On Friday, Gov. Glenn Youngkin attended the official grand opening and ribbon cutting for Mecklenburg County Middle and High Schools.
The governor also ceremonially signed HB 563, sponsored by Deputy Majority Leader Israel O’Quinn, R-Washington, and SB 473 and SB 471, sponsored by Senator Jennifer McClellan and D-Richmond.
“These schools demonstrate how communities can come together to not just build state-of-the-art facilities, but to invest in our children and transform our workforce,” Youngkin said. . “And through the bipartisan coalition that unanimously advanced these bills, we are fulfilling our commitment to supporting a vibrant 21st century educational environment across the Union. That’s what happens when we put our students first, and together we get it done.”
School building funds and programs, HB 563 and SB 473, support $400 million in grants distributed based on student enrollment and community needs. Also, working with local school boards, he supports $450 million in competitive grants for new construction, expansion, and modernization projects in high-need schools. SB 471 will provide her $400 million school construction loan and further improve management of the Literature Endowment Construction Loan Program.
“This year, the federal government was well positioned to help communities build and modernize schools,” said House Appropriations Committee Chair Barry Knight, R-Virginia Beach. “He was able to leverage the $1 billion he set aside to create a $3 billion fund for school construction and modernization. It’s a significant investment in the future and we believe it’s a good deal that we can all get behind.”
“I am grateful to Governor Youngkin for signing my HB 563 today, and I am grateful to everyone who has worked with me to bring this bill to its goals,” said O’Quinn. Told. “This change in Virginia’s approach to school building is a big deal for the entire federal state, and especially for the school sector in Southwest Virginia. means that it is
“New School Construction Fund and Enhanced Literary Fund financing will lay the groundwork for repairing Virginia’s crumbling school infrastructure,” McClellan said. “I am honored to have worked with my colleagues in the Democratic and Republican Party to advance the construction of public schools bipartisanly. Our children cannot learn in schools that are collapsing, and Virginia’s investment in modernizing our schools cannot wait.”
Mecklenburg Superintendent Paul Nichols said, “We are pleased to host the signing of these bills to celebrate our new school and the world-class career paths our students will have access to here.” It will benefit greatly from our historic budget investment in school facilities and experimental schools developed in collaboration with K-12, higher education institutions, and employers.”
Youngkin also participated in a roundtable discussion at Southside Virginia Community College to discuss lab school initiatives on the Southside and the needs of students and the economy in the region.
“Southside Virginia Community College is excited to forge a strong partnership with Mecklenburg County Public Schools through plans to launch the first lab school in the Commonwealth Community College system under the leadership of Governor Youngkin. “By enabling community colleges and higher education centers to lead lab schools, the Governor and the General Assembly have ensured that students across the Commonwealth can benefit from these innovative options,” Johnson said.
In addition, attendees shared plans to launch a lab school at the Southern Virginia Center for Higher Education that will expand Career Tech Academy through employability skills. Participants also discussed plans to expand the Institute of Higher Education’s GO TEC Middle School Career Connectivity and Discovery Program.
“This roundtable was a great opportunity to meet with our post-secondary partners, superintendents, teachers, students and leaders of the General Assembly to discuss what is working and what is not working in federal education. “We must continue to work together to empower parents and students, support teachers and foster innovation.”
“[Friday’s] Tours and roundtables have developed an innovative academic model that, when our public schools partner with higher education and the private sector, provides students with multiple pathways to industry certification in high-demand areas. ,” said House Education Chairman Glenn Davis, R-Virginia Beach. “Virginia’s Lab Schools Initiative will provide the flexibility and funding needed to foster this kind of learning environment, giving students across the state the opportunity to prepare for her 21st century career immediately out of high school.” It is clear that it provides an opportunity to receive an education.”
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