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Edmonds running for School Board
05/22/2008 2:42 PM by John M
Torey Edmonds has confirmed that she is seeking the 7th District School Board seat being vacated by Keith West.
Torey Edmonds, I’ve heard good things about you. If possible, I would like to meet with you and talk about the issues. Maybe you could schedule a gathering with a few parents at Globe Hoppers or Buzzy’s.
Now if I’m correct, Torey Edmonds does not support the closing of Bellevue.
I don’t care what Torey supports. She will not get my vote. She doesn’t represent all people.
I agree. She does not represent all people.
For years Torey Edmonds has been a thorn in the community. She has contributed to the divide of the east end communities. She is very hard to get along with. No’ I will never support her for anything.
Who is Torey Edmonds? I never heard of her.
I will meet with both candidates before I make my decision and I’ve heard good things about both Edmonds and Wilson.
eric, exactly what has Edmonds done to be a thorn? And Queen no one represents all people’s views…I’m not expecting that from anyone.
I’m glad I don’t know any of the School Board candidates or those running for mayor well. I will make an informed decision based on their philosophy, facts, plans, past experience and their vision for the future. Thugs saying they don’t like someone without reason will not persuade me.
post #6 is mine. I forgot to erase my husband’s name.
Well we shall see. I’ll make sure Carletta or Coleman wins. I live near 23rd st.which is near Torey’s house. Nobody is supporting her in her neighborhood.
Someone just informed me about Torey.
I remember Coleman from the last election. He has a kid at MLK. So now there is three. I know I’ll be meeting with Carletta soon. Again, I want to make an informed decision. I have kids attending school in the east end so this election is very important to me.
I would love to meet with the parents and residents in the district to talk about the issues.
Tomorrow morning (Sat. 5/24/08) at Captain Buzzy’s 8:30 am
I’m working late tonight so I’ll probably be sleeping in. But if I happen to be up early, I’ll go. If I don’t see you Sat. please let me know about the next meeting. Thank you.
Torey Edmonds felt that her younger daughters was to good to attend the schools in same district, in which she is running for School Board. Instead of helping fixed the problems at that time, she sent her daughters to schools in the West End. Why is she running now? She ran for School Board in 2004 and lost.
One of the issues facing RPS is the flight of white/black middle class students to private or county schools. I know also of working class parents and folks getting support that would like to have their children at different schools given the opportunity.
One of the questions that I plan to ask of the candidates is what they feel that they can do to: 1) attract these parents to RPS/neighborhood schools, and 2) make RPS attract/serve *all* of the neighborhood students.
Lene, I hate to correct your grammar when you are speaking about schools but it should be “too” good to attend… etc. Sorry.
so
The only way at this point John to attract middle class black or white is to install an innovative program such as an IB or magnet school at the elementary level in the east end.
But I will say, at Bellevue there are some very smart students and parents that care.
I would love nothing more than to happily send my kids to a neighborhood school.
Anything would be great Gray. But please, no charter schools.
Hey John, someone has the same name as me…I didn’t write post #18.
They have your name, email, and IP address… You know what I think happened?
Tell me what happened because that is wrong for someone to use my name, email and address.
I think that your husband commented and forgot to erase your name.
Your IP address can’t be faked. Even if someone tried to spoof as you and posted with your name and email address, the IP address would be different. This would be enough for the the comment would be automatically held for approval.
Also alert all communtiy blogs that someone is using my information. I won’t all blogs I didn’t write to come down now. That is illegal for someone to steal an identity.
I mean “want” not “won’t” and no my husband did not write that post #18.
It came from the same computer that you are on right now, no one has stolen your identity.
Oooh, drama! It’s the Many Faces of Gray 🙂
weird…I’m looking into this.
