Issue Position: Education

Issue Position

A great education is one of the the keys to a successful future something I have learned first- hand as the father of three Hanover County public school graduates. Many important education reforms were enacted during the 2013 General Assembly These reforms, which I support, are intended to improve the quality of classroom instruction, and also to provide local school divisions with increased budgeting flexibility so as to provide local School Boards with the ability to fund their most important priorities.

I believe that the teacher is the most important ingredient in education and for that reason the overwhelmingly majority of education funding must be centered in the classroom. I believe the General Assembly should have a benchmark of requiring 70% of every education "dollar" be spent on classroom instruction.

As with other public employees, teachers are counting on the Virginia Retirement System for retirement income. I pledge to support fully funding the state's share of yearly deposits into the VRS.

I am very proud to have also received support from the Virginia Education Association, as well as many current and former teachers. Mrs. Nancy Carson, Chairman of the Caroline County School Board has endorsed my candidacy to serve as delegate for the House of Delegates, 55th legislative district.

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