Public Education in the Political Spotlight

Most everyone in Richmond would agree that they want our public schools to be the best they can be. Still, agreeing on how to reach that goal is another matter.

How to get the best bang for the buck out of public education is at the heart of a burgeoning, multifaceted debate among parents, politicians and the education establishment.

Even as the Patrick Henry School of Science and Arts prepares for its first year of operation in Richmond as a charter school, the volume of the squabble seems to be getting louder.

At the school’s Web site its mission statement reads: "Patrick Henry School of Science and Arts is a kindergarten through fifth-grade school based on meaningful parent, educator, and community involvement. The school will provide the children of our diverse community with an academically rigorous science- and arts-based curriculum that emphasizes environmental awareness and social responsibility."
On March 11 at PHSSA (3411 Semmes Ave.) there will be a random choice lottery to determine which of the applicants/students will be accepted. There were more than 250 applications for what will be 130-150 spots in the school’s first year.

The event will be open to the public and the media. Once the lottery is completed, its product is expected to produce nine classes: three for kindergarten; two classes each for both the first and second grades; one third grade class; one combined fourth and fifth grade class.

Because the proposed charter school would be housed in an old school building, the site itself has some issues yet to be resolved, some of them to do with Americans with Disabilities Act accessibility. And, the officials at PHSSA need a lease from the Richmond School Board.

PHSSA plans to open its doors for classes in July of this year. But, while the School Board has discussed a per-pupil funding plan with PHSSA’s board, it still hasn’t included any provisions for PHSSA in its proposed budget for the next school year.

"We are in a holding place," said Kristen Larson, Director of Public Relations with PHSSA, "waiting for them to respond to us on our ADA plan, the building lease and verification of budget inclusion."

In order to proceed with preparing the 90-year-old building for its second life, PHSSA needs a lease, pronto.

Antione Green, PHSSA’s CEO, said, "As of today we don’t have a signed lease. Marty Jewell [5th District on City Council] has agreed to assist us with the local school board."

Pursuant to that end, on Feb. 22, Jewell sent a letter to Kimberly Bridges, the chair of the Richmond Public School Board. In part, Jewell wrote (reprinted with his permission):

"… PHSSA is a public school. The state constitution and state law empowers school boards to assist public schools to be as successful as possible. My fear is that, at the current pace, PHSSA has been placed under an unfair burden in its efforts to meet their July 1 goals. There has been a new development: Paul Goldman has secured $100,000 in pledges from some very prominent members of the business community who want to help. But due to the current situation, he can't nor could anyone else, answer for them the most basic of questions that any person willing to write a $50,000 [check] would, indeed, should, want answered.

"PHSSA has authorized Paul, and he has asked me to request a meeting so that the two of us, along with legal representation, along with school board members and staff that you deem pertinent, can sit face-to-face in an effort to quickly resolve all outstanding issues."

Jewell went on to explain that he originally opposed early thinking about establishing what would be Richmond’s first charter school in his district. But after seeing the school’s plan and the resistance to it that has developed, he now enthusiastically supports the PHSSA mission.

"I don’t know who leaked the letter", Jewell said, but I’m glad they did."

A second charter school for Richmond is in the works. That project is being pushed by an organization called Richmond Education Foundation. From its Web site its mission statement opens with this:

"The mission of Richmond Education Foundation is opening a charter school in Richmond City to provide an excellent educational experience for all middle and high school students with a rigorous academic program focusing on math, science, and technology"

Throw in the crowds that have been demonstrating at Capitol Square, protesting statewide budget cuts in education and chanting "Save Our Schools," and there’s a lot happening in Richmond that's mostly coming up from the grassroots.

Moreover, there’s more at work than the traditional liberal and conservative takes on all this. The way education issues are splitting now, the citizens determined to speak out to criticize the status quo, or to advocate new proposals, are coming from diverse political persuasions.

As simultaneous calls for protecting public education and expanding public education options grow louder, watching which elected officials will lean which way, and why, will be interesting, perhaps even educational.

Public Education in the Political Spotlight

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