On behalf of Hampden-Sydney College, we wholeheartedly support the opportunity to allow Prince Edward County residents to vote on a 1% increase in sales tax for school capital improvements. As one of the largest employers in the region, many of our faculty and staff send their children to Prince Edward County Schools and all that i have spoken with agree that the schools are in dire need of a significant facelift. From a personal perspective, my children both attended Prince Edward schools - Kindergarten through graduation - and my wife taught in the elementary school for 16 years. There's been very little done to any of the buildings and they're in significant need of repair. Respectfully submitted Ken Copeland, VP for Business Affairs and Finance Hampden-Sydney College

The Virginia Association of School Superintendents supports the process described in these bills. It gives persons in the localities the ability to decide if they want to use this method to fund construction of their schools. Dr. Tom Smith VASS

Comments Document

Please see my attached letter sent on behalf of 315 citizens concerned about the schools in Prince Edward County.

Dear Committee Members, I am writing to advocate for your assistance in developing a plan to allow our community to make dire and urgent renovations and repairs to Prince Edward County Elementary School. Mold in the walls, a leaking roof, poor water pressure, and outdated traffic patterns highlight only a few of the serious issues that our children, teachers, and administrators face each day. As one would imagine, learning and working in such conditions is difficult at best and dangerous at worst. Despite these significant challenges, there is hope. Our community has arrived at a consensus and a plan to repair and renovate the elementary school. We desperately need your help to make this a reality. We request that you and your committee allow voters to consider a 1-percent sales tax increase to fund these renovations. As a parent of a PECES student, I have never before witnessed the support and enthusiasm at the local scale to address critical infrastructure issues. We ask that you share in this effort and contribute to solutions in our local schools. Sincerely, Christopher F. Labosier

My name is Anna Labosier, I am a resident of Prince Edward County and a parent of a student at Prince Edward County Elementary School. The school facilities are profoundly outdated and in dire need of help. We need funds to support renovations to address things like leaking roofs, black mold, and dangerous traffic patterns. Our children and educators are faced with unsafe conditions every day. This is not acceptable and we must do better. Our community is not wealthy but we are united in a common goal to give our children and educators a school that they deserve. We want the same opportunities as other localities; we need a referendum which would give our local community the power to fund school renovations.

I am a citizen of Isle of Wight County and president of one of the active citizen associations in the county. I ask you to support SB37 and allow us, the citizens of this county to decide if we wish to pay the proposed one percent sales tax. Everyone I have spoken to, when explained all of the facts, support this bill and the proposed tax to be used only for schools, and I anticipate that if this bill is passed, that will be reflected at the polls in November. We know the government in Richmond is supposedly proposing a plan to replace and renovate substandard schools in the Commonwealth. We also know that their is a large number of these needy schools. The way I read this plan indicates much of it is based on loans of different types that in some amount will have to be paid back by county taxpayers. Also when plans such as these are put in place, history shows that the majority of the funds, loans and whatever other assistance that is made available will go to Northern Virginia, big cities and heavily populated localities, not small rural localities such as ours. The burden of these expensive school type projects are normally paid for by real estate taxes levied on those that own homes and the case of our county, family farms. The one percent sales tax would allow this cost to be fairly spread to all those that utilize the public schools and not just a few. Those of us who own small family farms that help the Commonwealth maintain its number one industry ,agriculture, which has an annual 70 billion dollar economic impact and provides more than 334,000 jobs, need a break from also being the ones that pay for the huge majority of local high cost projects. The one percent sales tax will give us that break. Everyone that utilizes the schools will pay their fair share. If this tax is not passed, we already are well aware that our real estate taxes will be raised and further burden family farms at what could not be a worst time. I feel we have a right to make this choice ourselves and not have what taxes we pay on our local real estate dictated by Richmond either directly ,or as in this case, indirectly. It is just wrong for you not to allow us, the citizens of this county, not to have the opportunity to make this choice ourselves. Your vote on this will show if you support the rural homeowner and family farms or the bureaucracy in Richmond.

