Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, March 9, 1994 TAG: 9403090156
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Medium
Both measures were supported by the Virginia Education Association, the state's largest teachers' group. The licensing bill, however, may be in jeopardy because Gov. George Allen has said he opposes the idea.
The certification bill that passed 24-16 would create a board of teachers, college professors, citizens and local school officials to license teachers. The state Board of Education now handles licensing.
The bill's supporters said teachers should have a say in licensing their own the way that doctors, lawyers and nurses do. Teachers would make up nine members of the 19-member board.
"The majority of the board is comprised of citizens. Now what is so radical about that?" said Sen. Edward Houck, D-Spotsylvania.
Opponents said teachers should be treated differently because they are public employees.
"They are the employees of government and we should be the ones to have the final word," said Sen. John Chichester, R-Fredericksburg. The bill would be "a giant step backward," he said.
The bill goes back to the House of Delegates, which earlier had passed the measure, for consideration of a Senate amendment adding the state superintendent of public instruction to the board.
But the bill's biggest obstacle may be the governor.
"The governor has voiced opposition to this bill in the past but he is currently reviewing it," said Melissa Herring, an Allen spokeswoman.
The Senate also amended the House-passed bill on teacher layoffs before approving it 36-2.
The bill would require that teachers with the least seniority lose their jobs first when a school system has to cut its teaching staff.
The Senate amended the bill to require that teachers' overall experience be considered along with their seniority in the school system. Allen is reviewing the bill, Herring said.
The Senate also unanimously passed Allen's anti-crime package that requires life sentences for felons convicted three times of violent offenses and requires that juries be told about a defendant's background before sentencing.
Although pushed by the Republican governor, the bill passed by the Senate is sponsored by House Majority Leader Richard Cranwell, D-Roanoke County.
Allen has called a special legislative session for September to deal with abolishing parole and reforming sentences.
Keywords:
G.A. 1994
by CNB