Parents need to learn about the "Opportunity Education
Institution" (OEI ) without bias. I have written to the Governors office for
clarification and information on the program, which I hope to share here on the
blog.
I do not support that ANY state take-over is unconstitutional...the State must back all forms or local government, including our local education system. Frankly, sometimes people can not control where the live and may be far to poor to move to a better school system if the one where they live is failing to provide the proper education...should they be abandoned by the state?
Just so you know, many school systems have
passed resolutions supporting the lawsuit against the OEI . I will copy and paste some information emailed to me by my School Board representative:
To date we have
heard from 42 school divisions on passing a resolution in support of the OEI lawsuit.
1.
Albemarle
County Public Schools
2.
Augusta County School
3.
Alexandria City School
4.
Bedford County School
5.
Botetourt County School
6.
Bristol City School
7.
Buckingham County School
8.
Campbell County School
9.
Carroll County School
10.
Charlottesville
11.
Clarke County School
12.
Cumberland County School
13.
Falls Church City School
14.
Fauquier County School
15.
Floyd County School
16.
Fluvanna County School
17.
Gloucester County School
18.
Harrisonburg
City Schools
19.
Halifax County School
20.
Highland County School
21.
Isle of Wight County School
22.
Lancaster County School
23.
Loudoun County School
24.
Lynchburg City School
25.
Madison County School
26.
Martinsville City School
27.
Nelson County School
28.
New
Kent County School
29.
Norton City School
30.
Orange County School
31.
Petersburg City School
32.
Pittsylvania County School
33.
Rappahannock County School
34.
Roanoke City School
35.
Roanoke County School
36.
Rockingham County School
37.
Russell County School
38.
Shenandoah County School
39.
Smyth
County Public Schools
40.
Surry County School
41.
Waynesboro City School
42.
Wise County School
The real defect in school law
A state takeover of failing schools is unconstitutional, but a ruling shouldn’t end the debate over education.
A new law that ostensibly gives the state the power to take over failing schools faces an awkward future, and if justice is merciful, a short one.
Last week, the Virginia School Boards Association and the Norfolk School Board filed suit maintaining the law is unconstitutional. Gov. Bob McDonnell is defending the law, which he views as a key part of his legacy, although he initially sought an amendment to the state constitution to smooth the way for the school take-overs. He failed, and that fumble gives opponents plenty of ammunition to shoot the law down in court.
But if the suit lingers into 2014, new complications will arise. Neither of the two major party candidates for governor have embraced the take over law. Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli, the Republican nominee, even opined, to McDonnell’s chagrin, that he agrees the law is a constitutional dud. In short order, this lawsuit is going to turn into a child custody case over an ugly baby no one wants to claim as his own.
Given that unappealing prospect, a swift dispatch of the metaphorical baby would be welcome. But that doesn’t solve the more pressing issue of how to ensure thousands of very real children are getting a quality education. VSBA executive director Barbara Coyle said she welcomes the opportunity to resume discussions with state officials over how to help struggling schools. School board members across the commonwealth feel the same, even though McDonnell is trying to portray them as the bad guys.
Communities with schools on the initial target list for state intervention have demonstrated their desire to do better with cold, hard cash. Norfolk, for example, spent $114.2 million on the city’s public schools last year, more than twice what state funding formulas require.
That additional funding is currently a voluntary decision made by city leaders and Norfolk property owners, who foot the bill. McDonnell’s law would mandate that the city provide extra dollars. The state, meanwhile, would offer more bureaucracy, but no additional resources.
The law will almost certainly be upended by constitutional questions, but its most egregious flaw is state leaders’ refusal to be full partners in providing Virginia’s children with a meaningful education.
Last week, the Virginia School Boards Association and the Norfolk School Board filed suit maintaining the law is unconstitutional. Gov. Bob McDonnell is defending the law, which he views as a key part of his legacy, although he initially sought an amendment to the state constitution to smooth the way for the school take-overs. He failed, and that fumble gives opponents plenty of ammunition to shoot the law down in court.
But if the suit lingers into 2014, new complications will arise. Neither of the two major party candidates for governor have embraced the take over law. Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli, the Republican nominee, even opined, to McDonnell’s chagrin, that he agrees the law is a constitutional dud. In short order, this lawsuit is going to turn into a child custody case over an ugly baby no one wants to claim as his own.
Given that unappealing prospect, a swift dispatch of the metaphorical baby would be welcome. But that doesn’t solve the more pressing issue of how to ensure thousands of very real children are getting a quality education. VSBA executive director Barbara Coyle said she welcomes the opportunity to resume discussions with state officials over how to help struggling schools. School board members across the commonwealth feel the same, even though McDonnell is trying to portray them as the bad guys.
Communities with schools on the initial target list for state intervention have demonstrated their desire to do better with cold, hard cash. Norfolk, for example, spent $114.2 million on the city’s public schools last year, more than twice what state funding formulas require.
That additional funding is currently a voluntary decision made by city leaders and Norfolk property owners, who foot the bill. McDonnell’s law would mandate that the city provide extra dollars. The state, meanwhile, would offer more bureaucracy, but no additional resources.
The law will almost certainly be upended by constitutional questions, but its most egregious flaw is state leaders’ refusal to be full partners in providing Virginia’s children with a meaningful education.
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