| Wednesday, February 21, 2024
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| Dear #RPSStrong Family,
Tonight's updates:
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| FY25 Budget – I'm thrilled to share that the School Board voted to approve an FY25 budget last night! It includes an $38 million in new investments for our five Dreams4RPS priorities.
- For Academics, we continued to prioritize reading supports, but also proposed new investments to reform some of our alternative education programs, and expand RPS200, our extended-year initiative.
- For Talent, we honored all of our collective bargaining agreements, proposed double-digit raises for our lowest paid employees, and funded salary decompression for anyone still on a compressed schedule from the 2008 recession.
- For Wellness, we reflected on the lessons of the Monroe Park shooting, and emphasized more mental health professionals, more capacity for our therapeutic program at Amelia Street, more training, better systems to track student mental health issues, and new ways of re-engaging students in our alternative programs, such as adding art and music.
- For Engagement, we continued our investment in attendance, with a special emphasis on outreach to our non-English speaking community.
- For Operations, we increased our allocation for school maintenance, added positions to the facilities team, and made new commitments to cybersecurity.
- Finally, we maintained all critical ARP expenditures (e.g., the Richmond Virtual Academy), identified nearly $1.75 million in non-personnel reductions, and proposed over $16 million in CIP improvements, primarily for athletics, HVAC/roof repairs, and fire safety.
The budget now heads to the City for consideration. At the same time, we're keeping an eye on the General Assembly. The recently released House and Senate budgets are MUCH better for RPS than the Governor's proposed budget. But we're still a long way from the finish line. I'll have more information for you very soon about how to keep the pressure on!
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| Dreams4RPS – Join us at the Hull Street Branch of the Richmond Public Library (1400 Hull St) at 6:30 pm tomorrow, February 22, for an 8th District Dreams4RPS community meeting. To help frame the conversations, we've put together an Outcomes Report (available in English and Spanish) about the past five years.
If you haven't had the opportunity to attend one of our community meetings, you can still share your dreams with us. Just visit our website to take the survey and find a meeting location near you.
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| African American Read-In – Tomorrow, from 5:30 - 7:30 pm, the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts will bring together literature and art as notable figures from the community lend their voices to an immersive storytelling experience at the African American Read-In. Then, on Saturday, February 24, from 11 am - 12:30 pm, the museum will celebrate children’s literature and art created by Black artists at the African American Family Read-In. Join VMFA educators and members of the RVA community for an interactive group experience pairing three works of art by Black artists with readings of children’s books by Black authors. Both events are free and open to the public. The National Read-In is sponsored by the Black Caucus of the National Council of Teachers of English and endorsed by the International Literacy Association.
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| BHM Spotlight – Tyrus Spence is a first grade student at Redd ES. Described by his teacher as a wonderful student who is kind and helpful, she shared the following: "Tyrus goes above and beyond to make others feel welcomed and valued. He is incredibly hard working and determined. I'm incredibly proud of his growth and dedication to school and his extracurricular activities. I'm so lucky to be his teacher!" Who does Tyrus most admire? "Martin Luther King, Jr., because he was a good man. He made the world a better place!" Amen.
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| RPS Love Store – Have you had a chance to check out our Black History Month designs in the RPS Love Store? All proceeds support the Richmond Black History Museum!
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With great appreciation,
Jason
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| Shout-Outs – Please help us continue to inspire and uplift the RPS community by submitting shout-outs to shoutouts@rvaschools.net. Entries can be submitted in Spanish or English!
- I was volunteering at Chimborazo Elementary recently when a fire drill took place. I filed outside with the rest of the school, and I have to say, it was the fastest, most orderly fire drill I have ever witnessed. Kudos to teachers and staff for doing an amazing job with showing students what's expected.
- I would like to give a shout-out to Christie Barford in the Talent Office. Christie is so very helpful in finding new, innovative ways to accomplish great things and meet goals. Whenever I have a question, she is willing to assist and embodies the #ServeWithLove mentality.
- I would like to shout-out Brandon Balo at Dogwood Middle School. He recently joined us as our instructional compliance coordinator, and has already done an exceptional job helping guide us and offering support.
- I would like to shout-out Nichole Parker, Ryan Johnson, and Destiny Rainney at Dogwood Middle School. Their ability to offer support, encouragement, and a good laugh at the drop of a hat is unmatched, and I am so grateful to work with each of them.
- Shout-out to Andrea Bryant and Aaron Bryant at Lucille Brown Middle School who consistently go beyond the call of duty! Your dedication, passion, and commitment to your students' growth and success is truly inspiring. Thank you for making a difference in the lives of so many young minds and for supporting and inspiring your colleagues throughout the district. You are both appreciated more than words can express!
- I wanted to shout-out Andrea Bryant and Aaron Bryant at Lucille Brown. Both are phenomenal teachers, and both are amazing advocates for their students. I want to especially shout-out Andrea Bryant for being a disabilities advocate and mentor in RPS. She was the teacher that I reached out to for guidance when I started working for RPS with certain health needs, and she provided (and continues to provide) detailed guidance on being the best teacher I can be. Andrea Bryant has also been crucial as an advocate for teachers seeking ADA accommodations. As someone with accommodations herself, she has been amazing at helping teachers who need accommodations navigate the process of communicating them properly (and being able to stand up for themselves when they are facing discrimination for their needs).
- Bravo to Ms. Bruno and the River City Dance Ensemble for their performance of “Stand Up" by Cynthia Erivo in honor of Black History Month. It was an excellent and moving performance. Anyone who didn’t get to see it in person should look for it on YouTube. They were amazing!
