McDonnell Visits School Supply Store in Midlothian to Discuss Classroom
McDonnell Education Plan Puts Nearly Half a Billion More Per Year into Virginia’s Classrooms; Campaign Endorsed by Business Groups Statewide
MIDLOTHIAN - Bob McDonnell, Republican gubernatorial nominee and former Attorney General of Virginia toured School Crossing, a family owned business in Midlothian, today to talk about the economic importance of small businesses across the Commonwealth and highlight his plan to put nearly half a billion dollars more per year into Virginia’s classrooms by increasing classroom spending to 65%.
Speaking about his plan to get nearly half a billion dollars more per year into Virginia’s classrooms, without raising taxes, Bob McDonnell remarked, “By putting more money into the classroom and less into bureaucracy, we will dramatically increase funding for school supplies, textbooks, teacher salaries and other instructional expenses. Children learn in the classroom, not the central office. That’s where we must invest our education dollars. This is a bold proposal that will benefit Virginia’s teachers, students and parents.”
McDonnell also continued to highlight his commitment to Virginia’s job-creating small business owners, remarking, “Small businesses owners like Sherry Phipps are the backbone of our economy and they are vital to an economic resurgence in the Commonwealth. Small businesses account for approximately 75% of new job growth in Virginia. And total employment is roughly 55% of the job force in Virginia. A small business represents the dream come true for the owner, and that is certainly true in Sherry’s case. Sherry took a risk and opened School Crossing in 1990. When she did that, she immediately helped our economy and created good jobs for Virginia citizens. We need a resurgence of the entrepreneurial spirit that drives Sherry and so many others in the Commonwealth. As governor, I will make Virginia the best state in America in which to open and grow a small business by streamlining the permitting process, providing more resources to start up businesses and keeping regulations and litigation at a minimum, and taxes low.”
McDonnell has been endorsed by the National Federation of Independent Businesses, The Fairfax County Chamber of Commerce, The Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce, Virginia’s Credit Unions, Virginia’s Realtors, the Vietnamese American National Chamber of Commerce, the Virginia Farm Bureau and the Northern Virginia Technology Council.
Sherry Phipps opened her first School Crossing store in Williamsburg in 1990 and later expanded her family’s business to Midlothian. Talking about today’s visit, Phipps noted, “As a small business owner, in the education industry, I talk to teachers every day. And I am concerned about how the state of Virginia is spending our limited education dollars. More money needs to be spent on teachers and resources needed in the classroom. Getting more money into the classroom will benefit our students, teachers and parents, it’s a smart thing to do. I also know that small business owners need a state government that puts in place the policies that will help us grow in the years ahead. Bob McDonnell is committed to cutting out red tape, keeping taxes low, and making sure we can create jobs and prosperity in our local communities.”
Bob McDonnell and Lieutenant Governor Bill Boling formally unveiled their plan to put nearly half billion dollars more per year into the classroom in September. Under the McDonnell/Bolling education plan, teachers and students in Chesterfield County alone can expect an extra $11.3 million annually to go into the classroom.
You can read the full plan here.
Bob McDonnell unveiled his plan to “Make Virginia the Best State in America in Which to Open a Small Business” in June.