In open enrollment for other schools in the city, if a child is admitted, their sibling is granted admission without having to go through the lottery process. The school board is not allowing siblings to have automatic admission for this first year at Patrick Henry School of Science and Arts.

The founders are resigned to not getting guaranteed spots for their children despite their years of hard work, but the sibling policy puts unnecessary hardship on families who will be the first to attend.

The Richmond Times-Dispatch is reporting that the school board has postponed this issue until March 29, although at last night’s meeting they were asked to consider the policy. The board received the admissions policy March 1 and “didn’t notice” the sibling policy. By postponing discussion until March 29th, the board has forced PH to delay in letting parents know for sure whether they have a spot in the new school or what their ranking on the waiting list is.

[Let the rant begin] It seems to me that the school board has found another issue to stall Patrick Henry by postponing discussion of this policy. Amongst other stalling measures? Not always including PH in its budget. Not coming to a lease agreement for the building so construction can be started for ADA compliance [source]. Chairwoman Kimberly Bridges will publicly say that she supports the school but every action is contrary to that statement. She’ll couch it in words of “concern” but let’s call her out on this passive-aggressive subterfuge. When the school is finally open, this school board will be remembered for its hindrances and shortsightedness when it could have helped and provided another great school to its students.

Many anxious parents and curious bystanders attended last night’s lottery held at Patrick Henry School of Science and Arts. The school received 255 applications for 150 spots and the lottery was held to establish a ranking for the applications filed. Starting with 5th grade and working down, City Council President Kathy Graziano spun the bingo hopper for 5th-3rd  grades, and State Secretary of Education, Gerard Robinson took over those honors for 2nd through kindergarten.

As might be expected, there were many more applications for the lower grades, and there were emotional outcries as some children’s lottery numbers were called. Parents, whether they attended the lottery or not, will receive letters by March 20 letting them now of their spot in the classroom or on a waiting list.

You can see some news footage and reportage here:

CBS 6

NBC 12

Richmond Times-Dispatch

Patrick Henry School of Science and Arts will be holding it’s first lottery March 11, at 7pm as they received more than 250 applications for roughly 150 spots. The lottery is open to the public. The school also announced the breakdown of grades:

K – 3 classes
1st – 2 classes
2nd – 2 classes
3rd – 1 class
4th/5th combined

For more info about the lottery, click through to read the email sent to applicants.

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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?

In a nice change of pace for the RTD there is an article about Patrick Henry School that doesn’t include some criticism by the school board. I have a feeling the reason for that is that the reporter didn’t ask any one on the board.

The charter school board is expected to provide the school division with a financial report in January.

Butterworth and board member Antione Green say they’re confident that they will meet their financial goals for next year, which is $250,000 by February. Some of that could be from in-kind donations of labor and materials for the areas that need to be modified to meet ADA standards.

The article lists some tidbits on how the school would operate. I pulled out a few below.

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Patrick Henry School of Science and Arts (PHSSA) is seeking donations of goods & services for our Online Holiday Auction, Nov 18-Dec 9. The auction will feature everything from artwork to gift cards to trips at vacation spots. Please contact us at auction@patrickhenrycharter.org if you have something to contribute. All donations are tax deductible!

From today’s Style Weeky:

The school, which plans to reopen the 87-year-old Patrick Henry Elementary building next to Forest Hill Park, is in the midst of a million-dollar drive to cover the cost of its planned opening next fall. The school’s charter president, Debbie Butterworth, says the effort is off to a rousing start despite a depressed economy.

“We have had over $30,000 in donations and those are all just the private, personal donations,” Butterworth says, noting too a $100,000 grant received Sept. 14 from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, made possible by the school’s planned eco-friendly curriculum. Butterworth says she’s “confident” the school will receive an additional $300,000 federal charter schools grant, expected to be announced Oct. 28.

But Patrick Henry boosters also face the daunting task of paying for expensive upgrades needed to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act. A letter from the Richmond School Board sent Aug. 31 expresses that board’s concerns about the charter school’s ability to meet that challenge.