- I would like to shout-out Ms. Callahan, the school counselor at Broad Rock Elementary, for always being supportive and willing to go the extra mile to make sure her students are getting the help (both in and out of school). She is so appreciated!
- I’d love to give a shout-out to Ms. London for coordinating and hosting our Black History Experience at William Fox! Great job, Ms. London!
- I would like to send a shout-out to Clara Curbelo-Goad, payroll technician, for the phenomenal job that she continues to do to ensure our teachers and staff are compensated promptly. There are many things that I can share about Clara's dedication, love, and kindness that she exemplifies daily. So kudos to you Clara. You are greatly appreciated!
- I would like to shout-out a 7th grade English teacher, Jasmine Armistead of Martin Luther King, Jr. Middle School. Ms. Armistead goes above and beyond for her students every day. She builds rapport, not only with her students, but also with their parents. Her kind demeanor and passion for student success is what makes her an amazing asset to the MLK family and community. Keep shining, Ms. A!
- A huge shout-out to Nicole Grant of Martin Luther King, Jr. Middle School. Ms. Grant is a wonderful and essential part to our MLK family and the 7th grade team. Her dedication to all the students, past and present, is what sets her apart. She is a wealth of knowledge and makes sure that our students get the best opportunities to grow and excel. It's always a pleasure to work with Ms. Grant!
- Shout-out to the Albert Hill Admin Team for excellent communication about a few incidents at school recently that involved emergency vehicles. Thank you for taking the time to realize that parents passing by may worry if they see flashing lights, communicating clearly through Remind about the issue, and ensuring the safety of our children. We appreciate you!
- Shout-out to Darlene from the RPS Behind the Wheel Program. She has been a pleasure to interact with and communicated very clearly. I've talked with several private Behind the Wheel Instructors lately and Darlene has been much more informative and helpful!
- I would like to send a shout-out to the Richmond HS for the Arts Girls Varsity Basketball team. I had the privilege of watching them play on Tuesday (my daughter played on the opposite team). Although they lost, these young ladies did not let that stop them. They played hard all 4 quarters. Never once did I see anyone with their heads down or not giving it 100%. That speaks volumes of not only the players but the coaching staff as well. It was great to witness 2 of my former students on that team. Go, Bulldogs!
- Kudos to the exceptional librarian at Bellevue Elementary School, Gina Powell, for her stellar work on teaching kindness to each class at Bellevue this week! Her enthusiasm was contagious and the whole school was impacted positively by her loving attention. Thank you for the beautiful displays of our children's attention to kindness in your lessons this week and throughout the year! Thank you for all that you do for our Bellevue Dragons!
- I want to shout-out Ms. Bruno and the River City Dance Team on their outstanding performance for the RPS School Board on Tuesday. Ms. Bruno and her students received a standing ovation for their beautiful Black History Month performance. I want to also shout-out Principal Murphy-Braxton, RCMS staff, and parents for the overwhelming support they gave to the River City Dance Team. It was wonderful to see the RCMS family show up in numbers.
- Sending a shout-out to our counselor, She'ron Fields, and social worker, Rebecca Wood, at Barack Obama ES. Also to our students on our poster wall who reminds us that anyone can "be the rainbow in someone else's cloud" with a bit of kindness. The wall of rainbows and clouds have brightened our hallway and spread kindness throughout the building! Thanks for showing Kindness Matters!
- Yesterday was truly an amazing time for the students and families at the Black History Experience event at William Fox Elementary School! It was a packed house, as we had a chance to enjoy and celebrate not only Black History Month, but experience the taste of culture, with soul food catered by Southern Kitchen. The William Fox Choir did their thing, along with our students showcasing their talent. The NPHC Greek Sororities and Fraternities performances were amazing. They showed their hard work by helping out tremendously once the event was over! Thank you, Ms. London, our school counselor, for curating this event and being an amazing host. We hope to make this an annual event, because everyone had a ball! We're proud of all the hard work you do – your work doesn't go unnoticed.
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- Yesterday Swansboro Elementary School was thrilled to receive a $500 grant from the law firm of ReidGodwin! The money will be used to purchase English and Spanish books for an outdoor book walk of the book Creepy Crayon. Many thanks to ReidGodwin for their ongoing support of RPS libraries, literacy, and reading in general – their support is much appreciated.
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| Reminders from Previous RPS Directs
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| RPS Shines – This May, we're hosting our Third Annual RPS Shines, a special evening to recognize and honor our life-changing teachers, principals, and support staff. You can help us celebrate these amazing individuals in two ways: 1) by nominating RPS educators and staff for our division wide awards – Lucille Brown Impact Award, Rodney A. Robinson Equity Award, and the 2024 Principal of the Year Award; and 2) by supporting RPS Shines with a donation to the Richmond Public Schools Education Foundation. The window to submit nominations closes on Friday, March 1. Thank you!
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| Advocate for RHSA – On Wednesday, March 6, RPS will be requesting a waiver from the city Zoning Board to install light poles on the athletic grounds of the new Richmond High School for the Arts. If you can, please come out to support the RHSA community. For more information, visit our website or scan the QR code below with your phone's camera. Thanks in advance for your support!
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| Tutor Recruitment – Are you a retired teacher, college student/recent grad, or community member interested in supporting the academic success of our students? We're currently accepting applications for academic tutors to support our high-intensity tutoring program. If you or someone you know is interested in joining the RPS team, just visit our website to apply or scan the QR code below with your phone's camera. This work is going to take #AllofUs!
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| RPS Links
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