Do you have unsecured wireless? Are there men in suits and sunglasses sitting in an SUV in front of your house?
david, although I support the PHI, I’m not a fan of charters and it can be a dangerous path. RPS should not close down our schools and should set the standard of education high in all schools and stop placing all focus on test scores. Why not have an art and science magnet school here on the hill? Or implement a Reggio Emilia method of instruction –a more hands on approach to learning. Has anyone checked out what Sabot is doing over at Stony Point school? It is incredible…their kindergartners and first graders have covered 5th grade SOL stuff through a hands on project with castles and the whole time the kids thought they were playing. They don’t sit isolated at a desk with their eyes on the teacher the whole day.
torey is liar a cheat she will sale her soul to get into office she has ran for school board, and city council it is sad that is tyring to run for school board again she is not for public schools she is for charter schools i agree the school system needs to be fix tell delores mcquinn son jj or his fat bald headed friend that is always wearing armstrong garb everytime i see him at any public meeting he works for rps he know about the school system he is heavy into politics or aubrey el with his fat head he should be able to thank for days getting back jj he is into everything he sticks nose into everything my neighbors and i call him the city manager or neighborhood watch when he comes around to run for school board ABT:Anybody But Torey!!!!!!!!!!! i almost forgot she is a snake she don’t love the kids
Whew! Joe, I don’t think it is a good idea to engage in ad hominem attacks. Criticize the policy, not the personality.
Now, having said that, I would like to point out that Carletta Wilson is running for School Board in the 7th District and I think she would be great!
Carletta is the president of the Martin Luther King Middle School PTA and has been chair of the Special Education Advisory Committee to the Richmond School Board.
She is smart, articulate and dedicated to making sure that needs of all children — whether they are poor or have disabilities — are met by the school system.
She is extraordinary. And, would be a breath of fresh air and would definitely have positive contributions to make.
Joe, I understand your frustration with RPS and the snake. You are right about JJ and his friend. But I gotta tell you, those are some positive young men in our community who really cares about their surroundings. They are not on the street corners, and they continue to volunteer in the city of Richmond. By the way, I heard that JJ was running for 7th District School Board. If this is true, all the candidates can hang it up. He is articulate, intelligent, and knows how to campaign. I heard through the grapevine that he was very instrumental in Tim Kaine,Marsh,McEachin,and Jim Webb’s successful campaigns. He also ran Delores’ campaign for years. Please don’t sleep on him. His friend knows how to campagn as well and continues to volunteer throught his community and at Armstrong High School. JJ has been volunteering since I met him at the Church Hill Association 12 years ago. JJ is also the Vice President of the Crusade and 1st Vice Chair of the Richmond Democratic Committee. As a white woman,these young men opened my eyes to the struggles of black families and poverty that existed in our communites.I don’t understand why no one has recognized these young men for their outstanding contributions to Richmond and the state of VA. But Joe, you are right about the snake. Torey won’t win.
JJ’s friend name is Roderyck. He is a coach at Armstrong High School. The kids love him over there.
Thanks for taking my message off John. I’m around 5 people who now knows the games you play.
Hey Missy!
Your post was awaiting approval as it was the first time that you’ve posted. You should see the comment now that you though had been deleted.
Now that you’ve posted, your comments should come through automatically. You might get a comment held for approval if you post using a different email address or from a different computer.
Sometimes a comment will accidentally get tagged as spam. If you notice that your comments aren’t getting through, contact me at murden@gmail.com and I’ll straighten it out.
I hardly ever delete a comment, and when I do I email the person and let them know why. I almost deleted joe bing’s comment above as being too much of a personal attack, for instance, but ultimately did not.
Check out the site’s Privacy & Use Policy if you’d like more info what the ground rules are.
missy, When you say Crusade are you talking about the Crusade for Voters?
Someone in the media should do a story about the Crusade for Voters … why it started, what it has done, who belongs, what the group’s goals are, who the leaders are now, who the leaders have been, what is the vision this group has and lastly, what are they doing to register voters in tme for the November 2008 election?
Joe Bing’s comment is inappropriate and should be deleted from this website. Torey Edmonds is stepping forward and offering to run for school board. She should be treated with a certain amount of respect. John Murden, your initial thought was right on! Please delete Joe Bing’s comment right now. It is a personal attack. Joe Bing offers now evidence to back up his claims. He just goes off and says hurtful things. If this comment is not deleted, I will be very reluctant to post on this site again. John Murden, we’re counting on you to hold the line.