I am writing to comment on the House Finance subcommittee Number 3 on February 25, 2022. I am a parent in the Prince Edward County School District and I am very concerned about the condition of our schools. At all levels the schools are in desperate need of basic repairs and maintenance, without even mentioning upgrades. The school children of our community deserve to have properly funded schools and the fact that they do not is a severe indictment on our local, county and state governments. I am asking that our county be allowed to exercise our democratic rights and hold a referendum to increase the sales tax to provide the bare minimum funding to provide our children with functioning schools. Thank you.

Please pass SB37. This will allow the citizens of Isle of Wight County decide how to fund school construction in their community.

Dear Committee, I am in support of Charlottesville funding our schools. I want to support the school my child attends & the schools ze will attend. We are at Venable and will soon be at Walker. Kids spend most of each day at school & deserve a learning environment that is up to date, safe, and enjoyable. I hope CCS can inspire pride in its students, and part of this is knowing the schools are in great shape & are actively funded & supported. If we invest in the buildings, we are also investing in students and their futures, and this is the best investment anyone could make. The decision to fund schools will achieve a measurable return. Our kids deserve the best we can offer them, and if there’s an opportunity to improve learning environments, it should be embraced. Many thanks for your time, Cate

Finance Subcommittee, I am a constituent in Charlottesville. What the citizens of our city demand is simply the ability to exercise our democratic rights. It should be up to us to decide whether we collectively would like to serve our community and the children thereof by passing this tax—no other's decision. As for what this tax means to us, it means the ability to fund our planned reconfiguration projects for two of our aging schools without sacrificing the health of the city our children live and play in. Without these additional funds for our schools, we would either have to choose not to continue with this long-overdue project, or we would have to sacrifice our affordable housing, climate, and transit initiatives. The catch is that if our children's schools aren't modernized, they won't have the resources and facilities they need to learn; but, even if they have those resources, if everything outside of their school lives suffers, their education will suffer. If students' families can't afford to live in the city; can't move about the city freely and affordably; and can't weather the effects of climate change on their air, water, and food sources (as well as their energy bills), our students themselves will never have the chance to learn and thrive—a chance they deserve to have, and a chance that we deserve to have the power to give them as members of their community. I support SB298—I hope you will support our democratic rights.

The Virginia Association of School Superintendents supports the process described in these bills. It gives persons in the localities the ability to decide if they want to use this method to fund construction of their schools. Dr. Tom Smith VASS

Charlottesville children deserve every opportunity to receive a quality education that includes 21st century facilities. As the grandparent of a local kindergartner, I urge you to pass this bill that will give our city an additional tool for funding school renovations that are sorely needed. Thank you!

I strongly support SB298. I'm a parent of three public school students and a regular volunteer in the Charlottesville schools. It is important that our locality is given the flexibility to address the costs of school construction to renovate our aging buildings. Our children deserve healthy learning environments and this bill to allow local decisions on funding sources is critical to this goal.

YES on SB298 & SB472. As a parent of public school students, I hear from my children about the out of date school buildings (substandard bathroom facilities, classrooms without exterior windows, and many other functional deficiencies.) Our localities need the ability to raise the funds needed for the construction projects that will bring our schools up to date. Thank you for your consideration.

I am a parent in Charlottesville and I support SB 298.

I am a constituent in Charlottesville and I support SB 298 because it will help my city build new schools. The average age of schools in my city is 66 years old, putting the safety and health of students and teachers at risk. A thriving 21st century economy requires high-quality education opportunities in a 21st century learning environment. I am also concerned that school renovation effort will only grow more complicated and costly the farther it is pushed into the future. It is urgent that this is addressed now through the passage of SB 298. Funding new school construction projects and maintaining facilities is a long-standing challenge for many localities, but you have the power to help Charlottesville school district.This measure has bipartisan support and our students need champions who will support their needs. The need to fix crumbling schools is a widespread issue across the Commonwealth from urban to rural areas. We're not asking for an additional tax from the state but simply for the ability to ask our local voters if they support a special use sales tax to ensure our students have the best opportunities for a strong public education. Thank you for your time and attention to the funding gap.

I am a parent in Richmond City and I support SB 298 because it will help my city build new schools. The average age of schools in my city is 66 years old, putting the safety and health of students and teachers at risk. A thriving 21st century economy requires high-quality education opportunities in a 21st century learning environment. Funding new school construction projects and maintaining facilities is a long-standing challenge for many localities, but you have the power to help Charlottesville school district.This measure has bipartisan support and our students need champions who will support their needs. The need to fix crumbling schools is a widespread issue across the Commonwealth from urban to rural areas. We're not asking for an additional tax from the state but simply for the ability to ask our local voters if they support a special use sales tax to ensure our students have the best opportunities for a strong public education.

