Latest news with #TheMercury
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Debate grows over timing of higher academic standards in Virginia
Students in a classroom. (Photo by Getty Images) As Virginia prepares to revise its academic benchmarks for students, a select group will consider how quickly the state should implement its proficiency ratings. The committees could recommend either a single-year transition or a more gradual approach over several years. However, any decision could significantly impact how schools, students, and communities respond. Implementing the changes over a year could have immediate effects but might also lead to rushed decisions. A phased approach over several years could help reduce anomalies, but may delay schools from receiving timely interventions. 'The (Board of Education) hasn't made a policy decision yet on how they're going to do that,' Virginia Superintendent of Public Instruction Emily Anne Gullickson told The Mercury. Gullickson did not indicate her preference on the matter but said a subject expert will analyze data from other states that have taken similar approaches. A presentation is expected in June when the standard-setting committees meet. The committees include teachers, instructional specialists, and community stakeholders, such as parents and business leaders. In June, the members will make recommendations to the board for an initial review, with a final decision expected in July. Virginia's effort to change the cut scores — the threshold for determining student proficiency — is part of a broader push by Gov. Glenn Youngkin's administration to raise academic benchmarks and 'restore excellence in education.' The plan includes increasing rigor in core subjects, boosting transparency and accountability, and overhauling the state's assessment system. The administration aims to align the new cut scores more closely with the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), which it says highlights the 'honesty gap' — the disparity between Virginia's current standards and the more stringent NAEP benchmarks. NAEP measures academic performance in grades 4, 8, and 12, using a randomly selected sample designed to reflect student diversity across factors like ethnicity, school size, economic background, and gender. Between 2017 and 2022, Virginia's fourth-grade reading and math results showed a stunning 40-percentage-point gap between the state's Standards of Learning assessment tests and NAEP assessments. According to the latest NAEP results for Virginia, 8% of Black students and 13% of Hispanic students tested proficient in 8th-grade math. In 4th-grade math, 19% of Black students and 27% of Hispanic students reached proficiency. The governor has attributed these results to the previous Board of Education lowering cut scores and altering school accreditation standards. However, Democrats have defended the prior approach. A change would not take effect until the spring of 2026. Board members are still in the early stages of considering their options. Anne Holton, a former state education secretary and a current member of the Board of Education member appointed by former Democratic Gov. Ralph Northam, said that while she is looking forward to seeing what the superintendent and committees recommend, she's disappointed the governor's administration has not adequately communicated the potential changes to the public — especially because they are likely going to be unpopular. The Youngkin administration wants Virginia to meet NAEP's 'proficient' standard, which is — defined as a student demonstrating a deeper understanding of complex topics and the ability to apply them in real-world situations. In response to Holton's question at the board's recent work session, Marianne Perie, founder of Measurement in Practice LLC and a technical advisor on standard setting, said that aligning Virginia's standards with the NAEP benchmark would increase the student failure rate. Holton said the rate could rise to about 68% — resulting in dramatic changes in the commonwealth. 'You need the public to understand that this is not suddenly your child is dumber than he was last year or that your school is worse than last year, but rather that we're changing the grading scale, causing this change,' Holton said. However, board member Andy Rotherham, a Youngkin appointee, warned of an 'inevitable result' if the state delays action. Speaking at the board's May 21 work session, he said the state has been telling the public that 90% of Virginia's schools are 'doing fine' when fewer than one in five Black and Hispanic eight-grade students are proficient. 'We're either going to have a reckoning for that or not,' Rotherham said, urging the board to continue its push for greater transparency and honesty about how students are performing on assessments. 'The question should not be about that; it should be what we are going to do for those kids, what we are going to do for those communities, what we are going to do for those families,' Rotherham said. 