Henrico School Board approves new AP African American Studies course; Henrico Schools seeks big boost in funding for AC repairs
Happy Holidays everyone! And happy almost 2024!
The Henrico School Board approved several new courses for next school year, including the new AP African American Studies course that received criticism from some Republican lawmakers. The course will be offered at all Henrico high schools if enough students sign up.
Henrico Schools also submitted a request last week to the Board of Supervisors for an additional $9 million in funding for AC and roofing repairs — asking for a total of $21 million to address the many AC outages that occurred earlier this school year, as well as other maintenance needs.
Jennie Por is Teacher of the Year! HCPS named Por, an early childhood education and preschool teacher at Springer Preschool Academy, as the 2024 Henrico Teacher of the Year at a surprise announcement Monday.
New diverse offerings
The Henrico School Board approved several new courses for the 2024-2025 school year, including the new Advanced Placement African American Studies course.
The Virginia Department of Education approved the course in September to be taught at Virginia high schools after concluding that it did not violate Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s executive order banning “the use of divisive concepts, including Critical Race Theory.”
The College Board recently made updates to the course that removed several topics, including Black Lives Matter, slavery reparations, and queer life, after facing criticism from government officials. The course gained national attention earlier this year when Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said he would ban it from being taught in Florida schools.
AP African American Studies will be offered at all Henrico Schools high schools starting next school year.
'We don’t have enough money'
The Henrico School Board last week formally requested an additional $9 million in funding from the Henrico Board of Supervisors – money that it would use to replace aging air conditioning units and roofs at public schools.
At a Dec. 14 meeting, the school board passed the division’s capital improvement plan for fiscal year 2024-2025, which requests that the board of supervisors allocate $21 million to Henrico Schools for building maintenance – a $9 million increase from what was allocated in the current fiscal year.
The board of supervisors funds the school district’s CIP each year and has provided HCPS with $1.5 million for mechanical repairs and $1.5 million for roof maintenance every year since 2000. But this year, HCPS will need much more funding to keep up with aging buildings and higher equipment costs, HCPS officials said.
“To put it simply, additional funding is needed to keep up with our mechanical breakdowns, aging systems, and yearly inflation,” HCPS Chief of Operations Lenny Pritchard said.
Teacher of the Year
Jennie Por, an early childhood education and preschool instructor at the Advanced Career Education Center at Highland Springs, has been named Henrico Schools’ Teacher of the Year.
“This is the most incredible honor,” Por said at a surprise announcement Dec. 18 at the center’s Springer Preschool Academy building. “My heart is exploding right now. We strive to get our students life-ready, and we do that every single day. … I’m just so pleased to be able to represent the greatest county ever.”
Por was selected from five finalists — one from each of Henrico’s magisterial districts — by a committee of administrators and educators using an interview and review process.
New proposal honors Lucia Bremer
Virginia Senator-Elect Schuyler VanValkenburg and Delegate Rodney Willett have introduced legislation designed to strengthen Virginia’s child firearm access law and incentivize the safe storage of firearms by holding irresponsible gun owners accountable when a minor uses their firearm to commit a crime, hurt themselves or others, or bring the firearm to school.
Secure gun storage reduces youth gun violence dramatically, according to at least one study, which found that households that lock firearms and ammunition see up to 85 percent fewer unintentional injuries.
The parents of Lucia Bremer, a 13-year-old Henrico middle school student who was shot and killed by another Henrico student in 2021, also expressed support for the bill.
Photos of the week
Freeman High School’s Jazz Band after their ‘ugly sweater performance’ (photo creds to @dsfband)
TowneBank gave $50,000 to the Henrico Education Foundation to support its grants and afterschool enrichment programs (photo creds to @henricogives)
Pocahontas Middle School’s Cheer team supporting the Boys’ Basketball team (photo creds to @hawkscheering)
Deep Run High School teacher Mr. Fritts with his AP Euro class during their ‘French Revolution Ugly Sweater Party’ (photo creds to @mrfrittsdrhs)
MORE IN HENRICO
Henrico soccer league formed by Afghan immigrant now serves 100 children and teens
Lynnhaven School to relocate to West End in 2024
New documentary spotlights Varina High’s 2023 state basketball title
Former Douglas Freeman football coach takes Deep Run athletic director job
MORE IN VA
Virginia lawmaker submits bill to end legacy admissions
Youngkin’s proposed budget cuts $300 million from K-12 education
Number of rapes reported at VCU increases; undercounting discovered
The university uprooted a Black neighborhood. Then its policies reduced the Black presence on campus.
SOME FUN NEWS
Top five weekend events: GardenFest of Lights, Tacky Lights, 'The Nutcracker'
Henrico woman recalls $3.99 vase she sold for over $100,000 at an auction: 'It’s like winning the lottery'
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