I’m writing to urge you to vote YES on SB298. I am a resident of Charlottesville and a parent to two young children who will attend our public schools for the next fourteen years. We, as a community, seek to address our school systems’ needs (and provide critical updates to our facilities) with a meager tax increase. Please allow us as a locality to make these decisions about our children. You’ve seen in numerous bills how much parents want to regain some control over students’ education. You’ve also made clear how important in-person education is. Please allow us to make the choices that are right for our communities to improve ALL kids’ social and learning environments. Without passing this law, our schools may not get the upgrades they need. Thank you.

Comments Document

Support from the Mayor of Charlottesville for SB298 and SB472

I am a parent in Charlottesville and I support SB 298 because it will help my city build new schools. The average age of schools in my city is 66 years old, putting the safety and health of students and teachers at risk. A thriving 21st-century economy requires high-quality education opportunities in a 21st-century learning environment. Funding new school construction projects and maintaining facilities is a long-standing challenge for many localities, but you have the power to help the Charlottesville school district. This measure has bipartisan support and our students need champions who will support their needs. The need to fix crumbling schools is a widespread issue across the Commonwealth from urban to rural areas. We're not asking for an additional tax from the state but simply for the ability to ask our local voters if they support a special use sales tax to ensure our students have the best opportunities for a strong public education.

As a parent and teacher in Charlottesville City schools I ask that you consider SB 298. We are in dire need of new, updated school buildings and passing SB298 will give our community the opportunity to choose whether to levy the special tax to benefit our schools. The average age of our school buildings is over 60 years old and they do not align with the high standards we want to have for classrooms.

Please pass this bill to allow the residents of the City of Charlottesville to reject or accept a 1% tax to support needed school improvements. Without the referendum it is likely increased real estate taxes will be imposed and still will be insuffient for the needs.of Charlottesville and the schools. Please allow the residents to decide.

I am writing on behalf of Charlottesville United for Public Education in strong support of SB 298. Our group formed over the course of the last year as a coalition of parents, grandparents, and community members committed to ensuring every child in Charlottesville City Schools receives a quality education. We advocate for student success from preschool through graduation through community engagement, family support and civic participation. The driving force and current priority for Charlottesville United (https://www.charlottesvilleunited.org/) is a project known as “reconfiguration” that our community has been talking about for almost two decades. This includes the renovation and expansion of Buford Middle School (50 years old) to house grades 6-8 and the creation of a citywide preschool center on the campus of Walker Upper Elementary School. After decades of talk, the architecture firm VMDO convened a community design team over the course of 2021 and developed a $75M plan to deliver on the long-promised vision of reconfiguration – a plan that City Council unanimously approved last fall. Yet we are now told that the City does not have the budget to pay for it. Even with an increase in the real estate property tax, Charlottesville is limited to only 10 square miles of taxable property – a good chunk of which is occupied by UVA, a tax-exempt nonprofit. It is clear that we’ll need a combination of revenue tools to address the significant building needs that have accumulated over decades of underinvestment, and the key piece would be the special sales tax addressed in SB 298. We are simply asking for the opportunity to have local choice on local funding for our local schools. Charlottesville has a project designed and ready to go, we just need to close the funding gap. We need to put the sales tax to voters this November. With inflation and other construction timelines and factors, waiting another year could sink this opportunity and send yet another generation of kids through outdated schools that we have long recognized don’t meet their needs. That’s why SB 298 is so critical. We stand united with parents, grandparents, teachers, administrations, city and school board elected leaders and other community members in asking you to approve SB 298 and give Charlottesville kids a chance at being part of Virginia’s 21st century economy starting with 21st century learning environments. Thank you for your consideration, Annie Suttle on behalf of Charlottesville United for Public Education

