Talking Issues
Published 1:34 pm Tuesday, October 30, 2012
HAMPDEN-SYDNEY-Area leaders gathered at Hampden-Sydney College Tuesday afternoon for the second Prince Edward-Farmville community legislative meeting.
They found listening ears.
With Delegate James Edmunds, and representatives from both the area's State Senator Tom Garrett's office and Congressman Robert Hurt's offices in attendance, speakers from Longwood University, Hampden-Sydney College, the County's public schools, Centra Southside Community Hospital, Crossroads Community Services Board, Town of Farmville (see related story page one) and the County laid out legislative concerns.
“We, the county, believe that this collaborate effort is what it will take for us to be successful and we invite our community partners to continue to work with us on legislative issues that will make us stronger,” Prince Edward County Board of Supervisors Chairman William “Buckie” Fore summed at the conclusion of the session.
One by one, each of the entities addressed specific concerns. Prince Edward County officials have outlined eight priorities that County Administrator Wade Bartlett read. Specifically, County supervisors:
*Urged the General Assembly to grant counties the same taxing authorities as cities.
*Urged the General Assembly to give governing bodies that make appointments to local authorities, boards and commissions, the authority to remove appointees.
*Asked that the General Assembly require the State Compensation Board to seek local governing body approval prior to authorizing personnel changes that affect localities financially.
*Urged the General Assembly to take back the costs of the Line of Duty Act. They cite that localities had no input into the design of the benefits of the program, but are burdened by the costs.
*Asked that the General Assembly require legislative mandates with a cost associated with them have a sunset clause. (In the event state funding is eliminated, the mandate would also sunset and no longer be binding.)
*Requested that the General Assembly fully fund the State Compensation Board to a level set by Virginia Code for law enforcement-one per 1,500 in population.
*Encouraging the General Assembly to study the need for modifications of continuing contracts for K-12 employees.
*And supported the legislative priorities of the Virginia Association of Counties (VACo).
<b>
Prince Edward County Public Schools Division Superintendent Dr. David Smith offered a list of four legislative priorities from the County's school board that included:
*Extending the probationary contract term for new teachers from three to five years.
“The recent change in the evaluation program adopted by the state applies student growth percentiles over a period of time to teacher evaluations to enable school boards to make more informed decisions about the quality of the teachers they're gonna retain,” Dr. Smith said. “The important part…about student percentiles is this is long-term trend data. These are not single individual points on a chart and trend data, obviously, is more important over a period of time. Three years-when you think about it-the first year in a teacher's career, steep learning curve. The second year, you have your second data point. By the third year, right now it's decision time. Is it continuing contract or is it allowing them to move on to another career choice.”
He added, “By extending this period from three to five years,” Dr. Smith suggested, “it gives some additional time for training, for development and for teachers to mature in their roles as they are part of the continuing growth toward the highest quality instruction.”
*Extending the probationary period for teachers with a continuing contract who transfers from one school division to another from one to two years after they have attained continuing contract status. Currently, school boards can accept them by transfer without a probationary period or a one-year probationary term. Prince Edward has a one-year term.
*Repealing the statute that requires the opening of school after Labor Day.
“…We believe that the annual calendar should be the decision of the local school board and not the tourism industry,” Dr. Smith commented.
*And fully funding the Virginia Retirement System.
Dr. Smith also asked for help “in lessening the ever-growing financial strain,” noting the example of the composite index change last year. (The complicated formula factors a healthy portion of state funding for education.) The net effect, he detailed, was the loss of $360,000 in state revenue, or roughly the equivalent of six full-time experienced, high quality teachers.
University Interim President Marge Connelly cited that there was “a fairly dramatic decline in terms of the state percentage of our overall funding as with every university.” She offered that Longwood was grateful that some of that was built back up in the past session “and just absolutely encouraged” there continued to be this investment in higher education. “If there is anything close to a silver bullet in my mind, education is it,” she said.
For Longwood, she would also cite, it's even a little more challenging, in part because of its small size. They lack some of the benefits associated with scale, she said.
