Local Government, Civic Affairs and Education
Supporters of changing the date of Roanoke’s municipal elections say it will make it easier for residents to get to the polls. WFIR’s Clark Palmer has the latest
Photo: Roanoke County
Three people are running to represent the Cave Spring District on the Roanoke County Board of Supervisors. We will hear from all three in the next two weeks, and we started with former long-time Roanoke County Attorney and Republican candidate Paul Mahoney. The conversation touched on issues that included the future of the Tanglewood area, economic development, and whether Roanoke County is losing the “coolness factor” to the city. WFIR’s Evan Jones has the story:
Here is the full conversation:
We will hold similar live conversations with Independent Stan Seymour on Thursday and with Republican Brian Powell next Monday.
RCPL photo
The Urban Libraries Council chose the Roanoke County Public Library as one of 10 Top Innovators during the 2019 Innovations Celebration in Salt Lake City on Thursday. The annual Innovations award program recognizes leading practices from ULC’s member library systems across the U.S. and Canada. Roanoke County public libraries have initiated youth coding classes and embraced AI by becoming the first system in the nation to employ “Pepper,” a humanoid robot. (L-R in photo) Shari Henry, Director of Library Services, and Michael Hibben, Administrative Librarian at the South County Library, took home the hardware.
Rita Bishop (RCPS photo)
Roanoke School Superintendent Rita Bishop will retire at the end of the current school year; she made her announcement today in a letter to school employees. Bishop has led Roanoke City Schools since 2007, and she cites dramatically increasing graduation rates and seeing all schools become fully accredited as among the school system’s greatest achievements in the time since. Here is her letter:
Dear Employee,
I have decided to retire at the end of the school year. This has been a difficult decision, one that is made easier by two charming grandchildren, and has nothing to do with my recent injury.
I want you to know that I appreciate the efforts of everyone in Roanoke City Schools. We have proved that all students can be successful. I know that it is hard to meet the needs of our students, and you do that very well.
There are several things that are very important to me. We have made some tremendous strides—not because of one person; it has been a TEAM effort all the way. When I arrived in August 2007, we had eight unaccredited schools. The graduation rate was 59.06 percent. Today, I am proud that because of great teamwork and dedication, all of our schools are accredited and our graduation rate is 90 percent.
Keeping our students safe has been a #1 priority. The focus on school safety and security has helped us create a stable learning environment for our students. Without hesitation, I would send my child to any of our schools.
Forest Park Academy was established in 2008 to address the needs of students who were at risk for dropping out of school. Forest Park Academy has graduated 1,260 students.
Urban education is hard work; hard work deserves good pay. I am happy that we have been able to give salary improvements to all staff each year.
I appreciate the well wishes I received during my recent bout with a broken leg. My goal has always been to make the lives of the children in Roanoke City Schools better each day. I hope you will continue this endeavor.
MGN
Some schools in Roanoke City, Bedford, Craig, Franklin and Montgomery Counties among those in line for new Virginia school security equipment grants. Governor Northam today awarded $6 million in grants to 340 schools in 70 school divisions. The goal is to better protect students and teachers.
A full list of area schools included in the grant can be found toward the bottom of this news release:
RICHMOND—Governor Ralph Northam today awarded $6 million in School Security Equipment Grants to help protect students and teachers in 340 schools in 70 school divisions. The grants will pay for video monitoring systems, voice and video internal communications systems, mass notification systems, visitor-identification systems, access control systems, two-way radios, security vestibules, and other security upgrades.
“Virginia’s public schools must be safe learning environments where our children can grow, thrive, and prepare for a lifetime of achievement,” said Governor Northam. “That’s why I asked the 2019 General Assembly to more than double the maximum grant allowed for each school division, and worked with state lawmakers to double the total annual appropriation for this critical program. This funding represents an important investment in the safety and security of our students and teachers in every corner of the Commonwealth.”
The criteria for making the awards — developed by the Virginia Department of Education and the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services — give priority to schools most in need of modern security equipment, schools with relatively high numbers of offenses, schools with equipment needs identified by a school security audit, and schools in divisions least able to afford security upgrades. This year — at the recommendation of Governor Northam’s Student Safety Workgroup — additional weight was given to applications from elementary schools.
“The Commonwealth’s most precious resource is our children,” said Secretary of Education Atif Qarni. “These school security grants allow schools to implement innovative technology which will help protect Virginia’s students every day.”