I think Joe Bing’s comments should not be deleted. It is called {Freedom Speech]
Freedom Of Speech
Present solid arguements, well thought out points, and facts folk. Think of all of us, including myself, out here not knowing any of the candidates well reading stuff like “she don’t love the kids” and she is a “snake.” How does this reflect on the candidate the attacker supports? or on the blogger himself?
Joe you made several points but they were drowned in venom.
i am saying all of this because for years Torey has stood by and criticized the city and school system but she only become visible when she is running for office or helping someone run against miss mcquinn and others she from what i heard from my neighbors she has had a falling out with very council member in the district when things don’t go her way so she goes out get someone to run against them i state facts not untrues her record speaks for it self ask lee young, ask miss mcquinn, ask Henry marsh i have been living in church hill for eight years and i have heard nothing but negative comments about her(Torey) and Henry marsh
i am sorry if feel it is personal but iam going by what i hear and what i see when first moved here she was working with Denice Wise and she came to my place with army talking about Miss Mcquinn and her son and how miss mcquinn do certain favors for certain people and i believed her and voted for Miss Wise she came back supporting Reggie Malone to my place again you fool me once shame on you i voted for miss mcquinn because i realize she is dog lover and i am true dog lover she really cares all people
Missy if JJ is running where is his petition what is his platform and working for all those people don’t mean a thing to me because that resume’ he got because he is riding his mother coattail if she was not his mother he will not be working for all those people that is how he got his name him and his friend mr. armstrong jj and his friend made a boatload of money on these campagin’s someone inform me about it by looking it up on virginia public access project i saw it with my own eyes it crazy how who you know and you can make this kind of money help me get job jj and mr. armstrong an you to missy since you know them so well.
Joe, thank you.
David, what do you have against charter schools? Please be specific, because I don’t have a lot of experience with them and would like to know more – the good, the bad, and the ugly.
Anyone with statistics, please comment as well.
Wow Joe you really know how to personally attack folks don’t you. Stop being a crab and align yourself with folks who know how to make money. Personal attacks doesn’t count in this category. I went on the VPAP website and it seems to me that those young men were underpaid. Now there a are some folks who were paid a whole lot of money. But the focus should not be on those young men. The focus should be on Torey. So run on .. run on… run on… and play games with someone else. Run on run on like your run on sentences.
Joe you are killing me with those attacks. JJ and Rod are pillars of the community. Without those two alot of elective offical would not be holding public office.It’s wild how are attacking those two when you have a beef Torey
David I agree with you. The focus should be on Torey Edmonds. She is the one running for School Board. We all, should be proud of JJ and Mr. Armstrong. If Missy comments are true, its seem that, they are hard working young men. It is time to move on. Focus on who is running for School Board. Thank-you
hey guys maybe i should run for school board i am so popular i am focusing on Torey she has all my attention i post some more things about Torey john did not post them You guys love jj and mr armstrong i got you in a uproar rexlax we all have the same commom goal if you are with me not let Torey get elected it is not personal against jj or mr armstrong the black community need more postive people like jj and mr armstrong hey john was i to personal when i spoke on keith west i have a right say what i want say without being censored i spoke the truth about keith west it is a pity you are scared that my words will get out to the public you can’t stop me i can see people on the street and say the same thing john stop censoring me let me speak
Joe — I’m not sure what you’re talking about. I didn’t delete any comment of yours. You seem to be new to the site; you also seem to have a misconception about how and what I do around here.
If you would like to discuss this further, please contact me directly at murden@gmail.com.
Damn Joe can I buy you a fucking period or a capital letter?
Thanks for more details, Joe Bing. I appreciate it.
john what you posted in 36# that’s why i said that i ask why keith west isn’t running because of the mess he made trying overthrow geogre braxton as chair i said he really upset the black community and they are still mad i also said you cannot do that when you represent a majority black district they would come out in droves to vote you out and this presidental race bad move keith he should have just left braxton alone he got lucky the first tlme by being elected because we came out to and they thought he was a black man keith west they know now that he very white
Joe you have extreme views. Keith West won fair and square he just out campaign every one else he got his message out but i do agree with you he should not have mess with Braxton.