'Those are the kinds of policy conversations that we should be having, not trying to square this circle where we've been telling people that almost every school is great when you have these astounding gaps in achievement, and this astounding gap overall in terms of what we've been saying is proficient and what is not.' Rotherham said he looks forward to hearing from the committees. He did not endorse a specific implementation method but emphasized the importance of raising standards in a way that educators can manage — without postponing a decision. 'The only thing I'm not open to is kicking the can down the road or not being transparent with parents and communities about where we are,' Rotherham said. 'There are multiple ways to do this, and that's why we need to have a conversation that's not getting everybody riled up that 'all the kids are going to fail next year,' or whatever. (It needs to be) thoughtful, and I have confidence in Emily Anne on that.' The Mercury learned that several of Virginia's most prominent education associations share the board's commitment to high standards and accountability for students, but have not taken a position on how quickly the state should implement any proficiency ratings. Carol Bauer, president of the Virginia Education Association (VEA), said in a statement that changes in performance benchmarks have consequences and should only be considered with great care and caution. 'There's no need to rush this process for political purposes,' Bauer said. 'Before any moves are made, we need significant research into how changing cut scores will affect not only student success, but graduation rates, the new Performance and Support Framework, and funding that's tied to SOL outcomes.' On May 16, a statewide coalition of 12 education associations signed a letter urging the Board of Education to consider the broader implications of raising the cut scores on Virginia's SOL assessments. Areas of potential impact include the state budget, the new accountability system, and graduation rates. The organizations include the Virginia Association for Teaching, Learning and Leading, Virginia PTA, Virginia School Board Association, Virginia Associations of Secondary School Principals, School Superintendents, and Elementary School Principals and VEA. 'Our coalition supports rigorous expectations; we do not advocate lowering the bar for learning,' the letter states. 'However, we believe any changes to SOL cut scores must be approached with great care, thorough, extensive modeling of student performance impacts as well as transparency around the impact of the new cut scores on state budget funding streams tied to SOL outcomes, graduation rates, and the new Performance and Support Framework.' The coalition added that significant shifts in performance benchmarks without extensive modeling could carry 'far-reaching consequences.' It urged the board to 'fully analyze and communicate these impacts to all education stakeholders, especially parents, before moving forward.' SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
IOL News
15-05-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Liquidators of uMhlanga's Pencil Club strive to generate R80 million from asset sales
The liquidators of the Pencil Club in uMhlanga are hoping to generate R80 million from the sale of its assets. Image: File Picture Financial experts leading the liquidation of the Pencil Club hope to generate close to R80 million through the sale of its assets. The premier social networking club in uMhlanga entered liquidation proceedings after falling into financial difficulty. Businesspeople, law firms and auditing companies were just some of the elite members in the club. The company handling the liquidation process, Manci Knoop Financial Services, stated that they were assessing the scale of the organisation's debts. However, they believe about R80 million will be generated from the sale of the assets. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ A general circular addressed to creditors and clients, which The Mercury has seen, provided information on the process being undertaken. A few months ago, The Mercury reported that the club was facing financial difficulties and could close, as it was facing a mountain of debt. Approached for comment, Kurt Knoop of Manci Knoop Financial Services stated that they hoped to recover close to R80 million in total once the process was finalised. 'It is early days yet, and we are still trying to get a sense of what the company owes to creditors in total,' he said. He added that there is a process underway at the moment where the movable property owned by the business is being auctioned, and there have been offers for some of the property. He stated that there will also be the sale of the immovable property. The latest letter stated that the liquidators have taken control of the company's affairs and have approached the KwaZulu-Natal High Court in Pietermaritzburg, seeking an extension of their powers to sell the movable assets in the estate. 'In the interim, the business rescue practitioners of the Pencil Club, the owner of the immovable property and movable assets, proceeded with the disposal process of all assets by private tender, which closes on May 13, 2025,' said the letter. 