Today is Last Day to Register to Speak in Support of Patrick Henry
As we posted earlier in the week Patrick Henry needs some help. That help comes in the form of showing up for the school board meeting on Monday (6 pm 2nd floor of City Hall, 301 North Ninth Street) and speaking in favor of the school. In order to speak (you’ll be given 3 minutes) you need to register with School Board Clerk Angela Lewis at alewis@richmond.k12.va.us or 804-780-7716. UPDATE 9:35: We tried to email Angela to speak and got the following automatic reply: If your email is a request to speak at the School Board meeting on Monday, February 1, 2010 during the Public Information Period of the School Board meeting please call 780-7882 or 780-7716 to sign up. Thank you.
Neighborhood blogger Mommy Gourmet deviates from her great posts on cooking and food to chime in supporting the school.
Someone asked me why, why wouldn’t Richmond Public Schools want to add to their accomplishments a Charter school? She went on to say, every area she has ever known that has had charter options has thrived. It is a good question. Richmond is an amazing city, that has thrived not because of great leadership but in despite of bad. I can’t imagine the booming city Richmond could be if it could just simply say 4 words, “We have great schools.” This really is a matter of if you build it they will come. So what could Richmond possibly stand to loose by not supporting this?
I am told that, in addition to the racial issues (always a part of the calculation in Richmond), there are problems around the ADA compliancy issues. Briefly, RPS is under a court order to do certain things. If PH opened not completely compliant, then RPS would not be in compliance with the court order, plaintiffs would go back to court, judge would rule against Richmond and levy significant penalties.
That’s the argument. I think it has some weaknesses. First, if PH is a public school, then why is RPS not working to invest in ADA compliances for the charter? PH is a public school, part of the RPS system. It ought to be the responsiblity of RPS to invest in this process, rather than pushing the burden back on the parents. RPS seems to be saying that PH is part of the public school system for purposes of compliance with ADA ruling, but not part of the public school system when it comes to an apportionment of resources. I think PH supporters were naive in expecting an even hand from RPS.
Hey, I also e-mailed this to you, but I just called to registered to speak and was told that closed at noon?
I just noticed that information was listed in the original post/email from Patrick Henry.
In all likelihood, the snow will cause Monday’s School Board meeting to be rescheduled.
But, for the future, please know that School Board policy is that anyone who wishes to speak to an item on the agenda may do so, regardless of whether they signed up in advance.
To clarify Carol’s post, that is an unwritten “tradition” that would – to say the least – be interesting for them to enforce.
Meaning what, exactly, Jonathan? Having served on the board six years, and having had my share of differences, I must note here that I never once witnessed anyone who wanted to speak to an item on the agenda, denied the opportunity to speak, regardles of whether they had signed up to speak in advance.
*regardless
Meaning that explicitly per their written rules, they can – and may – refuse to allow anyone to speak who has not signed up.
Traditionally, as you note, they have allowed all to speak.
Again, it would be interesting to see them enforce their written rules for this particular meeting.
Interesting, yes. And, really stupid.
Most especially, if they act on the comments in Kim Bridges’ letter about the lack of ADA compliance in the Patrick Henry building and move to break the contract with PHSSA.
I suspect should they deny people the opportunity to speak and then use the ADA in such a hypocritical manner, it will cause a huge public relations and political melt-down.
Still, it is possible. As Mark Twain famously noted: “God made the Idiot for practice, and then He made the School Board.”
[...] of Monday’s School Board meeting, which should have a good number of Patrick Henry supporters. Posted by Richard.H at 8:51AM under Patrick Henry School [...]
Since PH is a “public School,” why is RPS, not the PH group for bringing the school into ADA compliance.
[...] you are planning to speak in support of Patrick Henry the meeting originally scheduled for February 1, 2010 has been rescheduled for Tuesday, February 2, [...]