I am a parent in Charlottesville and I support SB 298. Here's the thing: this will actually help my city build new schools, which it desperately needs. Frankly, with an average age of 66 years, our school buildings are not safe or sufficient for optimal learning. Our students and teachers deserve better! We all know that funding new school construction projects and maintaining facilities is a long-standing and frustrating challenge over wide geographies in the Commonwealth, from rural to urban. But right now, you have the power to actually help the Charlottesville school district. We've got bipartisan support to put in the effort and money to fix our crumbling schools. We just need from you the ability to ask our local voters if they support a special use sales tax to use for school improvements. We don't even need the state's money. Can you be the champions of our students and of strong public education? And can you imagine the positive inspiration to other districts across the state? Please help Charlottesville help itself, with no skin off the state's back! Thank you for voting for SB298. - Rachael McGowen, mom of two in Charlottesville

Charlottesville has been talking about a major school renovation project for almost 20 years, during which an entire generation of kids have gone through our schools -- schools that are outdated, crumbling, and force additional transitions on middle schoolers. We finally have a plan and community support for a "reconfiguration" project to send 5th graders back to elementary schools, renovate Buford middle for 6-8th graders (a school that was built 50 years ago, and it shows), provide an early childhood center at Walker and set all kids up for success in high school and beyond. We just need the funding. Our City Council has made it clear that there is not budget for the $75M+ needed for this project, and a 10 cent property tax increase might not be feasible. And even a real estate property tax has limits for a small town with 10 square miles, much of it not subject to those taxes as it's UVA property. We need local control to make local choice on local schools. We desperately need the ability to bring a 1% sales tax increase to Charlottesville voters. Let us decide if we're willing to pay the tax -- we just need you to decide to let us try. Charlottesville has a "shovel ready" plan that supports a 21st century economy by offering families a 21st century learning environment. It won't happen without more funding sources, and SB 298 gives us that chance. I join countless other families in support of SB 298. Thank you, Annie Suttle

I am a constituent in Charlottesville and I support SB 298 because it will help my city build new schools. The average age of schools in my city is 66 years old, putting the safety and health of students and teachers at risk. A thriving 21st century economy requires high-quality education opportunities in a 21st century learning environment. Funding new school construction projects and maintaining facilities is a long-standing challenge for many localities, but you have the power to help Charlottesville school district.This measure has bipartisan support and our students need champions who will support their needs. The need to fix crumbling schools is a widespread issue across the Commonwealth from urban to rural areas. We're not asking for an additional tax from the state but simply for the ability to ask our local voters if they support a special use sales tax to ensure our students have the best opportunities for a strong public education. When my sons went through the public school system a few years ago, the facilities were run down and the environment was depressing for the students, teachers, and administration. It is embarrassing for an area that is so wealthy to have such poor facilities. I would happily pay a higher tax to improve our area’s educational infrastructure. Investing in our youth ensures a better future.

I am a parent of 2 children in Charlottesville and I support SB 298 because it will help my city build new schools. The average age of schools in my city is 66 years old, putting the safety and health of students and teachers at risk. A thriving 21st century economy requires high-quality education opportunities in a 21st century learning environment. Funding new school construction projects and maintaining facilities is a long-standing challenge for many localities, but you have the power to help Charlottesville school district.This measure has bipartisan support and our students need champions who will support their needs. The need to fix crumbling schools is a widespread issue across the Commonwealth from urban to rural areas. We're not asking for an additional tax from the state but simply for the ability to ask our local voters if they support a special use sales tax to ensure our students have the best opportunities for a strong public education.

Dear House Finance Committee, I am a city school parent in Charlottesville and my children have experienced the current condition of city school facilities like Walker Upper Elementary and Buford Middle School first hand. These facilities are in desperate need of renovation – the average age of schools in Charlottesville in 66 years old. These facilities have cramped, windowless classrooms, chipping paint, cracked concrete, and a layout that makes no sense for current education standards. I’m urging the Finance Committee to take swift action to empower communities like mine to fund new school infrastructure so that all students in Virginia have access to quality education and facilities. Senator Deeds bill SB 298 has bipartisan support and would allow the community of Charlottesville to vote on whether a sales tax increase is right for us. As a proud public school parent and a proud Virginian, I’m asking that you support SB298 and help us build better schools for the next generation of students. Sincerely, Elizabeth Stark Parent of students at Walker Upper Elementary and Charlottesville High School, Charlottesville

I am a parent in Charlottesville and I support SB 298 because it will help my city build new schools. The average age of schools in my city is 66 years old, putting the safety and health of students and teachers at risk. A thriving 21st century economy requires high-quality education opportunities in a 21st century learning environment. Funding new school construction projects and maintaining facilities is a long-standing challenge for many localities, but you have the power to help Charlottesville school district. This measure has bipartisan support and our students need champions who will support their needs. The need to fix crumbling schools is a widespread issue across the Commonwealth from urban to rural areas. We're not asking for an additional tax from the state but simply for the ability to ask our local voters if they support a special use sales tax to ensure our students have the best opportunities for a strong public education.

