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By kwormuth, April 1, 2010 10:20 am

NBC has a web report where the reporter introduces the story claiming that Orange County hopes to raise teacher pay. This is false and needs to be countered at every opportunity! We have worked too hard to help reduce the cuts from the state, secure level funding and reduce the impact on classrooms to allow false reporting to happen. Please, talk to everyone you know and make it clear that nobody expects or even hopes for a raise while we are loosing our colleagues and opportunities for our students through this budget crisis!

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By kwormuth, February 27, 2010 10:51 pm

twisted sister clip

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By all accounts, the rally was a great success today. Hundreds of people gathered in Capitol Square to exercise their first amendment rights.  We screamed, “We’re not gonna take it!”  We heard from teachers, parents, administrators, students and a state senator.  Each, in their own way, told of the devastation that we face without a change in course.  Each gave us new hope that as we come together, the blows may be lessened, if not prevented.

We wish to thank everyone who came out for supporting the rally.  You are the ones who made it special to us.  You help show that there are still things worth fighting for.  So yeah, “we’re not gonna take it, anymore!”

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By kwormuth, February 26, 2010 8:12 pm

We are making final preparations for our Rally in Richmond tomorrow. We have spent weeks talking to people across the state about this. Now we will see the fruits of our labor. Tomorrow will be gauge of how important education is to Virginia. Are people willing to come out and rally? Are they willing to exercise their 1st Amendment right?

It is not too late to join us. Catch a bus at Orange County High School at 8:00AM tomorrow and you can make a sign on the way. The Rally is at 11:00 in Capitol Square by the clock tower. Alone we have very little power, but together we can accomplish big things!

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By kwormuth, February 25, 2010 12:46 pm

The Board of Supervisors will be exploring whether they are going to level fund Orange County Schools tonight. The proposed school budget was created with level funding in mind. We need people at the Gordon Building tonight at 7:00 to remind them that we expect them to adequately fund the local share of funding. Here are some fact to consider. In Virginia Orange county ranks:

27th in ability to fund education.
72nd in effort to fund education
127th in cost per pupil (includes state & local funding)
72nd in cost per pupil
101st in average teacher salary.

When something is important to you, then your budget will reflect it. Attend tonight’s meeting to find out what the Board of Supervisors values! We hope it is our students who are our future, and the teachers who give so much back to the community!

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By kwormuth, February 20, 2010 1:27 am

We will be decorating signs on Friday at Prospect Heights, from 1:00, until supplies run out. OCEA will buy as many supplies as we can, but we need your help. Please donate some poster board to our cause. Also, if you have any cans of spary paint laying around your house that you want to get rid of, we will put it to good use!

Some signs will be made in the cafeteria using markers and other craft materials. Other signs will be made using stencils and spray paint. Come on out and help us make the signs! We will need hundreds of signs to hand out to people at the rally, so no help will be refused!

Some ideas for sign slogans are “Keep the promise” “Fund our schools!” “Schools, not prisons!” Please leave a comment of any other ideas that you think of.

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By kwormuth, February 18, 2010 2:14 pm

We have been notified by the Captial that we need to have our rally at 11:00 rather than 12:00 as originally planned.

With that in mind, the buses will now need to leave Orange County High School at 8:00 AM and should return around 3:00 pm  Children and minors are welcome to come as long as they are over 5 years old and are accompanied by an adult.  It will cost $2 per passenger to help defray the travel expenses.

We need your help.  We are not close to our goal of 500 people going.  We need you to spread the word to as many people as possible!  Please get on the phone and talk to at least 5 people you know and convince them to come.  Anyone may join us.  This may be our last best hope to make a statement to our government!  We need you to make a difference.

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By kwormuth, February 17, 2010 7:41 pm

Save Virginia Students from More Than $1 Billion in Funding Cuts from VEA Communications on Vimeo.

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By kwormuth, February 16, 2010 1:15 pm

Orange County School employees have started getting letters telling them that they may not have a position next year.  What they really mean is that if things stand as they do now, then they won’t have their job next year.  We have seen our friends and colleagues crying, their lives devastated.  Many may lose their homes.  While all this turmoil is happening they still try to put their best foot forward and teach to the best of their ability.

We owe it to our friends, colleagues, community, and children need us to support our schools so that we have schools that are worth sending our children to!  Here is what you can do tonight.

What: Attend the OCEA Rally

Where: The High School Cafeteria

When: 5:30pm today

What else: Tell the Board of Supervisors to keep level funding to the schools

Where: The Gordon Building

When: 7:00 Get there early if you want a seat!

Community support is crucial to stop the gutting of our schools.  Bring a neighbor, friend, enemy, your children, etc.  We need to all come together on this!  See you there tonight!