Hey david, you didn’t answer stephen’s questions on post #45 regarding charter schools.
Joe was right about people thinking Keith West was black. Torey campaigned for him. She told people he was black. She got poll workers to work for him. The poll workers told voters he was black. We need to put someone in office that has the children’s education at heart. The last two, School Board members did not. It does not matter the race of a person. We need someone that will do thier best, to make sure our children get a good education.
Joe and Love, So folk voted for West because they thought his skin color was white? Were they aware of his plans and positons? I went to neighborhood meet and greets and St. John’s Church to ask the candidates questions before making my decision.
I did see West out at the polls representing himself and he didn’t cover his whiteness.
Does skin color matter?
Love is right about making “sure our children get a good education.”
It sure sounds like it matters to some people. In fact, you seem to be saying that’s the ONLY thing that matters to some voters. Why should we feel sorry for people who couldn’t be bothered to find anything out about a candidate except what someone else tells them? Heaven forfend they should actually make an effort on their own.
Joe, I wish you had spoken to me earlier, then I would have known that Braxton, being black, was immune to criticism. I was assuming that leading the School Board through one disastrous year was a good reason not to sign up for another year of the same. The board disagreed. Judge their decision by the wonderful accomplishments of this year.
And anyone who thought I was black wasn’t paying enough attention to be voting. I knocked on every voting door in this district. Anyone not home was left a card with my picture on it. My photo was in the newspaper and several websites, including my own.
I don’t know why that should matter anyway. We have the first majority white board in a long while, and they haven’t done any better that the previous boards.
What matters is to get people in place who have some understanding of the changes that need to take place. I think Torey is such a person. Maybe she isn’t in the papers so that you know what she’s doing, but through her work and interest she has a deeper understanding of the nature of the school system than anyone else I know. She also has a good understanding of the role of the school board. It isn’t what you think.
We need to get past these bromides of who cares for the children the most. Everyone cares, but not everyone knows how to translate that caring into a better education. One thing I learned is that those who invoke the children the most are the least capable of offering anything more concrete.
Change needs to happen. That change is going to make some people unhappy. They will be vocal in their unhappiness. The city must learn to see thorough the noise they produce.
I’ve been away for the weekend and see I have missed a very strange comment thread!
Oh, I meant to say “black” in that first question on post #57.
Yes, Tiny, it is has been very strange. This evening I’m supposed to meet with Carletta. I met with Torey Edmonds Sat. and she said that she does not support the closure of Bellevue, however, I do wish she had children or grandchildren in the east end schools. I know if or once I leave east end schools, I’m less likely to fight for them. To keep Bellevue open, Torey suggests redrawing distict lines to attract more in district folk. But I’m thinking that is not enough. I want an innovative program like the IB at the elementary level now. Actually the candidate willing to fight for innovative programs in the east end and take Bellevue off the chopping block will most likely get my vote.
Gray, you are one vote. Torey will not get my support.
Dealer, did I say I was voting for Torey? I haven’t met with all the candidates. As I meet the candidates I will let people know where they stand on the issues. Are you saying that the other candidates will not be for innovative programs in the east end? Are the other candidates for closing the Bellevue? Dealer please read carefully and don’t make assumptions. You have no idea who I’m supporting.
Well written piece making good points. Thank you Keith.
post 64: what are you referring to?
I didn’t make any assumptions. I said that I wasn’t voting for her as well as many residents in Fulton and over here in the Peter Paul area. You can vote for her or anybody else as far as I am concerned.That’s your right.But I’m looking at more than just the closing of Bellevue. I’m looking at everything as a whole and Ms. Torey is not the one. You need to study her because she has not changed one bit.It’s more than just a closing. We need someone who has the best interest in our children. I’m tired of my children being stepped on because of the games these folks play. Every child in the city of Richmond is mine. That’s how I look at it. It’s always about what a certain group wants. Wake up people!!!!!!!! The folks who are selfish, hasn’t lived here long. Look at the whole picture people. No I don’t support the closing of Bellevue,but I support a better Richmond for all of our children. That’s a good point Gray.