'The liquidators will consider the offers for the movable assets and, in conjunction with the business rescue practitioner, make a decision on the sale thereof in the interest of the company and its creditors,' it continued. The letter also informed creditors of claim documents that must be completed. The employee claims are also being processed, the letter noted. A lifelong member of the club, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the development was damaging to the image of the city and disappointing. The member stated, 'As a life member of the Pencil Club Umhlanga, I wish to record my deep disappointment and unhappiness at the manner in which the club has been allowed to collapse into liquidation. 'This club stood as a landmark institution that brought great pride to Durban's business community. It was a space where banks, corporates, entrepreneurs, and professionals gathered to network and build relationships, with many members — myself included — having invested significant amounts in membership fees, in some cases up to R80 000 per annum.' The member added that the demise of the club was as a result of the complete failure by the directors, custodians, and developers to protect the interests of the very members who built this institution. 'This was not just a club; it was a symbol of Durban's business spirit. Its collapse is a sad indictment (of) those who were entrusted to preserve its legacy and manage it responsibly,' said the member. THE MERCURY
The South African
12-05-2025
- The South African
Diesel theft bust: Two Municipal employees arrested
Police arrested two eThekwini Municipality employees for allegedly stealing diesel meant for municipal operations. Municipal investigators responded to reports of suspicious activity involving City-owned water trucks and arrested the suspects last week in eKukhanyeni, near Verulam. According to the municipality, investigators caught one truck offloading diesel at a private residence, while they found a second truck parked at the gate of the same property. According to The Mercury , investigators recovered 12 containers, each with a 25-litre capacity, amounting to 300 litres of stolen diesel. The Inanda Police Station opened a case of theft, and authorities expect the suspects to appear in court. Head of the City Integrity and Investigations Unit, Jimmy Ngcobo said 'This is not just a once-off crime.' He added that investigators will conduct further inquiries in the area, alleging that someone frequently offloads diesel there. The arrests come against the backdrop of rising operational costs. At a recent Executive Committee (Exco) meeting, the municipality revealed that it spent R86 million on fuel for fleet vehicles in the first quarter of the year. Ngcobo said the fuel theft operation is part of a broader criminal network. 'The stolen diesel is being resold. We want to make it clear that employees who are involved in theft and fraud will face the full consequences,' he said. The City credited the arrests to members of the public who alerted authorities to the suspicious activity. Officials say the matter is part of a wider probe into internal corruption during the 2024/2025 financial year. Municipal spokespersons confirmed that the arrests form part of a larger campaign to clamp down on fraud, corruption, and the abuse of infrastructure. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Earle-Sears ‘morally opposed' to Virginia's reproductive rights amendment, note shows
Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears. (Photo by Charlotte Rene Woods/Virginia Mercury) Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears signed Virginia's in-progress reproductive rights constitutional amendment, but noted her personal objection to it in a handwritten note on the bill. As president of the Senate, she is legally required to sign bills that the legislature passes but she doesn't have to add any comment to her signatures. Documents obtained by The Mercury show her explanation for why she is against Virginia's effort to protect reproductive rights like abortion, in vitro fertilization and contraception access in Virginia's Constitution. 'I am morally opposed to this bill; no protection for the child,' she wrote above her signature. It is the second known message Earle-Sears has penned on a bill she signed but disagreed with — the first being her note of objection scrawled on a bill last year that would prohibit officials from denying marriage licenses to same-sex or interracial couples, as The Virginia Scope first reported. It is also one of the clearest signals Earle-Sears has sent concerning her views on abortion and reproductive health care since beginning her campaign for governor. A Sears campaign representative the Mercury reached Thursday afternoon said Earle-Sears had no comment on the matter. SJR 247 Handwritten Notes While Earle-Sears' appearance as a keynote speaker at the Virginia March For Life has already solidified her stance in opposition to proposals that would