The University also has one of the highest percentages of in-state students (about 95 percent). However out of state students pay full fare and there is an economic impact.
Connelly also said that their students tend to come from middle income families that are going to be very sensitive to the cost of education “and so we are very sensitive to the debt load that the families and the students themselves carry and so, therefore, we have to be extremely, extremely diligent in how we manage to try our best to…keep down tuition and fees as much as possible while still delivering this transformational experience.”
She also noted, “…We'll never want to not say that we have a role to play in higher ed in terms of prudently managing the fiscal side of things, we do-we absolutely do. But…I think being able to have that support from the state in a consistent, hopefully even growing kind of way would allow us to continue to, I think, do some really amazing things.”
Connelly noted that they have to make sure that they provide appropriate facilities for students and should things be appropriate for a bond, they have some investments they would make on their campus. She specifically highlighted a new academic building that would focus on student-oriented research; a second priority would be for an admissions facility. Currently, the admissions office is in a split-level house that kind of sits outside of campus. It has been on their master plan, Connelly cited, to get that taken care of.
Hampden-Sydney College's Vice-President of Strategy, Administration and Board Affairs Dale Jones highlighted efforts to build strong relationships with neighbors and are solidifying relationships-specifically citing a number of mutual aid agreements.
Dr. Jones specifically cited the federal Pell Grant program.
“Hampden-Sydney College students need and use Pell Grants,” he said. “Since 2004, we have experienced an 83 percent increase in the number of students receiving Pell Grants and that equates to a 210 percent increase in the total Pell Grant dollars that have been awarded to our students.”
In the current academic year, Jones added, 209 students-19 percent of their student body-used Pell Grants.
“As a matter of fact, for our students that use Pell Grants, in almost all cases they would not be able to attend this college without those much needed programs and grants to support their education,” Dr. Jones said.
He encouraged those who have the opportunity to influence the legislation, to support the appropriation for additional funding for Pell Grants.
Jones also cited the state's Tuition Assistance Grant program. Their students depend on the grants, he cited, noting that the college was awarded 739 TAG grants this academic year for a total of $2,039,000.
“I strongly urge you-urge Governor McDonnell and the General Assembly to restore the undergraduate award amount to $3,200 per individual,” Dr. Jones said.
Centra Southside Community Hospital COO Bill Bass detailed areas of concern including indigent care (those who do not qualify for Medicaid and are below the poverty level). Bass noted that about five-and-a-half percent of their revenue goes to indigent care.
“To put that in numbers, that's $8.6 million that we give out in indigent care each year here at Centra Southside Community Hospital,” Bass said. “Our major concern when it comes to a state level is Medicaid and it has to do with health care reform. And we would like to know are we gonna participate in the expanded Medicaid programs that are in health care reform that's coming in 2014? Are we gonna make it easier for more people to be more eligible for Medicaid instead of cutting Medicaid back?”
Will Rogers, executive director of Crossroads Community Services, highlighted issues for the agency. Crossroads provides mental health, intellectual disability and substance abuse services to area residents.
“There are two major issues that our board has identified as key ones that need to be addressed for us to continue as an effective public community agency service provider,” Rogers offered. “The first is adding Medicaid waiver slots for persons with intellectual disabilities along with an increase in the Medicaid rates.”
It needs to be raised (it hadn't been raised in years and, actually lowered the rates in one area, he cited) to compensate the private and public providers for the cost of service delivered. The cost of services go up each year, he explained.
Rogers would go on to detail that they have 33 people on the urgent care waiting list who have elderly parents, and noted that they have 46 people on a waiting list for day support services that don't have Medicaid-don't qualify.
“We also would like to see some type of increased state funding, whether it be through Medicaid expansion or through some other way in order to provide out-patient services,” Rogers said. “We provide crisis therapy services, discharge assistance but especially medication management, nursing and psychiatric services. Psychiatric services in the community does not pay for itself. Insurance companies do not pay what it costs to provide it. Medicaid does not pay what it costs to provide it so we have to eat the cost of that.”