Keith’s post #59.
Tiny, do you know anything about the candidates and where they stand on the closing of Bellevue?
Dealer, I agree with you that the children are being stepped on, including my children. Wanting innovated programs and setting a higher standard of education in the east end will benefit all children.
Supporting “a better Richmond for all of our children” means encouraging neighbors to use their district schools. I’m tired of watching money flow into schools across town. The PTA at Fox makes about $85,000 at just one of their events. A good after school drama or art program like the ones at Fox cost about $6,000.
“innovative”
I agree. But pay close attention to what I said. Republicans love consolidation.
Do you mean warehousing children by stuffing way too many in one school like at Woodville. Because that is some major bull. You know schools such as Fox and Mary Munford would never allow their schools to be as over crowded as Woodville.
The neo conservatives also want all our schools to close down and fail. They hate funding public education. It is called “starving the beast.”
I understand where joe and dealer are coming from, although I won’t say I have decided who I will or will not vote for. The key is to bring about change without neglecting the kids currently in RPS. Yes, all schools should be brought up to the same level, but until that happens, all CHILDREN in Richmond should have a chance to attend a good school that focuses on academics, social development, and offers a SAFE learning environment.
Unfortunately, I feel the initiatives our rep KW pushed forward showed vision, but a lack of understanding of the needs of the currently enrolled RPS students and families. My kids are 11 and 8; they will only be in RPS for another 9 years at most. We do not have the time to “suffer†for the good of the whole. Suddenly removing open-enrollment or drastically cutting the busses (in and out of zone) has had a disastrous impact on those of us who cannot opt not to use RPS.
Saving money is very important, but closing schools and over-crowding existing schools negate any benefit from these savings. Cutting monies from non-instructional line items such as after school programs also have a tremendous impact the community.
Yes.
I agree with you Tiny.
Also, the only thing I know about any of the candidates is from this blog. Thank heavens we have that!
But, I would like to hear more from each candidate. I would like to a chance to meet each one, as well – but the best time would be after 6 pm on a weeknight.
Last time around, there were forums at various neighborhood association meetings as it got closer to the election. I’ve just put up an account of talking with Torey Edmonds this past Saturday and plan to get interviews with the other candidates as well.
Tiny, are you available Thursday (5/29/08) at 7:00 pm? If so where would you like to meet?
Tiny, And thank god for John Murden. He goes beyond the call of duty in making us all aware of the politics and happenings in our end of town and bringing together the community.
Thanks John.
Torey,
This is not a good week for me as I have to put in extra hours to make up for having Monday off. But I really appreciate your invitation – let’s get together at another time.
Tiny, do you live in the 7th district?
Yes
good.
Tiny, let me know when you would like to get together. Please invite your neighbors and friends. I look forward to meeting you soon .