protect abortion access in Virginia, she's yet to speak in depth about where she may hold nuanced views on reproductive matters. Virginia March For Life tees up constitutional amendment ahead of this year's elections Abortion access is one of the most politically divisive issues in the state, as Democrats work to shore up protections while Republicans largely support anti-abortion measures, with some GOP members of the legislature having carried life-at-conception bills. In the 2023 elections, many Republicans supported a proposal backed by Gov. Glenn Youngkin to ban most abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy, with exceptions for rape, incest or life-threatening situations for the parent. It lacked fetal anomaly exceptions — several of which aren't diagnosed until at or after 15 weeks. Early in her 2021 campaign for liuetenant governor, Earle-Sears had called abortion 'genocide' and objected to the procedure in all instances, except for ones that could save the life of the pregnant person. Just over a month before the 2021 elections, she'd scrubbed anti-abortion messaging from her campaign website where she'd vowed to 'do everything in my power' to stop abortions in Virginia. Because Earle-Sears' 2021 campaign occurred before federal abortion protections were overturned, stating an opinion against abortion was more a signal to like-minded voters than a legislative promise to eradicate it. Since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned federal protections in 2022, the matter has become more salient in campaigns. Some states have fortified protections while others have enacted bans or restrictions. Virginia is currently the least-restrictive state in the south. As Virginia's constitutional amendment has already passed the legislature once, it must do so again next year before appearing on ballots statewide for voters to finally approve or reject. That progress, however, hinges on Democrats retaining their majority in the House of Delegates this year, because the amendment has only advanced on partisan lines. Governors don't formally advance or block constitutional amendments, but should Virginia's fail to advance, the next governor will be able to sign potential attempts to restrict or ban abortions within state code. With Earle-Sears gubernatorial opponent Abigail Spanberger in support of reproductive healthcare access — to include abortions, contraception and fertility treatments — their divergences on the issue may be a deciding factor for some voters later this year. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Right-to-contraception bills highlight key reproductive health care debate in this year's elections
Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Generate Key Takeaways Del. Via Price, D-Nwport News, speaks outside of Virginia's Capitol on Feb. 7, 2025 to discuss her right-to-contraception bill amid a giant inflatable intrauterine device. (Photo by Charlotte Rene Woods / Virginia Mercury) Contraception access is an issue resonating loudly within Virginia's public and political spheres this year and last week, it manifested through state lawmakers contrasting Virginia's twice-failed attempt to protect access to birth control medications against a similar measure that recently sailed through neighboring Tennessee's legislature. For the second year in a row, Gov. Glenn Youngkin vetoed a right-to-contraception bill carried by Del. Cia Price, D-Newport News, who took to social media over the weekend to highlight how, unlike in the commonwealth, Tennessee lawmakers were able to come together and pass a bipartisan bill on the issue. 'When I mentioned Tennessee was able to get something done, it wasn't to say Virginia should become Tennessee,' Price said in a call with The Mercury Monday. 'It was the fact that even Tennessee Republicans were willing to act on contraception.' Del. Michael Webert, R-Faquier, who is among leadership in the House Republican Caucus and who voted against Price's bill, replied directly to Price online, posting that he'd be 'happy to work on a detailed version of the Tennessee bill if you're game.' This was after Garren Shipley, a communications director in the GOP House Caucus, suggested that had Price's bill mirrored Tennessee's, she'd have found '90 or more' people willing to vote for it. 'A lot of us had real concerns with the bill Delegate Price brought forward. It seemed much more concerned with setting up lawsuits than actually protecting contraception in law,' Webert said Monday, in a statement relayed through Shipley. Webert was unavailable for a phone call Monday as he was busy with work on his farm. He texted The Mercury a picture of his cattle that were being rounded up for their annual vaccines. 'I haven't done a head count, but I'm confident that our Republican caucus would bring at least 40 or more votes to the table for a bill like the one from Tennessee,' Webert's statement said. But Price emphasized that her bill would have legally protected people's access to contraception if their rights were to be infringed. 