RECENT COMMENTS
RPS to break ground at MLK in October 2011
Building a Better Richmond was recently launched to share information on the school building process, including the rebirth of MLK Middle School:
Ground-breaking and site utilities work is presently scheduled to begin October 2011 with the completion of construction scheduled for June 2013. Students are slated to occupy the space on the first day of school in August 2013. Demolition of the existing building and final site activities will be complete around the end of that same year.
A public meeting was held last night at Martin Luther King Middle School to get community input on the redevelopment project:
About 50 people showed up last night to express their thoughts on what they’d like to see at the middle school. […] Meeting attendees put academic programs at the top of their priority list, followed by technology infrastructure and athletic programs. They also expressed a desire to see more programs and space for the community and after-hours uses.
City resident Shekinah Mitchell said the focus needs to remain on instruction and making sure the school provides every opportunity to help kids compete with their peers in the counties and around the world.
I received notice of last night’s meeting about plans for MLK via mail today. It was postmarked April 28. Typical foolishness for RPS. I believe more every day that we need an appointed school board to come in and clean house.
There is some great positive momentum in our local schools. It seems to me that the whole Church Hill community is starting to embrace the idea that these are our schools.
So we can replace the directly-elected ineptitude with corporate interests and political kickbacks? We’ll get right on that, right after we get rid of that pesky 17th Amendment.
I attended the meeting, as someone who attended the school when it was “Mosby”. I am happy to see that we are not wainting until the school falls apart before replacing it. Finally, RPS is “pro-active” ! yeah! Keep up the forward progress..don’t go back to the old way of doing things..Focus people! Get this done!
@ RVAWTF – This isn’t a Senate race, its the Richmond School Board. What political kickbacks and corporate interests are aligning to screw up the school system? To me the biggest corporate interest in the school system is the fact that great schools attract businesses and crummy schools are a minus. I certainly think some business acumen in the school system would be a good thing.
WOW!!!!
Cutting teacher’s pay…doing away with positions desperately needed in the system.
However, we have millions to spend on a new school….what’s wrong with repairing the existing building.
Buildings aren’t built like they were just thrity years ago, but lets get rid of the old..and in with the new.
Building a new buidling isn’t going to promote better study habits..and behavior.
Personally if I had children…they’d never attend any public school in Richmond.
This is for all the liberals living in church hill with small children…WHY DO YOU MOVE WHEN YOU CHILDREN GET OLD ENOUGH TO ATTEND THE RICHMOND PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
How do you expect the schools to get any better if you’re not even willing to send your children to the schools. I’m at least honest…I’d send my children to private schools or move to western Henrico…’PROBABLY BOTH’.
We need to hold the parents accountable ‘NOT’ the teachers. I’ve volunteered in Richmond city schools, and a lot of the parents are a joke.
They don’t encourage their children to try…
However, I do admit there were some parents who cared, and a lot of ‘Grandparents’ raising the children who cared.
#6. You’re right. Schools aren’t built the way they were 30 years ago. We don’t use asbestos today, as we did prior to 1976. We don’t use lead paint, as we once did. We try to use energy efficient HVAC equipment, windows, walls and insulation. We try to have system wiring that can handle modern demands and telecommunication needs. Mayor Jones is talking about schools that can be community hubs. I have some minor disagreements with some of those details, but building new schools is not a waste of money, and not a bad idea.
Per the name calling, my school board rep has children in the public schools, but even if she didn’t parents have the right to make the best choices for their children, based on their chlidren’s needs. One of those choices, but not the only one, should be public schools.
@Wasted Money – Actually studies show that new, technology capable schools do increase learning. If we can engage the community using the school designed as a hub for activity and community center, more engaged parents would lead to better study habits…
I agree that parents should be more engaged in their children’s learning, but good teachers can make an impact regardless. We should definitely be holding teachers responsible TOO (not solely). Otherwise you don’t weed out the bad teachers. You think bad teachers are bad for the kids? Think about the affect on moral of the good teachers that are truly attempting to make an impact.