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Basic aid to localities — the major source of state revenue — would increase from $1,464 per pupil this year to $1,605 next year and $1,753 in the second year of the biennium.
But in spite of the new funds, the VEA and other groups said the state only provides aid based on a total of 54 instructional personnel per 1,000 students.
The average local school system has 64 per 1,000, and is in effect paying the full cost of 10 workers per 1,000 students, the VML says.
The VEA, a lobbying group for teachers, told the appropriatons and finance committees Monday that the governor’s proposals “do not make sufficient progress in closing the gap” in state funding.
:The, VEA, also decried what, it called the “limited progress” made in raising teachers’ salaries.
Localities are forced to use state money for things other than salaries, the VEA said, because the state doesn’t pay enough.
VEA called for language in the budget that would require local governments to set aside the 10 percent Gov. Robb has proposed for teachers’ salaries.
The language in the budget says local governments “shall endeavor” to do that.
VEA says such language has not forced local governments to use the money for teachers’ pay. Almost 80 percent of localities in the state failed to raise pay by the 9.7 percent Gov. Robb proposed for the current year, VEA said.
The group estimates the average teacher’s salary will be $19,745 this year — a 6.5 percent raise over 1982-83.
According to VEA President Brenda Cloyd, “The state blames the local school divisions and the the local school divisions blame the state, but in both instances it is teachers’ salaries that suffer."
85.5%