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Coleman not seeking reelection, J.J.Minor interested in seat

From Mark Robinson at Richmond Magazine:

“I just really feel strongly that Richmond is heading in the right direction. I want to be apart of that, but I don’t think being a school board member is going to be the best opportunity to do that based on my stage in life,” [Don] Coleman said. “I believe overall as a board, as a team, we’ve done a great job to get us to this point.”

[…]

At least one person who is [interested in the School Board position is]
James “JJ” Minor said in an interview Monday he was strongly considering a bid for the seat. Minor, an alumnus of Armstrong High School, is the son of Del. Delores McQuinn. He currently works in City Hall and serves as the chairman of the city’s Democratic Committee, the local wing of the Democratic party.

11 comments

John M 05/09/2016 at 10:41 PM

From Don Coleman via email this evening:

Dear Friends,

First: thank you for all your support over the 7+ years I have served on the School Board of the City of Richmond. Representing the East End, my life long home, has been an honor beyond words. Serving as Chairman and Vice-Chairman during these last 4 years has also been a privilege — one that allowed me to show my commitment to the entire city. My youngest daughter was in Martin Luther King Middle School when I was initially elected to serve. She was a key reason I joined the board as a concerned parent wanting the best for all children. Selah is a proud graduate of Richmond Public Schools’ award-winning Open High and is now a rising senior at Old Dominion University.

So it is with great humility that I announce I will not be running for re-election as Seventh District School Board Member. I humbly submit to you my friends that RPS is in a better place than when I arrived 7+ years ago. Yet I must admit what lies ahead is the amazing opportunity to build on the progress that we have seen. I have been hesitant in making this announcement because RPS like never before is positioned to move forward as a great urban school district. One of the accomplishments of my time on this board is our hiring of Dr. Dana Bedden and his subsequent building of an outstanding cabinet. Citizen support for RPS is higher than when I started this journey 7+ years ago. A “New Richmond” is emerging, yet I know more progress is needed!!!!

So I continue to need your help. I want to finish my term strong. I want us all to be engaged in the process to ensure the next 7th District School Board member is one who will continue to move East End schools –and RPS overall– forward.

In closing please be alert as we finalize the budget for the upcoming school year. Everyone must be vigilant to help the School Board be aware of your priorities for balancing the RPS budget. Not closing schools and making sure teachers get an increase are the priorities I’m hearing.

Again thank you and please help me finish strong over these next 6+ months.

Don Coleman7th District RPS Board Member

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ray 05/10/2016 at 2:44 PM

Anyone hear that Don Coleman’s daughter might run? I hear she’s pretty sharp.

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crd 05/10/2016 at 11:22 PM

@3 now that would be interesting!

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bill 05/11/2016 at 9:21 AM

can anyone identify an action by coleman that resulted in measurable improvements for students at rps?

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John M 05/11/2016 at 12:11 PM

The most salient aspect of Don Coleman’s tenure as the 7th District School Board representative is probably his guidance as the Board Chairman.

The most recently elected School Board was a good group for the most part. They have overseen the transition to a new Superintendent, and have been part of the transition to a new focus city-wide on the importance of the public school system. I’d draw a direct line between Don’s demeanor and personal communication skills, and the fact that a majority of the board has found a way to work well together.

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bill 05/24/2016 at 4:43 PM

so polite paralysis is the standard to be met for a school board member?

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