Youngkin announces plans to address teacher shortage
DPVA filed two FOIA's surrounding Youngkin's travels
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Governor Glenn Youngkin announced his plans on Thursday to address a teacher shortage in Virginia. “We have a challenge across our nation and a challenge here in our commonwealth. We have a shortage of teachers,” Youngkin said during a press conference in Stafford.
The executive directive that the governor signed is an aggregate of multiple initiatives.
“Let high-quality teachers teach.” He specifically referenced retired teachers who are interested in coming back. He is instructing the Superintendent of Public Instruction to use all legal discretion to issue teaching and renewal licenses. He also wants to legislatively cut red tape to recruit and also help in allowing retired teachers to return.
Building a pipeline of K-12 teachers in a process that includes a no-cost apprenticeship program. “This is where the government has to work together.” The Secretary of Labor will be involved with this, Youngkin said.
Target teacher retention and recruitment efforts in communities that are most in need. They are going to target areas with discretionary grants for teacher recruitment and retention bonuses.
Find out the needs through accurate and timely data on why teachers left the profession. Initiate a comprehensive program to routinely collect the data.
Finding balance across the huge demands placed on teachers.
Coordinating child care apprenticeships with high school students.
Related:
Virginia’s teacher shortage is fueling big spending on recruitment and retention
Governor Youngkin ‘fast-tracking’ plan to reduce Virginia’s teacher shortage
Teacher shortages: How does Staunton, Augusta, Waynesboro compare?
‘Never seen it this bad’: America faces catastrophic teacher shortage
DPVA to FOIA Gov. Youngkin’s travels
Del. Marcus Simon (D) announced that the Democratic Party of Virginia will submit two FOIA requests regarding Governor Glenn Youngkin’s recent out-of-state trips.
“Governor Youngkin may have been a part-time or half-a-CEO in the private sector, but Virginians deserve more than a half-time Governor, we expect the Governor to give his job his full time and attention,” Simon said during a press conference. “So far it’s clear that Gov. Youngkin is more interested in speaking to voters in Arlington Texas than listening to the people of Arlington Virginia.”
Youngkin has been traveling the country in recent weeks helping congressional and gubernatorial candidates campaign ahead of November.
The first FOIA request is to the Office of the Governor seeking documents related to Governor Youngkin’s past travel/advance logs itineraries, all contracts, invoices related to any private security services and/or Virginia State Police services provided to the governor outside of the public office.
The second FOIA request is to the Virginia State Police seeking documents related to all contracts, and invoices related to any private security services and/or Virginia State Police services provided to the governor outside of the public office.
“Where is the governor going? How did he get there? Did he fly on a commercial airline, or use a private jet? Who paid for his security, travel, and housing expenses? Are Virginians paying for his political aspirations?” Simon asked.
The Youngkin administration did not immediately provide a comment for this story.
Related: Youngkin adds Maine, Connecticut to his nationwide midterm campaign swing
Money Moves
Randolph Reynolds Sr. donated $50,000 to Governor Youngkin’s PAC Spirit of Virginia - VPAP
Amazon gave $25,000 to the Virginia Legislative Black Caucus - VPAP
Reed Smith LLP gave $10,000 to the Virginia Legislative Black Caucus - VPAP
Youngkin’s office says no plans for abortion bill at special session next week - Virginia Mercury
by Graham Moomaw
Abortion rights supporters are on high alert, but Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s office says it’s not planning to introduce any abortion-related legislation when the General Assembly returns to Richmond next week.
The special session set for Wednesday is technically a continuation of the same session that ended June 30. The main item of business is expected to be the selection of a new judge for the State Corporation Commission, which regulates public utilities, banking, insurance and telecommunications.
Morrissey talks about abortion, Aird, and if he would want to run for Congress
Democratic state Senator Joe Morrissey discussed abortion and his primary opponent in depth during a recent interview on “Our Seat at the Table.“ Morrissey’s abortion stance is interesting as he is pro-life and Democrats hold a slim 21-19 majority in the state Senate. Governor Glenn Youngkin is planning to try for a 15-week ban on abortion in Virginia during the next legislative session in 2023 and Republicans hold the House of Delegates — meaning Morrissey’s vote on the matter is highly important.
“I believe it is a very intimate decision between the woman and her doctor. I dont think that a woman should be jailed or a doctor should be jailed – I think there should be exceptions” Morrissey said.
He said his position is very similar to that of United States Senator Tim Kaine (D) — he is personally opposed. Morrissey has implied in the past that the point when a fetus is believed to begin feeling pain — typically around 20 weeks — is his limit.
Abortion is currently legal until the end of the second trimester in Virginia
During the recent interview, Morrissey lashed out at his primary opponent Lashresce Aird accusing her of pushing a false narrative about him.