SchoolMatters Blog

Bell moves to shake up funding of area schools

12/19/09 * Daily Progress [full story]

Del. Rob Bell, R-Albemarle, said Friday that he is moving ahead with legislation that would strip Charlottesville of nearly $3 million in school funding, kicking off what could be an ugly battle between the city and Albemarle County.

If passed, Bell’s legislation would change the state’s school funding formula to account for Charlottesville and Albemarle’s revenue-sharing agreement, granting Albemarle schools an estimated $2.9 million more in state funding next fiscal year. That would mean $2.9 million less for Charlottesville schools. Some Albemarle school officials say the revenue-sharing agreement cheats county schools out of the money, wrongfully giving it to Charlottesville schools instead.

The best way to track legislation in Richmond

The Richmond Sunlight website has been updated for the 2008 General Assembly session and Waldo Jaquith has added a number of great new features.  I am enjoying reading through all the bills related to public education.  I have even cast my 'vote' for and against various bills, added comments about them, etc. 

I particularly like the fact I can create my own public portfolio of bills (with its own RSS feed) so I can monitor the progress of this legislation easily throughout the session. It would be GREAT if the Virginia School Boards Association (VSBA) created a portfolio containing the bills they are lobbying for or against and directed members to those links.  Hint. Hint.

Brian Wheeler