Hello, I am a parent of a 4th grader and a 6th grader and the current President of the Clark Elementary PTO in Charlottesville. I support SB 298 because it will help my city build new schools. The average age of schools in my city is 66 years old, putting the safety and health of students and teachers at risk. A thriving 21st century economy requires high-quality education opportunities in a 21st century learning environment. Funding new school construction projects and maintaining facilities is a long-standing challenge for many localities, but you have the power to help Charlottesville school district.This measure has bipartisan support and our students need champions who will support their needs. The need to fix crumbling schools is a widespread issue across the Commonwealth from urban to rural areas. We're not asking for an additional tax from the state but simply for the ability to ask our local voters if they support a special use sales tax to ensure our students have the best opportunities for a strong public education. Please support SB 298 so that our community has increased options for funding our schools. Thank you, Joey Conover

Dear House Finance Subcommittee #3: Please pass SB298 to allow Charlottesville to hold a referendum on a 1% special use tax to fund our crumbling City schools. I'm a resident of Charlottesville, Virginia, and a parent of a Charlottesville High School student. My children have gone through our decrepit local public schools -- which are on average 66 years old! -- and I want future students to have better conditions. There is broad support here -- including on the City Council, and from our elected representative, your colleague, Del. Sally Hudson -- for a 1% special use tax hike to support renovation of our local schools. We're ready to hold a referendum to hear from local voters. We're not asking for state revenues. We're trying to raise our own. 9 other Virginia localities have been granted this permission. So please, let our community do this. Pass SB 298. Jalane Schmidt parent, Charlottesville High School student Charlottesville resident

Dear Delegates, As a parent of two in Charlottesville City Schools, I write to ask for your support of granting authority to Charlottesville City voters to have a ballot referendum to choose if we want the option of a 1% special use sales tax to pay for school construction projects. Our local government needs this option in order to be able to raise revenues. Quality education is integral to a thriving Virginia, and every student must be given an opportunity to thrive. Passage of this legislation is crucial for funding the renovation and expansion of Buford Middle School and converting Walker Upper Elementary into a first-class, citywide preschool center. Nine localities have been granted permission. I respectfully suggest that ALL localities should have the right to make this choice - and leave it up to the VOTERS to decide. We have a project designed and ready to go, we just need to close the funding gap! Thank you for your service and for your consideration. Be well.

My fellow Virginians. I am writing to urge your strong support of SB298. As stewards of the health of our educational system, it is vital that we adiquately fund our public schools. We are a country in an educational crisis. Countless events around the world, unfolding as I write, bear out this truth. The time our children spend as school age children is fleeting. Further, what they learn in school is cumulative. There is no going back to redo what was missed the first time. The time to properly prepare our children for life as citizens is always, now! Please pass SB298. Thank you all for your service to our commonwealth. Tom Bowe Charlottesville, Va.

I am a parent in Charlottesville and I have four children who attend Charlottesville City Schools. I strongly support SB298 because our students deserve updated and modern learning spaces. I also strongly believe that the citizens of Charlottesville should be given the opportunity to decide whether to fund school construction for our community. Please give our community the power to decide how best to support our public schools. Thank you for your time.

As both a parent of a Charlottesville City Public Schools student and as someone who studies youth development and education, I support SB 298. Localities need fiscal tools to raise funds to update our crumbling and out-of-date education infrastructure. In Charlottesville, the average age of schools is 66 years old. Not only does this mean that school buildings are out of date in terms of environmental and health standards, but it also means they don't reflect the science of learning and development as it has explored in the past two decades. We are currently nearly one quarter of the way through the 21st century, but our students are still learning in spaces designed for the education and workforce needs of the mid-to-late 20th century. I urge you to pass SB 298 so that our communities have the power to raise critical funds needed for investment in our children's education. Thank you.

