(C) Daily Kos
This story was originally published by Daily Kos and is unaltered.
. . . . . . . . . .
Education is on the Ballot! [1]
['This Content Is Not Subject To Review Daily Kos Staff Prior To Publication.']
Date: 2023-08-21
Del. Amanda Batten would like you to believe she’s good for public education; her literature even states “Ensure Virginia’s K12 education system works for ALL students.” However, her legislation and voting record beg to differ, and the voters, particularly parents, deserve to know the truth.
As a mom who has raised her daughters in New Kent and now the WJCC school division, as well as working in the front office of a local elementary school in the division for six years, I have a vested interest in the success of our schools and students. I have seen the targeted attacks on educators through politics, driving many amazing people out of the profession. I have personally worked with my children’s educators and staff, advocating for their success and most recently addressing the learning loss many of us saw due to COVID. My profession has also given me real insight around food insecurities and homelessness impacting WJCC families.
Earlier this year, Del. Mike Mullin introduced a bill to ensure all students have access to free meals in our schools, to help combat these food insecurities that only became worse during the pandemic. This bill was killed straight down party lines in subcommittee by all Republicans. As House Caucus chair, Del. Batten has consistently voted along party lines throughout her two terms. We can also assume her stance on free school meals based on her no vote for House Bill 583 (2022), where she attempted to deny children access to extracurriculars and sports due to school meal debt. The bill still passed in spite of her voting against a 100% bipartisan support in the Senate and against 50% of her own fellow House Republicans.Which is also ironic seeing that Batten also claims on her most recent mailer that she is a “leader” of strong bipartisan support when it comes to legislation.
Batten Votes NAY, against bipartisan support) to ensure our students are NOT penalized due to meal debt.
Let’s be clear, children having their nutritional needs met, regardless if they (or their family) have the funds, should never be used as punishment against our students, and as a community we should be fighting to ensure all students are food secure. In addition, she was chief co-patron of HB 1508, which would have redirected roughly $5,000 per student from public schools into private institutions, under the guise of school choice. What she fails to tell voters is that if 10 students opt into this program, an entire teacher’s salary would be stripped, yet not even half a class would be eliminated. And if 100 students used this program, 10 teachers’ salaries would be defunded and only four classrooms would be removed from our schools. In addition, the private schools in this area range from $9,000-$24,000 per year, meaning a family needs a significant amount of additional funds and transportation to even consider a private school option.
She will push to further defund our already underfunded schools.
Where’s the choice for those who, like so many of us, are just trying to keep our families afloat while grocery and housing costs climb? Her bill would result in the majority of our children being stuck in a public school system, with a worsened financial deficit, further driving down educational outcomes. I’m running for delegate to ensure we address the lack of funding that the recent Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission report showed, to work with the Virginia Department of Education in lowering the class size maximums in our primary schools, and to support all of our students, versus only a handful. The tax dollars we put into our public schools are an investment to ensure we raise educated, productive and successful members of society, resulting in a stronger and more prosperous community. Leadership means leading for all, not just some, and I believe all our students and families deserve better than our current representation.
Please consider ensuring ALL students and families in the 71st and all of the Commonwealth of Virginia have quality and FUNDED education.
Consider donating to to ensure we reach each and every voter with our message and the truth!
secure.actblue.com/...
[END]
---
[1] Url:
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2023/8/21/2188608/-Education-is-on-the-Ballot
Published and (C) by Daily Kos
Content appears here under this condition or license: Site content may be used for any purpose without permission unless otherwise specified.
via Magical.Fish Gopher News Feeds:
gopher://magical.fish/1/feeds/news/dailykos/
