Governor Ralph Northam announced this week our county is one of 16 Virginia school divisions offering a new high school-level elective course this academic year to increase understanding of African American history. The full-credit course covers precolonial Africa through today. Students will be introduced to key concepts in African American history, from early beginnings in Africa through the transatlantic slave trade, the Civil War, Emancipation, Reconstruction, the Civil Rights era and to the present.

Students will also learn about African American voices, including many not traditionally highlighted, and their contributions to the story of Virginia and America. The course includes a capstone project requiring students to conduct independent research on a question or problem of their choosing and to demonstrate a deeper understanding of African American history.

Chair Wheeler participated in an Education Roundtable event organized by US Senator Mark Warner on Friday, August 21 at newly renamed Unity Reed High School (Issue 21). Topics included the impact of virtual learning on Title 1 schools, broadband access, and return to learning in the age of COVID-19. In addition to Senator Warner and Chair Wheeler, participants included school administrators, teachers, parents, and students.

Friday, August 21, a federal judge ruled in favor of a lawsuit filed by the League of Women Voters of Virginia. The ruling resulted in the suspension of the requirement an absentee ballot voter have a witness observe and sign the ballot envelope. The lawsuit was filed in response to possible health concerns by the requirements during the pandemic. Additional information on the November election, including other changes, can be found in Issue 23.

The Virginia State Corporation Commission (SCC) extended the general moratorium on utility shutoffs from August 31 until September 16. This gives the General Assembly, currently in special session, time to enact any legislation addressing the impact of the COVID-19 on utility customers.

Separate state and county grant programs for small businesses and non-profits whose normal operations were impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic are still accepting applications. Learn more about both below and visit web pages for complete eligibility requirements.

The general election this year is expected to have a record turnout. The county Office of Elections needs your help! We need 1,600 residents to work at 93 polling locations on Election Day, Tuesday, November 3. Residents who serve as poll workers must be registered to vote in Virginia and receive training. Poll workers will be compensated for their time.

As we've covered in this and prior Wheeler Reports, there is a lot to navigate for this election. From ways to vote to changes in the process, it is a lot to know. To help you wade through it all and ensure you can participate, the county has provided a comprehensive article covering important things to know in preparation for the election.

The county's Parks, Recreation and Tourism Department will begin offering weekly daytime care starting on Tuesday, Sept. 8. Licensed Preschool for ages 3-PreK will be at the Sharron Baucom Dale City Recreation Center and are for half days. Grades K-8 will be at the Chinn Aquatics and Fitness Center and the Pat White Center at Ben Lomond, for full or half days. Weekly rates range from $93 - $110 for preschool-age students and $68 - $135 for school-age students. Spaces are limited.

This upcoming school year, the PWC school system is utilizing Canvas, a powerful tool for blended and distance learning. The platform allows teachers to create virtual classrooms, supporting both real-time and self-paced learning. To help set everyone up for success, they are hosting virtual overview sessions for parents at 7 p.m. on September 1 and September 3. Parents will gain an understanding of Canvas, learn how to connect their parent accounts to their students' accounts, and be able to ask questions via the chat feature. Use the links below to register and learn more about Canvas.

The U.S. Department of Defense has announced a new non-competitive contract for almost $200 million with Lockheed Martin, according to an InsideNoVa article. The contract is for the Navy’s submarine fleet. Lockheed's Rotary and Mission Systems facility in Manassas is slated to have 85% of the work. Currently, the location employs more than 1,000 people who specialize in sonar, acoustics and underwater technologies for the Navy. 

Governor Ralph Northam announced Friday, August 21, Virginia has received approval from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to proceed with a state-based health insurance exchange. This allows Virginia to take over some functions of its current federal exchange beginning with open enrollment this November and puts the Commonwealth on a path to full control by 2023.

The Neabsco Creek Boardwalk was one of six gold medal winners of the Department of Environmental Quality's 2020 Governor's Environmental Excellence Awards for innovative projects improving Virginia’s environment. The three-quarter-mile boardwalk connects several formerly separated park sites, creating the Neabsco Regional Park. It is also a key link in the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trial, an 800-mile long corridor following the Potomac River. Built using an innovative, environmentally sensitive top-down method, the boardwalk provides access to the tall grasses and marsh which filter pollution from the river and provide a rich habitat for winged wildlife to include blue herons, wood ducks and red-winged blackbirds.

Congratulations also go to PWC Risk and Wellness Services Division (Risk), one of four Bronze Award winners, for their program to find and prevent fuel leaks before they become a problem. After finding there were no established comprehensive plans, Risk developed their own. One key component of their plan included a proactive inspection program of the county's roughly 150 above-ground fuel tanks, most with a capacity of 500 gallons or less. Through these inspections, they found many had evidence of past or ongoing leaks and were in poor enough condition that failure was a concern. Over a 4 year period, the county made over $60,000 worth of repairs to existing tanks and replaced more than a dozen.

The Construction Management Association of America – National Capital Chapter selected the Dumfries Road Shared-Use Path as its 2020 Project of the Year in the Infrastructure in the less than $25 Million category for its complexity, size, challenges, unique circumstances, schedule and budget. The 4,300-foot project, running between Exeter and Country Club Drives, offers transportation options for activities such as cycling, walking, running and rollerblading for multiple communities along the road. In addition to increased safety, the path provided easier access to commuter bus stops along Dumfries Road and added a new shelter to the existing bus stop at Exeter Drive.

Monday, August 31 is International Overdose Awareness Day, an annual event to raise awareness of overdose, reduce the stigma of a drug-related death, and encourage discussion of evidence-based overdose prevention and drug policy. The day also serves to acknowledge the grief felt by families and friends remembering those who have died or had a permanent injury as a result of a drug overdose.