Education

INDEPENDENCE — Pay increases were once again the top request from the Grayson County Education Association during the first public hearing on the school division’s 2012-13 budget Monday night.
GCEA President Arnold Hash was one of only two speakers during the hearing. He said that, while he knows “times are lean,” he urged the board to try and find some money for pay increases for county staff.

The seats held by Galax School Board members Ray Kohl and Helen Kyle are set to expire on June 30.
The term for office is for three years and will begin on July 1.
Those wishing to become a member of the school board can send a letter of interest to Galax City Manager Keith Barker, Galax Municipal Building, 111 E. Grayson St., Galax, Va. 24333. Applications will be accepted through 5 p.m. on Feb. 22.
To be considered for the position, applicants must reside in Galax.

Landmark News Service and Staff Reports

RICHMOND  — Virginia’s school superintendents took aim at a couple of Gov. Bob McDonnell’s key legislative initiatives Tuesday, calling them unfunded mandates that would cause crippling budget cuts in local school divisions across the state.
Particularly onerous, they said, is the Republican governor’s proposal to pump an unprecedented $2.2 billion into Virginia’s underfunded state retirement system.