The maximum annual award for a school division is now $250,000, compared with $100,000 previously. Next year, the total annual appropriation for the program will double, from $6 million, to $12 million.
“On behalf of my colleagues in schools across the commonwealth, I thank Governor Northam and the General Assembly for their leadership in providing our schools with additional resources to protect students and teachers from potential threats, and to respond effectively to emergency situations,” said Superintendent of Public Instruction James Lane. “In many cases, the School Security Equipment Grant Program provides funds for divisions and schools to address specific vulnerabilities identified during annual school security audits.”
The divisions awarded school security equipment grants are as follows:
- Albemarle County — $27,777 for Mary Carr Greer Elementary
- Alleghany County — $164,415 for Alleghany High and Sharon Elementary
- Arlington County — $6,100 for Taylor Elementary
- Augusta County — $117,075 for Riverheads High, Stuarts Draft High, and Wilson Memorial High
- Bedford County — $38,906 for Bedford Elementary, Big Island Elementary, Otter River Elementary, and Staunton River High
- Bristol — $83,961 for Joseph Van Pelt Elementary
- Brunswick County — $25,866 for Red Oak-Sturgeon Elementary
- Buena Vista — $100,633 for Enderly Heights Elementary, F.W. Kling Jr. Elementary, and Parry McCluer Middle
- Campbell County — $35,145 for Altavista Elementary, Leesville Road Elementary, and Rustburg Elementary
- Carroll County — $4,325 for Oakland Elementary
- Charles City County — $46,834 for Charles City County Elementary and Charles City County High
- Charlotte County — $65,566 for Bacon District Elementary, Central Middle, Eureka Elementary, Phenix Elementary, and Randolph-Henry High
- Charlottesville — $26,924 for Jackson-Via Elementary and Johnson Elementary
- Chesapeake — $173,325 for Deep Creek High, Greenbrier Middle, and Hugo A. Owens Middle
- Chesterfield County — $250,000 for Falling Creek Middle
- Craig County — $50,400 for McCleary Elementary
- Culpeper County — $66,558 for Farmington Elementary, Pearl Sample Elementary, and Sycamore Park Elementary
- Cumberland County — $58,067 for Cumberland Elementary
- Danville — $16,637 for Grove Park Preschool
- Dickenson County — $180,191 for Ervinton Elementary, Ridgeview High, and Ridgeview Middle
- Dinwiddie County — $34,674 for Dinwiddie County Middle, Dinwiddie Elementary, Southside Elementary, and Sutherland Elementary
- Fairfax County — $236,102 for Crestwood Elementary, Dogwood Elementary, Parklawn Elementary, Riverside Elementary, and Whitman Middle
- Franklin County — $34,699 for Boones Mill Elementary and Sontag Elementary
- Galax — $48,000 for Galax High and Galax Middle
- Grayson County — $25,221 for Fairview Elementary and Independence Elementary
- Greensville County — $57,156 for Edward W. Wyatt Middle, Greensville County High, and Greensville Elementary
- Halifax County — $223,558 for Clays Mill Elementary, Cluster Springs Elementary, Halifax County High, Halifax County Middle, Meadville Elementary, Sinai Elementary, South Boston Elementary, and Sydnor Jennings Elementary
- Hampton — $201,846 for A.W.E. Bassette Elementary, Aberdeen Elementary, Alfred S. Forrest Elementary, Armstrong Elementary, Barron Elementary, Benjamin Syms Middle, Booker Elementary, C. Alton Lindsay Middle, Captain John Smith Elementary, Cesar Tarrant Middle, Christopher C. Kraft Elementary, Francis Asbury Elementary, George P. Phenix Elementary, Hampton High, Hunter B. Andrews PreK-8, Jane H. Bryan Elementary, John B. Cary Elementary, John Tyler Elementary, Kecoughtan High, Luther W. Machen Elementary, Paul Burbank Elementary, Phillips Elementary, Phoebus High, Samuel P. Langley Elementary, Thomas Eaton Middle, Tucker-Capps Elementary, and William Mason Cooper Elementary
- Hanover County — $4,942 for Beaverdam Elementary, Cold Harbor Elementary, and John M. Gandy Elementary
- Harrisonburg — $11,132 for Thomas Harrison Middle
- Henry County — $41,383 for Axton Elementary, Drewry Mason Elementary, Fieldale-Collinsville Middle, and Laurel Park Middle
- Hopewell — $223,213 for Carter G. Woodson Middle, Dupont Elementary, Harry E. James Elementary, Hopewell High, Patrick Copeland Elementary, and Woodlawn Pre-School Learning Center
