REA rep tells Radford board teachers want continued raises, special‑ed supports and mental‑health services
Get AI-powered insights, summaries, and transcripts
Subscribe
Summary
Mariah Jay, the REA representative, presented survey results calling for continued compensation increases across positions, stronger special‑education staffing and retention supports, expanded student mental‑health services, and facility improvements to support instruction.
At the public hearing on the proposed FY 2026 budget, Mariah Jay, speaking as the REA representative, summarized a teacher survey that ranked priorities for the coming budget cycle. Jay said teachers’ top concern is compensation, urging the board to continue the recent pattern of raises across all positions — not only state‑required (SOQ) positions but paraprofessionals and other staff as well.
Jay said special‑education supports and paraprofessional retention were the second highest priority, noting the division previously approved a retirement funding item that teachers viewed positively but that implementation details remain pending. She also identified student mental‑health needs as growing and urged continued support for NRVCS services, and she called for attention to facilities, particularly at secondary campuses, and sustained classroom supports for pre‑K and Head Start programs.
Jay told the board she can provide more detailed survey results on request and thanked administrators for being accessible to teachers. The board accepted the public comment; no immediate budget action was taken during the meeting.