Speaking to a standing-room only crowd in the Newcomb Hall Art Gallery, Gov. Mark R. Warner came to the University Friday afternoon to advance his Education for a Lifetime Initiative.
In a six-point reform package, Warner addressed statewide issues of teacher retention, workforce and career preparedness for high school seniors, increased economic development and accountability in public education and higher quality child care.
Acknowledging what he referred to as the "worst fiscal crisis in 50 years," Warner emphasized the importance of securing adequate funding for education.
"Every state is going through a fiscal challenge, let me tell you," he said, adding that Virginia was one of only a few states that "didn't cut a single dollar from education."
Warner said his budget for the next biennium will satisfy the state Board of Education's recommendations to increase education funds by $525 million to meet its Standards of Quality. In his speech, Warner did not specify where additional funding would come from but said further details of the initiative will be released in the coming months.
The majority of the reforms Warner presented in his initiative were aimed at high school seniors.
"In 2003, a high school diploma is just not enough," he said, adding that on-going technological innovation demands improvements in senior preparedness.
Focusing on current students as future members of the workforce, Warner cited that students who graduate from college will earn an average of $13,000 more per year.
"If we lose these students, then we, the Commonwealth, will lose their enhanced earning power," he said.
In a program called "Senior Year Plus," Warner outlined new requirements for college-bound seniors as well as those who choose to go straight to the workforce.
Under the plan, students pursuing a college education will be given the option of amassing a semester's worth of college credit during their senior year through either a local four-year or community college, by means of advanced placement or through distance learning. Meanwhile, workforce-bound students will be encouraged to select and complete an industry certification program.
"During tough times, [businesses] streamline," Warner said. "They also continue to invest in their core asset. Our core asset is our people."
Another set of reforms targets Virginia's teachers, 40 percent of whom become eligible to retire in the next decade, he said. Through the introduction of a new mentoring program, Warner said he hopes to provide incentives and support for new teachers.
Other business-inspired reforms include the deployment of "Turn Around Specialists," who will be assigned to target and improve the most troubled schools.
Eventually, Warner said he intends to build consensus for increasing research and development spending to $1 billion by 2010.
Though Virginia passed a $900 million bond last year for capital projects at its colleges and universities, Warner said the current higher education system is still unable to support the influx of new students throughout the next decade, recently estimated at 61,000.
Warner was introduced by University President John T. Casteen, III and was accompanied by guests including members of the City Council and several local school superintendents. Students accounted for less than an eighth of the audience.
First-year College student Megan Partridge said she was unaware of Warner's speech, which was only minimally publicized, until 10 minutes beforehand.
"I was curious to see what he had to say," said Partridge, who questioned where the money for the initiative would come from. "It seemed like a little money here, a little money there, and all the numbers will just work out in the end."
Friday's speech was Warner's eighth stop in three days since the initiative's release Wednesday.
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