I am a parent in Charlottesville and I'm asking for your support for SB 298.  Charlottesville needs access to revenue that will enable us to update and rebuild our aging schools.  My daughter's school is one of the oldest in the city, and has crumbling bathrooms and other extremely out of date concerns.  All of our schools need physical updates, and we need to be able to reconfigure the schools to meet modern needs.  We need to be able to fund school construction projects, and we need your help to do so.  This bill does not require any state money, it only allows us to raise local funds to support local projects.  Other jurisdictions already have this right.  Please support SB 298 giving Charlottesville the ability to ask local voters if they support this special use sales tax. 

Dear Committee Members, I am writing to advocate for your assistance in developing a plan to allow our community to make dire and urgent renovations and repairs to Prince Edward County Elementary School. Mold in the walls, a leaking roof, poor water pressure, and outdated traffic patterns highlight only a few of the serious issues that our children, teachers, and administrators face each day. As one would imagine, learning and working in such conditions is difficult at best and dangerous at worst. Despite these significant challenges, there is hope. Our community has arrived at a consensus and a plan to repair and renovate the elementary school. We desperately need your help to make this a reality. We request that you and your committee allow voters to consider a 1-percent sales tax increase to fund these renovations. As a parent of a PECES student, I have never before witnessed the support and enthusiasm at the local scale to address critical infrastructure issues. We ask that you share in this effort and contribute to solutions in our local schools. Sincerely, Christopher F. Labosier

I am a mentor in Charlottesville and I support SB 298 because it will help my city build new schools. The average age of schools in my city is 66 years old, putting the safety and health of students and teachers at risk. A thriving 21st century economy requires high-quality education opportunities in a 21st century learning environment. Funding new school construction projects and maintaining facilities is a long-standing challenge for many localities, but you have the power to help Charlottesville school district.This measure has bipartisan support and our students need champions who will support their needs. The need to fix crumbling schools is a widespread issue across the Commonwealth from urban to rural areas. We're not asking for an additional tax from the state but simply for the ability to ask our local voters if they support a special use sales tax to ensure our students have the best opportunities for a strong public education.

I am a parent in Charlottesville and support SB298 because it will help us to keep our commitments to address our affordable housing crisis and help to finally make progress on our 30 year school building backlog. While Land Value Tax would be a better solution to both problems, this is better than nothing and I hope you will grant us this chance this year to do the best thing we are allowed to do. My favorite free and easily readable resource on this topic is here: https://www.sightline.org/research_item/tax/ Thank you, Lyle Solla-Yates Speaking on my own behalf, not for the Charlottesville Planning Commission or the City of Charlottesville as a whole

I am the father of a soon-to-be elementary school child in Charlottesville and I am writing in support of SB 298 because I believe our city should be entitled to the means to provide for the education of its children. We need to have the ability and the opportunity to elect to provide greater educational resources for our city, and I ask that you support this legislation so that we can determine for ourselves if this is the best way to accomplish that goal. Thank you.

I am a parent of two children in the Charlottesville schools with a third to join them in the fall. My wife is also a teacher in the Charlottesville city schools. I support SB 298 because it will help my city build new schools. The average age of schools in my city is 66 years old, putting the safety and health of students and teachers at risk. A thriving 21st century economy requires high-quality education opportunities in a 21st century learning environment. Funding new school construction projects and maintaining facilities is a long-standing challenge for many localities, but you have the power to help Charlottesville school district.This measure has bipartisan support and our students need champions who will support their needs. The need to fix crumbling schools is a widespread issue across the Commonwealth from urban to rural areas. We're not asking for an additional tax from the state but simply for the ability to ask our local voters if they support a special use sales tax to ensure our students have the best opportunities for a strong public education.

Hello, I am a parent of children attending Charlottesville City Schools, and I support SB 298 because it will help my city build new schools. The average age of schools in my city is 66 years old, putting the safety and health of students and teachers at risk. A thriving 21st century economy requires high-quality education opportunities in a 21st century learning environment. Funding new school construction projects and maintaining facilities is a long-standing challenge for many localities, but you have the power to help Charlottesville school district. This measure has bipartisan support and our students need champions who will support their needs. The need to fix crumbling schools is a widespread issue across the Commonwealth from urban to rural areas. We're not asking for an additional tax from the state but simply for the ability to ask our local voters if they support a special use sales tax to ensure our students have the best opportunities for a strong public education. Thank you for your consideration, and I hope the Senate will pass SB298.

