Henrico parent rescinds book challenge; Teacher to stand trial in sex assault case
Good morning, and happy teacher appreciation week! Welcome back to another edition of Henrico Education Weekly.
Here’s your rundown of this week’s local education news.
BACK-AND-FORTH BOOK BEEF
📚A Gayton Elementary School parent submitted a formal complaint about the book A Good Kind of Trouble, which is available in Henrico County Public Schools libraries. The school division began a book review process this month.
The novel, written by Lisa Moore Ramée and published in 2019, is about a 12-year-old Black girl who gets in trouble at school for wearing a Black Lives Matter armband, but sticks up for what she believes in and pushes back against school authority.
The parent wrote in the complaint that he or she believes the purpose of the novel is to indoctrinate students, and that he or she objects to the “support of a political/Marxist group.”
Novel under review by Henrico Schools committee after complaint of ‘indoctrination,’ ‘Marxist’ ideology
📖But, one day after the Citizen published a story about the book challenge, the parent withdrew his or her request after the process had been underway for more than three months.
The parent who submitted the complaint has a child at Gayton Elementary School in the county’s Far West End, according to school system officials. The student population there is 77% white and 4% Black, significantly less diverse than the overall student population of the school system (35% white and 36% Black).
There are 33 copies of the novel available at 16 elementary schools and six middle schools. The book has been checked out more than 160 times since it was added to HCPS libraries in July 2019.
Henrico parent withdraws request for review of youth novel
TEACHER TRIAL
A Short Pump Middle School teacher who was accused of sexually assaulting a student on campus will appear in court for a three-day jury trial beginning May 31.
Dean Lakey, 60, allegedly committed the assaults in 2017 at Short Pump Middle School, according to court documents filed in Henrico County Circuit Court. The student who accused him was 12 at the time and is now 17 years old. She made the allegations last spring.
He is still on unpaid leave from his HCPS job.
Jury trial approaches for Henrico teacher accused of sex assault on student
CRIME ON CAMPUS
🚔An 18-year-old Varina High School student was arrested on a malicious wounding charge Wednesday.
A HCPS administrator who tried to separate fighting students was struck and received a laceration to the forehead, according to HCPS spokeswoman Eileen Cox. The administrator was taken to the hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries, according to police.
Student charged after fight at Varina High School
CARDONA CAMPUS VISIT
🏫U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona visited Richmond on Monday to tour programs at J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College, which he said are examples of what he wants to see all over the U.S.
U.S. education secretary tours Reynolds CC, emphasizes college’s role in economic development
NEXT WEEK
📅The Henrico County School Board is holding a work session on Thursday at the New Bridge Learning Center. Time is TBD. The agenda is usually posted by Friday evening.
That’s all for this week! As always, thanks for reading.
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