Boyd Leaves PHSSA In A Lurch Again
Principal Pamela Boyd has done little to help the struggles between Patrick Henry School of Science and Arts and the Richmond School Board.
First there was the issue of mishandled Student Activity Funds. Recently RPS found no evidence of fraud and last night released the complete audit of the funds. According to Chris Dovi of Richmond Magazine the audit shared,
very little numerical data — confined to a single 11-line summary table of account balances, deposits and disbursements to two bank accounts maintained by Boyd — instead focusing on providing lengthy written findings related to policies and procedures followed, or not followed, by Boyd and her administrative staff.
The Virginia State Police investigation into an allegation of embezzlement is still ongoing.
Now from RTD we get reports that RPS is not satisfied with curricula documentation. The reason for this dissatisfaction according to PHSSA board can be traced once again to Pamela Boyd.
The school has not provided an updated accountability plan, expectations for special education and student services, and the role of family involvement in admissions because Boyd was “unable to deliver the these documents to the board” in time, Patrick Henry Board President Sharon C. Burton said in a letter to Richmond School Board Chairwoman Kimberly Bridges.
“Due to unforeseen circumstances, she is out of the office until early November,” Burton said in the letter on Friday.
and
Wilson and Bridges expressed grave concerns over the lack of documented curricula in Patrick Henry’s first year, but charter school officials responded that the school’s first-year performance on state Standards of Learning tests is the most important measurement of its success.
To further muddle the issue Pamela Boyd is now on personal leave until November. The reason for the leave is unspecified and Cynthia Gentry a retired Richmond Public School teacher is serving as temporary principal.
So um, are we going to get a permanent new principal or what?
This situation wasn’t helped by the fact that many of us PHSSA parents only found out about her personal leave of absence this morning, when we read it in the paper (and she’s been gone for almost two weeks).
This looks very shady. In order for Patrick Henry to be a consideration for prespective parents of children entering Kindergarten, it is hoped that a NEW principal be hired. Standardized test scores are only one part of education.
We were also miffed by the fact that the PHSSA board &/or RPS didn’t bother to let us know about her absence. We only found out by reading it in the paper. The lack of communication right away sent my mind rolling thinking of all of the possible implication of Boyd’s personal leave.
That being said I understand from someone with inside knowledge that it is personal leave and we should leave it at that.
Fantastically, aside from the ins/outs of Leadership our children are having a great year. The teachers are again doing a wonderful job of keeping the politics and rumors out of the classroom and are focused on teaching our children. Thanks Teachers & Staff of PHSSA for keeping your “eyes on the prize”, our children.