I am a parent in Charlottesville and I support SB 298 because it will help my city build new schools. The average age of schools in my city is 66 years old, putting the safety and health of students and teachers at risk. A thriving 21st century economy requires high-quality education opportunities in a 21st century learning environment. Funding new school construction projects and maintaining facilities is a long-standing challenge for many localities, but you have the power to help Charlottesville school district. This measure has bipartisan support and our students need champions who will support their needs. The need to fix crumbling schools is a widespread issue across the Commonwealth from urban to rural areas. We're not asking for an additional tax from the state but simply for the ability to ask our local voters if they support a special use sales tax to ensure our students have the best opportunities for a strong public education.

I am a parent, constituent, and tax-payer in Charlottesville and I support SB 298 because it will help my city build new schools. The average age of schools in Charlottesville is 66 years old, putting the safety and health of students and teachers at risk. The health of our community and democracy requires high-quality education opportunities in a 21st century learning environment. Funding new school construction projects and maintaining facilities is a long-standing challenge for many localities, but you have the power to help Charlottesville City Schools. This measure has bipartisan support and our students need champions who will support their needs. The need to fix crumbling schools is a widespread issue across the Commonwealth from urban to rural areas. We're not asking for an additional tax from the state but simply for the ability to ask our local voters if they support a special use sales tax to ensure our students have the best opportunities for a strong public education. Thank you for your support for Charlottesville students!

My name is Anna Labosier, I am a resident of Prince Edward County and a parent of a student at Prince Edward County Elementary School. The school facilities are profoundly outdated and in dire need of help. We need funds to support renovations to address things like leaking roofs, black mold, and dangerous traffic patterns. Our children and educators are faced with unsafe conditions every day. This is not acceptable and we must do better. Our community is not wealthy but we are united in a common goal to give our children and educators a school that they deserve. We want the same opportunities as other localities; we need a referendum which would give our local community the power to fund school renovations.

I support SB 298 and SB 472 giving localities the ability to use a special use sales tax for school construction. For years, the school funding model in Virginia has put many school districts at a disadvantage because localities must find a way to pay for school construction and maintenance projects. Well, if you live in an area that has a high concentration of poverty and a tax base that cannot support these capital improvement projects, you're essentially asking these school districts to fail. The General Assembly should give localities the option to use 1% sales tax for school construction. This is NOT a new tax levied by the state, but one that lets voters choose if they want to use this funding mechanism. We should make every option available so students and teachers are not sitting in classrooms with leaky roofs, poor air ventilation, and no windows. That hinders student achievement and harms their physical and mental health. PLEASE VOTE YES in support of these bills.

My name is Carol Bauer, and I have been an elementary teacher for 27 years, and I currently serve as the VEA VP. During my 27 years in education, I have had the opportunity to teach in a number of different buildings and classrooms. Let me tell you from first-hand knowledge that the condition of my classroom made a huge impact in student performance, so I urge your support of SB472. One classroom I taught in had 2 electrical outlets, which made almost everything difficult. Typically, my teaching computer and projector took up one outlet, the other outlet had to be rotated between charging IPADS, the pencil sharpener, glue gun for projects and dioramas, a display camera, a robotic center, and science equipment. Many of the teachers in the same hallway would vie for the use of the outlet in the hallway to charge equipment, because of lack of electrical outlets. Now that’s just the outdated electrical outlets, when the HVAC is out or nonexistent, the paint is peeling, the windows are clouded or cracked, the doors on the closet don’t close, or the bathrooms and sinks don’t work, it is difficult to create an inviting learning environment and a place students want to be. Additionally having modern buildings improves teacher retention. It much easier to recruit and retain teachers when there is clear evidence of support of education in the condition of the school buildings. Residents have voted time and time again to approve funding to improve their schools or build new ones. This bill would allow them to do that to help their community. I completely support SB472. Any time you can provide support and allow access to funding for renovating, updating, and improving student learning conditions is a win for everyone. It’s funny that the “new” building in my district is almost 20 years old. And we are still proud of our new school! Help all communities to have the opportunity to be proud of even newer schools.