hi everyone i am back i have been visiting some friends when i first came to Richmond by way of job relocation from Pittsburgh i talk to my realtor he told me about my house that it was in a great neighborhood witch it is great schools a great city for me to rise my children in at the time i was single and had no children but i am very happy to be in Richmond because i meet a wonderful man and we are happily married for three years and have two wonderful children they are not school aged yet but they will be that is very scary because the schools are in shambles
Keith you said we had a white majority and you all made a mess Keith you made a mockery of being a elected school board member tell one thing in the two years that you were elected that you did for the eastend community our eastend schools are in decay and despaired Armstrong had a rich tradition and history and giving a quality education you should have worked your butt off to make sure Armstrong got it’s history and tradition back they need a new track and a football field
my dad is a retired football coach football is big in Pennsylvania when he came to visit he cried when he went to a Armstrong football game this year he said that even in Pittsburgh the city were there are serious gang problems believe it or not crips and bloods and vice lords for years have tormented the city of Pittsburgh he shared with me that the field was in terrible shape and unplayable if he was the visiting team coach he would not let his kids play on it he said the coach was crazy for letting his kids play he said Armstrong kids were unorganized and unprepared he said with some good coaching and the right preparation they could be winners my dad also said there equipment is out dated he shared with me that Richmond public schools is the worst ran school system he every seen
he won three state championships each year his team rallied the community when i first moved here i was in culture shock i ask my neighbor about the high school football team she told me you go to a high school football game in this community you will get beat up or shoot she told me if i want to feel safe go to a game out in the county i thought that was ridiculous as time went on i saw the school system and the community had such a disconnect from high school sports from revenue from football games alone ran my town and school system of a population of 220,000 to this day i don’t under stand how they took Armstrong out of it’s building and put it in the Kennedy building
miss mcquinn i blame you just as much as i blame Reggie Malone you could have fought harder you sat there and did nothing as that issues divide the community i went to every school board meeting on the issue of merging the two schools mcquinn they say you carry a big stick and walk quietly you should have took that stick whoop Reggie Malone with it when they merge those schools how could you allow them to take some one Al mater away i bet you million bucks if it was your school you would fought like the dickens to keep your school open and Missy you say that jj is a hard worker why did he stand by and let them merge those schools because he was so busy playing the role of city manager jj you need to learn your role mr armstrong since you worked in the school why did not you work harder to keep armstrong and kennedy separated you are heavy into politics you should play a bigger role since you know everybody armstrong should not want for anything
you know why because all the big wigs thank you are a joke they don’t respect you you need to stop wearing that armstrong stuff to public meetings change your wardrobe until then you are going to see your buddy jj climb the political ladder in the political world torey that was your Al mater you of all people miss school candidate you let that happen how could you you went to kennedy with my neighbor how could you run for school board
and finally reggie malone you petty thief and shoplifter that you are you stole kennedy name in the middle of the night and put armstrong name on it i heard a lot of bad things about you reggie malone i hope you don’t run for public office again they said you sent your son after one of miss mcquinn supporters during one election why did that happen you were running for school board that don’t have nothing do with city council i don’t see how the mcquinn camp let that go i would have put that all in the papers you got off lucky when i heard that i call the school board clerk’s office to see if it was true they said at the time they had no knowledge of the incident i still don’t know if it is true but if is you do not need to represent the people or our children stay away reggie
miss mcquinn i hope you read this post because you need to do a better job with our schools keep bellevue open you and keith get armstrong stadium up to par and end the overcrowding in woodville you have lot work to do if you don’t get the job done i will get my husband to run against you torey i am going to go to every forum and see what your issuse are keith why are you backing torey because she is for charter schools how can you serve public schools but be for charter schools
Joe reading your comments 74 grad of Armstrong. For you not to be from here that says a lot about how things have went down in Richmond. The Armstrong-Walker classic made the city millions but some dummy downtown took it away.Mrs.Mcquinn never cared about sports. The stadium stared to decay when she was on the school board.Your dad was right my son played for Armstrong they were terrible Mark Robinson is the Coach.He don’t have a clue .During a game this year he got the arguing with a coach they were cussing at each other during the game and after the game.In front of the kids and everyone to see.Mr.West i want to know with this type of behavior why is he still coaching.How did the administration allow him to coach he can’t deny it because everyone saw it.Tone post 34# is right the kids love Coach Bullock my son say that He quit coaching football he is very upset that Coach Bullock quit.I wish Coach Bullock reconsider because we need positive role models like him. That live in the community he comes from a good family i play against his unlces.Mr. West we need more coaches like him. Please talk to him to come back my son says he really care about the children he walks to practice in rain,sleet,or snow.That is dedication .If child see that a coach would walk to practice everyday no matter what that makes him work harder.
Whew! That was exhausting. joe – it would be a lot easier to read your opinions if you would just use a little punctuation.
Everyone, make sure to fill out the online survey on the search for the superintendent. It only takes a couple of minutes. Go to http://www.richmond.k12.va.us/ and click on the online survey under the “Take the Superintendent Search—Public Hearing Community Survey.”
Joe and hsfl, I really enjoyed your posts –nothing beats first hand experience and real voices.