RECENT COMMENTS
MLK Middle School in, George Mason out of Phase 1
The School Board voted 6-1 tonight to proceed with a school development plan that prioritizes the schools for new development as: a new Huguenot HS, Broad Rock ES, Oak Grove ES, Martin Luther King MS, and then George Mason ES, Green ES, & Elkhart MS. Previously slots for 4 schools had been identified; this keeps MLK MS on the list for redevelopment and pushes George Mason to the next phase.
Absent was 7th District School Board member Donald Coleman, who is in the hospital.
The night of 2 School Board meetings began at 4:30ish with a recap of the previous meeting (in which they informally decided how to prioritize the building of new schools, with changes that likely pushed any work on MLK Middle School out of Phase 1 of any development).
A time for public comments followed. Many people, including the principals of a Richmond middle school and high school, spoke on the positive impact of the Capital City Program (CCP). A former CCP student received applause after speaking to the changes that the school allowed her to make with her life. Another large contingent spoke to the need for new elementary schools on Southside, describing schools that are falling apart and with out the infrastructure to support modern technology. A third set of folks spoke to the need for new schools in the East End, with Matt Conrad calling the 40 years with no new schools “an injustice”.
State Senator Henry Marsh, describing himself as a resident of the East End, spoke glowingly for CCP but did not mention MLK MS or George Mason ES.
The discussion came up again during the public speaking period of the 6PM meeting. Activist Art Burton spoke forcefully against the Mayor’s proposal, describing it both as taking “two historically disadvantaged communities and pitting them against each other” and lacking public input. Saying that the Mayor’s proposal was akin to “killing the idea of educational equality” and social justice, he railed that voting for a new Huguenot (at the implied loss to the 6th and 7th Districts) is a vote that “we will never be equal”.
The School Board themselves took up the topic about an hour into the 6PM meeting with another recap of the November 9 meeting. Given the chance to speak, the 2nd District’s Gray again questioned the process, saying that too much of the School Board’s responsabilities have been given over to the Mayor’s office. She also stated that she was against beginning with a new high school first.
The 9th District’s Wilson said that it is time to move forward, that there is now political will.
Bridges (1st District) called for the need to keep plans up to date, said that this is what is going on now: updating the 2007 list for 2009. Said that 1st District residents want more options for high school. Points made: Sixty-five percent of the schools in RPS are 45 years or older. The plan being considered now will give 17% of the students new schools.
The 8th District’s Page said that “it is time to step up to the plate” and take action. The 4th District’s Graham-Scott said that this option is a chance to “move forward as a partnership” and called for the same effort being put into build be put into programming and staffing at the new schools.
The 6th District’s Smith spoke for the 6th and 7th Districts, describing the schools that have been closed and the ragged conditions of the buildings and saying that “students have gone through that building thinking that they are not cared for by Richmond Public Schools”. MLK will become a community center. Overby-Sheppard *will* be in Phase 2.
School Board members Donald Coleman (7th District) and Norma Murdoch-Kitt (3rd District) were not present and did not vote.
What does “redevelopment” mean in this context?
[Sorry – hit “submit” prematurely :>) ]
And what does this entail for MLK MS?
Union Hill has supported a number of things in recent years here in the East End. We’ve asked for business-friendly zoning to grow our economic base, advocated for community policing to protect our streets, supported access to housing and healthy food for our residents at every stage of life, and insisted that Old and Historic district designation is instrumental to the long-term health of our community.
EVERY SINGLE ONE of those issues pales in comparison to the importance of adequate educational facilities in the East End. Access to quality public education in schools worthy of the dignity of our children is the beginning of the solution to a multitude of evils in our community: crime, racism, addiction, and generational poverty to name a few.
Forty years without a single new school in our district is an injustice that demands –and cries out for– change.
@ JCM – New or renovated, depending on how the numbers work out. Given the mess involved in renovating a school that’s in use, I’d bet on a new school.
A new Huguenot High among Richmond school priorities (RTD 11/16/09)
Look at this from a political context- the biggest issue is the school board doesn’t have taxing power. I’m not saying that they should, but (due to that) the mayor and city council fund whatever the school board does. Thus, they are directly responsible to their constituents for what they represent. I’m proud that Jones stepped out of the comfort zone on this issue (something he has been heavily criticized for and on a 5th rail issue none the less).
Look it might be unfair that the East End isn’t getting the schools (new or renov.) initially promised. However, think about the positive impact a new school, and the success stories resulting, on potential future new/renov. for schools. Let’s not delay that opportunity in further district wars. Also, let’s hold Jones accountable to live up to the promises of the future phases as he stays in office.
We are so in need. This is a shame.
I am new to the topic as I don’t have a child in the school system but grew up in a surrounding county. One of the first things that comes to mind when I think about the current situation is where is all the money going. From my little research it is astonishing how far behind the city is as it relates to infrastucture and technology much less educational outcomes. How have the surrounding counties built several high schools and middle schools while the city none. How do they have technology plans while city has none. I see these proposals as first steps not full solutions. We need to align our resources to our priorities. Without a viable school system in the city boundries the population will continue to bleed to the counties
lolo, agreed. thank you.
http://www.vagreenparty.org/richblog/?p=18