Education cut, but rest areas opened

Virginia Beach - The way State Senator Donald McEachin, D-Richmond, sees it "There are those who care more about travelers taking a whiz than our children taking a quiz."

Senator McEachin repeated this quote to us over the phone. He has said this privately with colleagues because of the interest to reopen rest areas and to cut public education.

A ribbon cutting in the western part of Virginia celebrated the grand reopening of eight rest areas.
Former Governor Tim Kaine closed the rest areas to save money, but now there's a new Governor with new ideas.

Those ideas about rest areas don't sit well with educators. Critics say reopening rest areas during the worst budget challenge in recent history is simply misplaced priorities.

"Rest areas are important, but it could have meant the difference in class size," says Dominic Melito of the Virginia Beach Education Association. He added, "How can you continually maintain high quality education when you cut a billion dollars out of the budget? I don't think you can."

Eighteen rest areas were closed last July to save $9 million. Eight reopened today.

Governor Bob McDonnell promised to reopen the rest areas during his campaign because he says they are important to tourism and economic development in the state. "This is just a little ray of good news feeling better about traveling on the roads of Virginia," McDonnell said.

By April 15, all of the rest areas will be reopened--$9 million for rest areas, and new Virginia Beach teachers got a letter in the mail, "Every new hire in Virginia Beach got a letter they may not be back next year," Melito says.

It's estimated $1 million can hire 33 teachers, reducing class size. Rest areas reopened, but in the public classrooms, class size will increase next year. Rest areas reopened and fully-paid retirement plans for underpaid teachers could be in jeopardy.

"They cut our retirement that was already ranked 39th out of the 50 states. It's not fair...it's misplaced priority. I think the money is better spent on education and investing in the future," Malito said.