VPI Vote Tonight
Admittedly it has dominated discussion here a bit lately, but the School Board vote on the Superintendent’s proposed regional pre-school center is tonight. In light of the ongoing exchange of views (here on this site and elsewhere, here are links to 2 recent opinions from the RTD.
First, this from a concerned parent in the Munford School District, who wonders:
How can the School Board vote in favor of this proposal without an actual proposal? The School Board must push back on the administration and demand an actual, tangible proposal instead of hanging our children’s future on a “pipe dream.”
Second, this from RTD columnist Michael Paul Williams. His conclusion:
Yes, the rollout toward this preschool center could have been handled better all around. But the old race and class dynamics surrounding public education in Richmond grew old long ago.
Forty years after busing, how we respond to this situation looms as a test for Richmond. Cling to fear and resentment, and the community earns an F.
What’s the real issue here? Is it administrative inefficiency from RPS, trying to force through a proposal without proper planning and widespread support or is it another case of racism’s long shadow extending over our city?
[...] Fan of the Fan has an interesting story on the subject with links to an opinion piece written by a future Munford parent and by columnist Michael Paul Williams if you want to learn more. Posted by Jonah_H at 7:31AM under RVANews-news, education [...]
The School Board just voted to approve the VPI center. Vote was 8-1. Big surprise – Bridges voted in favor of the plan after acknowledging that the revenue numbers are a fairy tale. Gray and Murdoch-Kitt voted against.
I look forward to experiencing the VPI at Maymont!
I hope all the Fox & Munford yuppie parents enjoy the upgrades and improvements RPS made at Maymont for you. I guess those of us who don’t live in the proper neighborhoods just weren’t good enough.
Former Maymont Parent-
Why are you directing your anger at Fox and Mumford parents? It was Supt. Brandon and the school board that failed you and the children at Maymont. It was Brandon and the school board that made renovations while the children there were taking the SOLs. I am a Fox parent and I told them all that doing the renovations during SOLs was an outrage. And I said at the hearing.
Your anger is misplaced. Direct it at the people responsible – I had no say in anything that has happened.
To Maymont Parent,
I am sorry for the way RPS treated you and your neighbors. However, I also feel that RPS failed my family as well.
Unfortunately, taking children outside their neighborhoods, does not encourage parental involvement. The school board failed to acknowledge how they failed Maymont students and families. To me this is an indicator of how future children and families of Maymont are treated.
I also think how this proposal and implementation was conducted was in a hostile manner and this will have a lasting impact. I find it very disconcerning that the RPS felt the need to place security guards/police officers at the Maymont tour and hearing. As far as I know, the only thing the audience needed controlled was the disturbance of hand clapping. I hope they don’t havethe officers present when the children are in school.
It seems that RPS failing to accomplish great things because of a total lack of planning and lack of regard for what’s actually best for students, has become the norm, its now expected behavior.
How in the world the school board passed this without further consideration is beyond me, no real numbers and the board itself admitting no real numbers have been presented.
Brandon’s staff couldn’t account for 8 million dollars during an audit a few years ago, how can they just throw numbers out there without any justification?
Can a public grievance be filed against Brandon? Does anyone know when this school board’s term is up?