'People need to know that their leaders are going to stand up to protect their rights,' she said. Tennessee's bill says that the state 'unambiguously acknowledges the right of a healthcare provider, instead of an individual, to perform, and the right of a person to receive or use, fertility treatment and contraceptives in this state.' The bill goes on to clarify that the bill 'does not create an entitlement' to the treatments, or to coverage or funding of them. Prices' bill, on the other hand, would create an avenue for individuals to sue if their access were denied. 'The Virginia statute is broader and stronger than the Tennessee statute (when it comes to contraception),' said Meredith Harbach, a law professor at the University of Richmond. While the Tennessee contraception bill also includes in vitro fertilization (a topic Virginia lawmakers in both parties have carried legislation on), Harbach emphasized that both Virginia's and Tennessee's bills were ways to offer state-level support for reproductive health care options. She said the Tennessee bill is 'not especially controversial' because it supports a person having a right to engage in fertility and contraception treatments, but stops short of legal cause of action. Meanwhile, Virginia's bill establishes a state-level right for contraceptives and creates a cause of action to sue if that is infringed upon. For Price, her bill was also personal, as contraception helps her treat her polycystic ovarian syndrome symptoms. Beyond preventing unplanned pregnancies, contraception is used to treat conditions like Price's as well as endometriosis. Harbach found it 'interesting' to see Virginia Democrats employing a legal pathway that Texas Republicans had used in a state law allowing individuals a cause of action to sue people who perform abortions or assist in accessing them after six weeks of pregnancy. Just as the Texas law had been controversial among Democrats and reproductive rights advocates for its legal pathway, the lawsuit component in Price and Sen. Ghazala Hashmi, D-Richmond's bills have proven controversial among Virginia's Republican Caucus. Campaign talking points The surge of discussion from Republicans on contraception access comes as GOP gubernatorial candidate Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears remains largely silent about it and in a year where the state's entire House of Delegates is up for election. Earle-Sears technically weighed in on contraception earlier this year after Democratic maneuvering forced her to vote in the Senate on that chamber's version of Price's bill. The Democratic Party of Virginia has pointed out Earle-Sears' opposing vote in press releases for months. Her Democratic opponent, former congresswoman Abigail Spanberger, has said she will sign the bill into law if it comes to her as future governor. Meanwhile, Virginia Democrats have stressed urgency on the matter as other states have pursued restrictions on contraception and congressional efforts to establish stronger safeguards have stalled. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas suggested contraception access laws should be revisited after the court ruled to overturn federal abortion protections in 2022. Though state Republicans have largely dissented on contraception access and progressive reproductive health care measures, some GOP lawmakers have recently broken from the pack. Webert recalled that Del. Kim Taylor, R-Petersburg, carried a bill to allow an income tax deduction for people seeking IVF treatment to start or continue their families. The bill did not advance this legislative session. Taylor also sponsored a bill to affirm protections specifically for non-viable pregnancies. With no national definition, doctors handle non-viable pregnancies on a case-by-case basis. Defined in Taylor's bill, a 'nonviable pregnancy' is one that 'cannot result in a live-born infant, including an ectopic pregnancy or failed intrauterine pregnancy.' That bill also did not advance. Taylor, who held her seat against her Democratic challenger Kimberly Pope Adams last time by 53 votes, faces her again this year. The seat is among several that are crucial to determine partisan control of the House. With Democrats dominating both the House and Senate, some policies have been able to advance to the governor for his acceptance or veto purely on partisan lines this year. Price's right-to-contraception bill advanced on a bipartisan basis before facing Youngkin's rejection. Virginia may not need a bill like Price's or Tennessee's, if an effort to enshrine broader reproductive rights into the state's constitution succeeds. Having passed the legislature once already, a constitutional amendment to protect reproductive health care ranging from abortions to contraception and in vitro fertilization must pass again next year before appearing as a ballot referendum for voters around the state to consider and vote on. That measure, however has advanced only because of a Democratic majority in both chambers, setting up as a potential key motivator as voters head to the polls this year. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