Susan Lascolette, legislative aide for State Senator Tom Garrett, noted that the Senator, really wanted to be there, but was called away at the last minute back into a court case. (Senator Garrett also serves as a prosecutor.)
She offered that many of the things presented “are efforts…Senator Garrett has supported in the past and will continue to support.”
Specifically, Lascolette cited the VTAG program (Virginia Tuition Assistance Grant program).
“He personally got the opportunity to benefit from that program,” she said.
She noted the state senator has submitted a bill for draft this year related to DCR and DEQ that cites that state agencies cannot take federal laws and make them more strict and pass them down.
Medicaid, Ms. Lascolette said, is a “huge issue,” noting that it is wrapped around the Affordable Care Act and wrapped around what the state is going to do about the Medicare.
November 1 is believed to be the deadline for the state to inform the federal government what the state is going to do.
“Regulations, unfunded mandates-can tell you that is a huge issue,” Lascolette also said.
She offered that the board's idea of sunsetting the mandate in the event state funding is eliminated is “the best idea I've seen yet.”
She later offered, “So Senator Garrett right now is in the process of drafting his legislation for next year, so we very much need your input. We've got some great information from you today. Please contact us.”
Delegate James Edmunds was appreciative for the county hosting the event, noting that “it is one of the greatest ways for me to understand the issues that you all have. I certainly speak with you individually-I have often-but this is a great way to have it summarized and I really appreciate that.”
Delegate Edmunds cited that he has put in several budget amendments for Longwood since he has been in the General Assembly and been successful with many.
“And any way that I can help you-especially with the admissions office and whatever else your needs may be, I'll be happy to do that,” he said. “And the same extension is made to Hampden-Sydney, of course.”
Delegate Edmunds noted that he has supported TAG grants fully and will continue to do so and restore any cuts made in those.
Medicaid, the Delegate agreed is a huge issue for rural Virginia-especially for long-term care facilities.
“It's amazing how much we've come to depend on that money because…unfortunately our need here is great,” he said. “And anytime we can-and I will continue to advocate for restoring Medicaid funding especially, especially in rural areas.”
Delegate Edmunds, addressing the community services board, noted they were able to get more waivers last year and that he will continue to advocate for more waivers.
“I'm very passionate about this,” he volunteered.
He suggested a personal presentation from those who work with it every day during budget briefings and meetings.
Delegate Edmunds also indicated that he agreed with extending the probationary period for teachers.
On the composite index formula, Delegate Edmunds offered that it killed all his rural areas.
“We rural legislators last year tried to offer to our urban colleagues that, 'Hey, we're getting creamed.' And they said, 'Well, we've been creamed before, it's your turn to get creamed.' And we don't have enough votes to out-vote them and so, until we can do so and covey to them our needs…it's going to be difficult to change that formula to be quite frank with you…,” he said. “But I certainly recognize the need to.”
Delegate Edmunds, addressing the board of supervisors' issues, offered that he came from local government (he had previously served as a board of supervisors member in Halifax) and is “well aware of these priorities and support them.”
Last year, he offered, he co-patroned a bill that would allow counties to at least be on par with cities (in taxing authority).
Delegate Edmunds also indicated he agreed with the issue of appointments, noted comp board funding is a very legitimate request, “absolutely continue” to support The Line of Duty Act; “loved” the sunset idea for unfunded mandates, offering that he may be able to work with Senator Garrett on a bill; said he had always advocated for rural sheriffs and towns and would continue to do so.
Field Representative for Congressman Robert Hurt, Paul Hoffman, said he would take the issue of increased Pell Grant funding to the Congressman as well as the issue of unfunded mandates.
“…Congressman Hurt wishes he could be here; a scheduling conflict prevented him from being here,” Hoffman said.
He would add that the Congressman “understands,” noting he was a councilman in the town of Chatham before he served as a Delegate and a Senator in the General Assembly.