- Isle of Wight County — $41,122 for Hardy Elementary and Westside Elementary
- King and Queen County — $38,223 for Central High and Lawson-Marriott Elementary
- Lee County — $88,071 for Dryden Elementary, Elydale Middle, Flatwoods Elementary, Pennington Middle, and St. Charles Elementary
- Lunenburg County — $7,830 for Kenbridge Elementary, Lunenburg Middle, and Victoria Elementary
- Lynchburg — $121,510 for Dearington Elementary/Innovation, Heritage Elementary, Robert S. Payne Elementary, Sandusky Middle, and William M. Bass Elementary
- Madison County — $163,891 for Madison County High, Waverly Yowell Elementary, and William H. Wetsel Middle
- Manassas City — $1,586 for Jennie Dean Elementary
- Martinsville — $80,553 for Albert Harris Elementary, Martinsville High, Martinsville Middle, and Patrick Henry Elementary
- Mathews County — $20,796 for Thomas Hunter Middle
- Mecklenburg County — $80,763 for Chase City Elementary, LaCrosse Elementary, and Park View High
- Montgomery County — $80,145 for Christiansburg Elementary, Christiansburg Primary, and Harding Avenue Elementary
- Nelson County — $64,203 for Tye River Elementary
- Newport News — $239,134 for B.C. Charles Elementary, Carver Elementary, David A. Dutrow Elementary, Deer Park Elementary, Denbigh Early Childhood Center, Discovery STEM Academy, General Stanford Elementary, George J. McIntosh Elementary, Hidenwood Elementary, Hilton Elementary, Horace H. Epes Elementary, John Marshall Early Childhood Center, Joseph H. Saunders Elementary, Kiln Creek Elementary, L.F. Palmer Elementary, Mary Passage Middle, Menchville High, Newsome Park Elementary, Oliver C. Greenwood Elementary, Point Option Alternative School, R.O. Nelson Elementary, Richard T. Yates Elementary, Riverside Elementary, Sedgefield Elementary, T. Ryland Sanford Elementary, Willis A. Jenkins Elementary, and Woodside High
- Norfolk — $237,018 for Azalea Gardens Middle, Berkley/Campostella Early Childhood Education Center, Blair Middle, Booker T. Washington High, Chesterfield Academy Elementary, Coleman Place Elementary, Crossroads Elementary, Easton Preschool, Granby Elementary, Granby High, Ingleside Elementary, Jacox Elementary, James Monroe Elementary, Lake Taylor School, Lake Taylor High , Larrymore Elementary, Lindenwood Elementary, Little Creek Elementary, Mary Calcott Elementary, Northside Middle, Norview Elementary, Norview Middle, Oceanair Elementary, P.B. Young, Sr. Elementary, Sherwood Forest Elementary, St. Helena Elementary, Suburban Park Elementary, Tanners Creek Elementary, The Academy of International Studies at Rosemont, Tidewater Park Elementary, Walter Herron Taylor Elementary, Willard Model Elementary, William H. Ruffner Middle, and Fairlawn Elementary
- Norton — $135,287 for Norton Elementary
- Nottoway County — $8,535 for Blackstone Primary, Crewe Primary, Nottoway Intermediate, and Nottoway Middle
- Orange County — $77,940 for Locust Grove Middle and Taylor Alternative Education Complex Feeding Site
- Patrick County — $15,943 for Patrick County High and Patrick Springs Elementary
- Pittsylvania County — $160,372 for Chatham Elementary, Gretna Elementary, and Kentuck Elementary
- Portsmouth — $207,167 for Brighton Elementary, Churchland Elementary, Douglass Park Elementary, Hodges Manor Elementary, I.C. Norcom High, James Hurst Elementary, John Tyler Elementary, Lakeview Elementary, Mount Hermon Preschool Center, Olive Branch Preschool Center, Park View Elementary, Simonsdale Elementary, Victory Elementary, Westhaven Elementary, and Woodrow Wilson High
- Prince Edward County — $34,621 for Prince Edward County High and Prince Edward Middle
- Prince George County — $6,654 for William A. Walton Elementary
- Prince William County — $48,637 for Dale City Elementary, Enterprise Elementary, and Kerrydale Elementary
- Radford — $72,479 for Belle Heth Elementary, John N. Dalton Intermediate, McHarg Elementary, and Radford High
- Richmond — $171,673 for Armstrong High, Franklin Military Academy, and John B. Cary Elementary
