2013.
This increase in education spending is necessary. Orange County will not be able to draw businesses here nor will our home values increase when our schools are not funded properly. Research proves the direct relationship between the quality of public schools and housing prices. See, e.g., Chiodo, Hernandez-Murillo, and Owyang, Nonlinear Effects of Schools Quality of House Prices, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis Review, May/June 2010, 92 (3), pp. 185-204.
Finally, we acknowledge with appreciation that the Board of Supervisors work tirelessly not to put a tax dollar hardship on us. We believe that Dr. Grimesey and the School Board have worked very hard in proposing a modest increase in education spending and we are willing to pay our share to fully fund this increase for the 2013-14 school year. Please vote “yes” to fully funding education for next year.
Thank you,
Your Constituents
Why is this important?
Orange County Schools are one of the lowest funded school systems in Virginia.