My name is Theresa Kennedy and I am the parent of two Richmond Public Schools students and the founder of the advocacy group KidsFirst RPS. Funding new school construction projects and maintaining facilities is a long-standing challenge for many localities - especially Richmond - but you have the power to help Richmond Public Schools . This measure has bipartisan support and our students need champions who will support their needs. The need to fix crumbling schools is a widespread issue across the Commonwealth from urban to rural areas. We're not asking for an additional tax from the state but simply for the ability to ask our local voters if they support a special use sales tax to ensure our students have the best opportunities for a strong public education. Please support this. Please put Virginia Kids First.

The Virginia Association of School Superintendents supports the process described in these bills. It gives persons in the localities the ability to decide if they want to use this method to fund construction of their schools. Dr. Tom Smith VASS

YES on SB298 & SB472. As a parent of public school students, I hear from my children about the out of date school buildings (substandard bathroom facilities, classrooms without exterior windows, and many other functional deficiencies.) Our localities need the ability to raise the funds needed for the construction projects that will bring our schools up to date. Thank you for your consideration.

Comments Document

Support from the Mayor of Charlottesville for SB298 and SB472

In my city of Richmond, Virginia, there recently was a devastating fire at Fox Elementary school. This fire also lit a fire inside of me and other parents in the community. It highlights the neglect of our state over many, many years when it comes to funding our public school system. But Fox, with its historic charm and landmark status, is only a symptom of a bigger problem. This is about more than Fox. It's also about Prince Edward county, where an elementary school has a roof leak that, for 4 years, has been managed by putting a trash can under it. This is about George Wythe high school in Richmond, which has been waiting 20 years to get basic habitable repairs completed. It is about Carver Elementary, which a few years ago did not even have enough toilet paper for students. It is about all the schools, in and outside of Richmond, that expect students to learn and thrive while schools crumble around them. The lack of investment on the part of the state regarding school maintenance and updates needs to change. We need more funding at the state level for our public schools. These children are our future workforce and leadership. In the wake of disaster, let's not leave them behind.

Dear Committee Members, I am writing to advocate for your assistance in developing a plan to allow our community to make dire and urgent renovations and repairs to Prince Edward County Elementary School. Mold in the walls, a leaking roof, poor water pressure, and outdated traffic patterns highlight only a few of the serious issues that our children, teachers, and administrators face each day. As one would imagine, learning and working in such conditions is difficult at best and dangerous at worst. Despite these significant challenges, there is hope. Our community has arrived at a consensus and a plan to repair and renovate the elementary school. We desperately need your help to make this a reality. We request that you and your committee allow voters to consider a 1-percent sales tax increase to fund these renovations. As a parent of a PECES student, I have never before witnessed the support and enthusiasm at the local scale to address critical infrastructure issues. We ask that you share in this effort and contribute to solutions in our local schools. Sincerely, Christopher F. Labosier

My name is Anna Labosier, I am a resident of Prince Edward County and a parent of a student at Prince Edward County Elementary School. The school facilities are profoundly outdated and in dire need of help. We need funds to support renovations to address things like leaking roofs, black mold, and dangerous traffic patterns. Our children and educators are faced with unsafe conditions every day. This is not acceptable and we must do better. Our community is not wealthy but we are united in a common goal to give our children and educators a school that they deserve. We want the same opportunities as other localities; we need a referendum which would give our local community the power to fund school renovations.

I support SB 298 and SB 472 giving localities the ability to use a special use sales tax for school construction. For years, the school funding model in Virginia has put many school districts at a disadvantage because localities must find a way to pay for school construction and maintenance projects. Well, if you live in an area that has a high concentration of poverty and a tax base that cannot support these capital improvement projects, you're essentially asking these school districts to fail. The General Assembly should give localities the option to use 1% sales tax for school construction. This is NOT a new tax levied by the state, but one that lets voters choose if they want to use this funding mechanism. We should make every option available so students and teachers are not sitting in classrooms with leaky roofs, poor air ventilation, and no windows. That hinders student achievement and harms their physical and mental health. PLEASE VOTE YES in support of these bills.