Dear Neighbors,
I hope everyone is enjoying the warmer weather and seasonal allergies are too bad! Next week April 4-8, 2022 is Spring Break for Richmond Public Schools students.
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Last Friday, I had the pleasure of meeting with the residents and staff at The Virginia Home in Byrd Park. We discussed infrastructure needs throughout the area for them to be able to move around without be forced into the street. We are extremely happy to see that Byrd Park parks streets are being repaved right now in time for their Walk 'n Roll event taking place tomorrow morning Saturday, April 2.
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On Monday night, City Council recognized the hard work our Social Workers with a Joint Proclamation with the Mayor establishing March to be Richmond Social Work Month.
On Wednesday night, I was able to celebrate with those hard working Social Workers during an appreciation event. My career started as a social worker and I will forever see the world through the lens of a social worker.
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I was happy to talk to NBC12's Henry Graff about litter and bulk removal efforts across the city. I have had a lot of conversation with residents and civic associations about the need for additional trash cans throughout our neighborhoods in the city. “We need to be able to advocate for those trash cans in our neighborhoods and other infrastructural improvements that will help us get some of this litter off the ground,” said Councilor Lynch.
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In addition to bi-weekly bulk and brush collections that coincide with the recycling collection schedule, DPW's Neighborhood Clean-Up Program is another service provided to help residents dispose of bulk items. Residents in each of the designated neighborhood zones across the city will have two additional opportunities during the year to place bulk and brush items out for collection. The program runs on selected Saturdays starting on March 12 and ending November 19. DPW crews will collect items curbside and in alleys (wherever trash is normally placed to be collected) from 8 a.m. until noon on the designated Saturdays. Examples of acceptable items include: furniture, mattresses, tires (four per household) and appliances. They will take everything except: electronics, construction debris, hazardous waste items and broken glass. All brush must be cut into four foot lengths and bundled.
- May 14 / September 24 - Zone 7 - Oregon Hill, Uptown, Maymont, Randolph, Fan, Byrd Park, Stadium, Cary South, Carytown, and Museum District
- June 4 / October 8 - Zone 9 - Springhill, Woodland Heights, Swansboro, Swansboro West, and Reedy Creek
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Great News! The 51st Arts in the Park is returning this year Saturday, April 30 & Sunday, May 1.
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Finally, there’s been a lot of misinformation floating around about George Wythe High School. As you may recall, in October 2019, the City Council, School Board, and the City Administration announced that we would be securing $140M to build a beautiful new George Wythe that our students need and deserve by 2024.
On April 12th, 2021, without any public comment or notice - the School Board voted to take over school construction. This vote occurred the same week the Request for Procurement (RFP) for George Wythe was set to be released, effectively delaying the timeline and adding to the overall cost as RPS was not prepared (administratively or financially) to take on school construction.
As an RPS parent and social worker who sees the dire impact that COVID and other existing traumas has had on our students (in fact only 10% of our RPS students are on Math grade level and 35% on reading grade level), I was baffled by the School Board’s decision to take on this monumental task of building a whole new department and new core competency. In the face of so many other challenges- this seems like a distraction from its core mission of improving the academic experience and well-being of students.
Since that vote last year, it’s been a roller coaster of emotions and quarrels - none of which has helped us move the ball down the field or address the real issues facing our students. The Bulldog community - students, parents, staff, and alumni are strong but this has been particularly painful to watch. The School Board has also resigned to ‘shrinking’ the size of George Wythe from 2,000 to 1,600 to try and achieve cost savings, which disregards the U.S. Census data and Cropper enrollment projections the School Board used to make the original population projection for the High School. Today, George Wythe enrollment stands at 1,500 with a projected 1,785 by 2028 (the school is projected to be complete by 2027).
The district is also currently rezoning the middle schools that feed into George Wythe because they are at functional capacity. I support small schools, but I also understand the very real population growth and subsequent need to provide adequate educational spaces for students, particularly those that have been shortchanged over the last five decades. We cannot shortchange our students any longer.
I have voted two months in a row to transfer funds to the School Board so that we can move forward with the hopes that we can come to a compromise of 1,800 seats. I have offered many other compromise solutions as well to address concerns of financial mismanagement, (to include hiring a third-party auditor), as well as other solutions (see memo attached). As it stands, we are pushing forward with scheduled engagement sessions with community members (see schedule below) and students on what they would like to see in their new George Wythe High School - a vision that should be fully funded and supported with the resources it needs and deserves.
I have included a detailed timeline, enrollment data, and a cost assumption breakdown. I welcome feedback and input, even if you have differing opinions on this matter. I am here to listen and hear from you, so please do not hesitate to reach out on this or anything else of importance to you.
Sincerely,
Stephanie
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Here is the link for you so can listen to Mayor Stoney delivering his proposed FY23 Budget to council last month. As well as the links to the Operating and Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) proposed budget work books. I want to point out the Public Hearing on April May 2, 2022. However, I need to hear from you way before then. Please feel free to use this FORM OR email me at [email protected].
You can review the Richmond Public School School Board approved budget here. Superintendent Jason Kamras original budget requested an additional $23M that included the teacher raises, $7.2M that the district is now responsible for due to the LCI changing, and some programming. School Board only approved requesting $16M additional dollars over last year's budget days before the Mayor was to present the proposed budget. The Mayor's proposed budget allocates an additional $15M to RPS over last year's budget. During last week's Education & Human Services (EHS) meeting Kamras stated the teacher raises ($12M) and step increase would be protected within the $15M. In the past few years under Kamras the average teacher salary has increased from $52K to $64K/year.
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5th District Town Hall
Wednesday April 27, 2022
6pm
via Zoom Webinar
Please click the link below to join the webinar:
Or One tap mobile : US: +13017158592,,82565906361#,,,,*097765#
Or Telephone: US: +1 301 715 8592
Webinar ID: 825 6590 6361
Passcode: 097765
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This newsletter shares important resources for residents, however, it does not reach all of the district residents. Please share it and encourage neighbors to sign up for it.
CLICK HERE to sign up for the 5th District Newsletter.
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