My point exactly. We would have done just as well handing that money over to help pay for a new stadium!

“Common sense is the knack of seeing things as they are, and doing things as they ought to be done.”
Harriet Beecher Stowe.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qV-tk8CrqCQ&feature=related

Few are more aware of the progress that our school system has made in the past six years than I am. When I was first elected to the School Board, there were only four elementary schools in the entire city accredited — Munford, Fox, Fisher and J.E.B. Stuart, one of Northside’s best-kept secrets.

Today, all 29 elementary schools are accredited, albeit three (Blackwell, Oak Grove & Swansboro) are provisionally accredited.

To be sure, we have made progress. That said, we must guard against complacency. Complacency is dangerous and will put even more children in our city “at-risk” because it sends the message that this progress is “good enough.”

Until our schools are excellent, we need leadership and citizens who will not be satisfied with the status quo.

We need brave individuals and groups of individuals who have the collective courage to continue to ask why aren’t things better, even though we know we run the risk of being labeled “mavericks,” “critics,” or “outside agitators.”

Before you accuse anyone of political grandstanding, please recall that the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. wrote his “Letter from the Birmingham Jail” in response to a full-page advertisement questioning his motivations and criticizing him for not collaborating with the power structure as it existed.

As Dr. King so eloquently stated: “Comes a time when the cup of endurance runs over.”

excerpt.mhtmlhttp://www.theatlantic.com/ideastour/civil-rights/king-excerpt.mhtml

From my actual experience in RPS, I’ve met more corrupt, inept, unqualified administrators and elected officials than I have teachers and parents, however, my kids have not attended the roughest and poorest schools.

SEW I think you’re right about “throwing money” at Armstrong…the first step towards improvement is free -the administration must admit that gang activity is present instead of sitting in denial.

These are parents who can not work with the school on their children’s development. Instead of forging mutually respectful relationships with the teachers, principles, etc., these parents are combative from the start. They do not believe their darling offspring could ever be in the wrong. Working through discipline problems with children is impossible with these parents. They believe if their children are disruptive, it is because school is “challeging” for their children. If their children are disrespectful, they believe it is because the teacher doesn’t deserve respect. Etc. Etc.

Many teachers are a problem, but many many more have to deal with the parents that don’t care or the Monster parents who will not work with them to solve problems.

So true! Not to raise anyone’s dander but on an average you have either 1) teachers who are slackers or 2) parents who weren’t interested in school themselves now raising children and not disciplining them to do better because they feel like they did fine – yeah right.

I think you both have missed my point.

I’m not saying that the parents and students are responsible for the lack of handicap accessible entrances or the wobbly stairs and cracked ceilings.

You can have a brand new school with all the handicap ramps you could ever ask for, state of the art computers, lab equipment, excellent teachers, etc. All of that goes wasted if the students and parents are not wholeheartedly involved in the education process. Yes, there are some parents out there that are actively involved in their child’s education and some children out there that actually apply themselves and I applaud them. The vast majority, though, are not. Take a look at Armstrong, for example, and tell me that mess could be fixed with money. Please…most of the kids that attend that school are thugs with parents that don’t give a damn. Put those students in St. Christopher’s and they would still fail miserably.

Simply throwing money at RPS will not fix these problems…it’s what RPS does with the money that’s been allocated that will solve these problems.

Carol, to answer your post, yes. That’s how involved a parent should be. Granted, I agreed that a parent should not have to jump through those kinds of hoops to actually get an education for their child, however, if that is what is needed to get their child an education, then that is what should be done.

I, personally, do not have children but my tax money goes towards education. All I hear about RPS is that they need more and more money. What is being done with the money allocated to them? I’m all for funding education but shouldn’t we be able to fix the wobbly stairs, cracked ceilings, etc.?

I would like to add that in a council representative I would like someone with a positive attitude, who is fair-minded and tough-minded, will work hard for the community, and is able to effective collaborate with other council members and the SB while still achieving the goals for the community.

All the bickering and grandstanding has produced nothing. I am really tired of elected officials trying to ride into office on the back of the school system, and yet do nothing to fix anything. The fact is, the system cannot be fixed by “one” person, but instead by and effective collaboration of efforts that recognize the needs of the whole community. I am tired of “mavericks”. I want someone who can actually work with others to get the job done, not just be a squeaky wheel that has lost all credibility and cannot get anything done.

How involved should a parent be in their child’s education?

Involved enough to get upset when their two sons can’t attend the same school because one child is in a wheelchair and his neighborhood school is non-ADA compliant?

Involved enough to climb up the stairs at Albert Hill and Community High School on their hands and derriere in order to attend a parent-teacher conference?

Involved enough to bring a federal lawsuit against the schools, city and mayor asking the courts to enforce state and federal law?

Involved enough to expect the system to make good on promises made in a binding court settlement in U.S. District Court?

Involved enough to attend five years worth of School Board meetings, SB committee meetings, City Council and Council committee meetings?

Involved enough to decide enough is enough and hold the schools accountable for the money they receive and more — involved enough to push for audits of city and school finances and the necessary changes so that city and school personnel stop wasting our money to cover up their mistakes?