- Roanoke — $104,223 for Addison Aerospace Magnet Middle, Breckinridge Middle, Fairview Elementary, Fishburn Park Elementary, Garden City Elementary, Hurt Park Elementary, Lincoln Terrace Elementary, Monterey Elementary, Patrick Henry High, Roanoke Academy For Mathematics and Science Elementary, Westside Elementary, and Woodrow Wilson Middle
- Rockbridge County — $92,000 for Maury River Middle School and Natural Bridge Elementary
- Scott County — $174,156 for Duffield-Pattonsville Primary, Dungannon Intermediate, Fort Blackmore Primary, Hilton Elementary, Nickelsville Elementary, Rye Cove Intermediate, Shoemaker Elementary, Twin Springs High, Weber City Elementary, and Yuma Elementary
- Smyth County — $106,664 for Atkins Elementary, Chilhowie Elementary, Marion Elementary, Marion Middle, Northwood High, Northwood Middle, Oak Point Elementary, Saltville Elementary, and Sugar Grove Elementary
- Southampton County — $84,483 for Capron Elementary and Southampton Middle
- Spotsylvania County — $4,991 for Harrison Road Elementary
- Staunton — $33,320 for Bessie Weller Elementary
- Suffolk — $208,892 for Elephant’s Fork Elementary, John F. Kennedy Middle, and Kilby Shores Elementary
- Tazewell County — $66,536 for Abb’s Valley-Boissevain Elementary, Dudley Primary, Graham High, Graham Intermediate, Graham Middle, Richlands Elementary, Richlands Middle, Tazewell Intermediate, Tazewell Middle, and Tazewell Primary
- Virginia Beach — $144,197 for Arrowhead Elementary, Bayside Sixth Grade Campus, Bayside Elementary, Bayside Middle, Birdneck Elementary, Brandon Middle, Brookwood Elementary, Diamond Springs Elementary, Fairfield Elementary, Glenwood Elementary, Green Run Elementary, Green Run High, Hermitage Elementary, Holland Elementary, Indian Lakes Elementary, Kempsville Elementary, Kempsville High, Kempsville Meadows Elementary, Kempsville Middle, King’s Grant Elementary, Landstown Elementary, Lynnhaven Elementary, Malibu Elementary, Newtown Elementary, Parkway Elementary, Pembroke Elementary, Pembroke Meadows Elementary, Point O’View Elementary, Providence Elementary, Red Mill Elementary, Rosemont Elementary, Rosemont Forest Elementary, Salem Elementary, Thalia Elementary, W.T. Cooke Elementary, Williams Elementary, Windsor Oaks Elementary, Windsor Woods Elementary, and Woodstock Elementary
- West Point — $20,796 for West Point Middle/High
- Winchester — $43,792 for Frederick Douglass Elementary and Garland R. Quarles Elementary
- Wise County — $31,166 for St. Paul Elementary, Union High, Union Middle, and Wise Primary
A local match of 25 percent is required of most divisions. Three school divisions with composite indices of local-ability-to-pay of less than 0.2 — Buena Vista, Lee County, and Scott County — and the Virginia School for the Deaf and Blind are exempt from the local-match requirement.
The School Security Equipment Grants program was established by the 2013 General Assembly in the aftermath of the December 14, 2012, mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Connecticut.
G Marrano photos
Restoration Housing officially kicked off the non-profit’s fourth historic rehabilitation today, this time on Dale Avenue in Southeast Roanoke. The 120 year old-plus Queen Anne style home was once home to a mayor of Roanoke but had fallen into disrepair. Isabell Thornton is executive director for Restoration Housing. Thornton says they will invest about $500,000 into the project and will recoup some of those costs through historic tax credits in the new Belmont District. The end result will be four affordable apartments for those transitioning out of homelessness.
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) – Gov. Northam says he has restored voting and other civil rights to more than 22,000 felons who have completed their sentences since taking office last year.Northam announced the milestone Wednesday. The restored rights include the right to vote, serve on a jury and run for public office.The Democratic governor previously announced in February that he’d restored rights to more than 10,000 felons.His predecessor, former Gov. Terry McAuliffe, made undoing a vestige of the state’s Jim Crow era and restoring voting a hallmark of his term in office and restored the rights of more than 170,000 felons.Virginia is one of a handful of states that permanently limit the civil rights of people convicted of a felony barring gubernatorial intervention.