More demanding legislation amd decreases in public education funding have created a burdensome environment for today’s teachers, Superintendent James Merrill said during his Future Focus address, held Wednesday night at Landstown High School.

“If you take the apparent desire to micromanage how schools and divisions are run and the growing list of mandates coupled with the continued lack of funding for K-12 education – you’ve got the perfect storm,” Merrill said. “That is not positive change for kids’ sake. It’s for politics and politicians. This leaves many of us shaking our heads because public education is always a top priority on the campaign trails.  Unfortunately, the action in legislative halls seems to tell another story. “

Merrill also referenced a report from Education Week, which ranked Virginia as the fourth in the nation for education. Yet, according to a recent article in The Virginian Pilot, Virginia ranks 31^st in the country for teacher salaries and 38^th for state funding of education.

“Who ultimately pays the price for that lack of state support? I’ll tell you who – your kids and the teachers and staff who work miracles with them every day,” Merrill said. “If things don’t change, the education profession will suffer irreparable damage and your children will suffer as a result. Does anyone really believe that we are going to be able to recruit and retain quality educators if the expectations keep rising while their pay keeps dropping?”

Merrill urged those in attendance and watching at home to advocate for today’s schools and demand better from their elected officials.

“We need your help to ensure that public schools are funded more equitably,” Merrill said. “Contact your state legislators. Ask them why they’ve let Virginia fall to number 38 in the country for school funding… Write letters to the editor; send emails to your representatives; heck, call them and let them know that the pendulum needs to swing back in our favor. And while you’re at it, it wouldn’t be out of line to let your City Council know that you want that pendulum to swing locally as well.”

To view the complete presentation, including features on Cooke Elementary first-grade teacher Laura Beth Lawver and Ocean Lakes High School junior Brandon Simmons, visit here.