Involved enough to expect that teachers who are great be paid accordingly and teachers who are not be invited to leave?

Involved enough to expect the School Board and administrators to submit a “needs-based” budget and be ready to defend that budget line-by-line?

Involved enough to wonder why the school system has not had a permanent CFO or COO for more than a year?

Involved enough to expect the school system to obey the Virginia Public Procurement Act and to get mad at public officials who prefer to sing “Kumbaya” instead of holding lazy and corrupt employees accountable for their actions?

Involved enough to show up at a SB meeting and ask some hard questions and expect some honest answers?

Isn’t that where the progress should start? Please don’t get me wrong…I’m all for allocating proper funding to RPS but if the students, parents, teachers, and administrators of the schools are not involved in the progress then they funds are basically wasted. First and foremost, each student/parent should be committed to the child’s education. I really don’t care how much money you throw out there but if the students don’t care and don’t study and the parents don’t’ care and don’t encourage their children then you might as well throw all that money towards a new stadium…it will do just as much good!

Meanwhile, downtown white elephant projects like the Convention Center and the arts center/Center Stage project waste millions and LEGAL and MORAL priorities like ADA for RPS goes without.

Hopefully, Mayor Jones will be able to set the priorities. Schools Before Stadiums!

I haven’t noticed any real progress lately other than during the recent boom when investment money fueled renovation.

The real positives that I’d pull from the past 5 or 6 years are that the Neighborhoods in Bloom project has been quite successful in rebuilding and stabilizing certain parts of the neighborhood, violent crime has been drastically reduced, and the city schools have made significant progress in a few short years.

Looks to me that we have more than one capable person for the job and we should consider ourselves fortunate.

Regarding “the most” experience: If this was all important we would have elected McCain over Obama. Fortunately “experience” alone doesn’t win a race. Hopefully we’ll have more than one running for office along with interesting interviews and lively debates.

I’ll vote for John Murden.

Whats your definition of a progressive?

Given a lack of engagement or a clear-cut contest, party and personal endorsements have meaning, making it easier for folks to wade through what can be boring or frustrating. It also generally seems to keep the really awful candidates from getting elected. This has served us well in the 7th District this year – short of the Democratic ballot, do you think that Clarence Kenny would’ve been elected? or should’ve been? Isn’t Don Coleman a qualified candidate with strong ties to many areas in the community? Who specifically are you complaining about that was the endorsee?

While the mainstream media did not provide great coverage of the very local races, the school board candidates did a good job of getting out to the various civic association meetings and sat for interviews. They made themselves available at the ill-attended Bellevue Elementary candidates forum and the Fulton forum later that evening. I saw Don Coleman somewhere every ten days or so all summer. He is hardly the protégée of some shadowy 1980s political machine.

There were like 1,000 mayoral debates, all over the city, over 4 or 5 months leading up to the election. The first that I remember was in Jackson Ward and the last was in Fulton. Jones and Grey were in the neighborhood on and off through the fall and summer, and Goldman to a lesser degree.

Was Keith West the Democratic endorsee? A McQuinn/Marsh favorite? My point is that in the elections that I’ve seen in the 7th District, the qualified candidate that has worked the hardest to get their name out and to engage the voters has won the elections.

The Richmond Democratic Committee endorses folks that they agree with and would like to see win. If you want to see them select differently, get involved. OR — work to make viable coalition whose endorsement would have meaning to the voters.

I usually vote for the democrat but next time, I’ll make sure to go opposite of any local candidate backed by the Richmond Democratic Committee.

It was ridiculous to read the names of completely unknown folk on the ticket along with Warner and Obama.

Your post reeks of ignorance.

and it’s not just a black/white thing. i know plenty of black folks who aren’t in Henry’s kitchen, and resent his grip on politics in this city. yeah i know Dwight is Henry’s guy, but he only won because Robert Grey got a late start and didn’t have time to build the name recognition.

the possible council candidates we’re discussing here (Matt Conrad & John Murden) are well known in the community and have the spirit & energy to work for all of us in the 7th district.

Will someone else have to take it over, or will you use this a means to inform your potential future constituents?

If it all played out like that, I’d keep CHPN going though I’d have to get other folks to handle interviews for me I guess. Mitchell stayed with The Planet when he was on council, so some great precedent has been set :)

The next 7th district council person will be whomever McQuinn endorses (openly, or otherwise). True or False? Is this cynical or realistic?

Maybe true. A credible candidate with McQuinn’s backing would be in a good position to win, but a weak candidate would not.

That said, I’d absolutely love to see John Murden get it.

John, I hope you do run…I think you can win. We need someone young, educated, progressive, and community oriented on the council.

Having said that, I agree with many who believe John Murden(yes!) would make an excellent City Council member.

Richmond City Council members receive $25,000 and council president gets $27,000. The salary has been the same for quite a number of years. Plus, you have a District Liaison (think, assistant)and other perks. (SB members receive $10,000, the chair receives $11,000).

By comparison, a Chesterfield County Board of Supervisor members makes $32,500 and, in Henrico, it’s $45,400 for members, $49,900 for the vice chair and $52,200 for the chair.