I hope that the School Board is not only expressing concern but offering some ways to help this new school come online. Patrick Henry school board meets every 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month at 8 p.m. at the Patrick Henry school building, 3411 Semmes Avenue.

Note from Patrick Henry’s director of finance

Dear Friends,

When I took over the position as Patrick Henry’s director of finance, I was excited to help out with this new venture and amazed at the complexity of charter school finances. Patrick Henry School of Science and Arts is only the fifth charter school in the state and the first in the city of Richmond. Therefore, there is no precedent to dictate how much funding we should receive from Richmond Public Schools, and the Virginia charter law does not provide a formula for determining the per-pupil funding calculation from the usual state and local sources.

Although charter schools are part of the public school system, they are not funded the same way other public schools are funded. We will receive only a percentage of the per-pupil funding that other public schools receive and, unfortunately, we receive no start-up funding from RPS.

For Patrick Henry to be successful in the long term, we must raise $1.5 million over three years, including a goal of $175,000 by September 2009. These funds are critical to meeting a number of start-up obligations, including ADA renovations to the facility, purchasing educational materials, and hiring a principal.

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Do you have a way with envelopes and the stuffing therein? Interested in helping out the new charter school but a little strapped for time? Patrick Henry could use your help.

Looking for a short-term assignment to help Patrick Henry School of Science and Arts?  Come to the Patrick Henry Building located at 3411 Semmes Ave Tuesday, June 30 at 7:30pm to help facilitate a direct mail campaign.  No more than 1 hour of your time should be required.  If you can make it, please [email krista.simmerman [at] patrickhenrycharter [dot] org] so I can count you in!  Come meet our president and new friends:)

Many people are surprised to hear that a “public” school would need to do fund-raising but from PHSSA’s recent email blast we learned that:

One of our big initiatives right now is fundraising. Many people ask why we are raising funds, since PHSSA will be part of the public school system. Once we open the school next July, PHSSA will be funded primarily in the same way that other public schools are funded — by a per-pupil sum that comprises government dollars. Until then, all operating costs must be paid with funds raised by PHSSA. Our immediate goal is to raise $175,000 by September to pay for facilities renovations, classroom furnishings, and the hiring of a principal.

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Calling All Bookworms

If you’re an avid reader, you won’t want to miss the book sale on June 6 to raise money for Patrick Henry School of Science and Arts’ library. The book sale, which will coincide with the Forest Hill Neighborhood Association’ s annual yard sale, is from 8 a.m. to noon at 1202 W. 46th St.

And if you’re an avid reader who has some books to spare, please donate them to our cause by June 5. Books can be dropped off at 1202 W. 46th St. (there’s a box on the front porch) or at the Patrick Henry booth at the South of the James Market on Saturdays in Forest Hill Park.

Patrick Henry School of Science and Arts is a public charter school that will open in July 2010 in the old Patrick Henry Elementary School building on Semmes Avenue. The PHSSA mission is to establish and maintain a kindergarten through fifth-grade school based on meaningful parent, educator, and community involvement. The school will provide children of our diverse community with an academically rigorous science- and arts-based curriculum that emphasizes environmental awareness and social responsibility.

Looking for additional ways of helping Patrick Henry School of Science and Art without opening your check book? PHSSA is looking to 4-6 folks to work a two hour shift during the previously announced Canoe Run Field Day.

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Did you know that the building that will house the new PHSSA has no furniture? No kitchen equipment? No BOOKS? It’s easy to assume that when AV Norrel was closed, that all they did was lock it up and walk away. It’s just really an empty shell that you can help refill.

Look for PHSSA’s table at the South of the James Market this weekend (and on alternating weekends throughout the summer). Buy a book for the library and be immortalized!

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Every year, Ukrop’s runs a promotion where you collect golden points to donate towards various charities. It’s an easy way to give, especially if you were going to be shopping there any way. If you’re still looking for a beneficiary of your ticket, think local! Think Patrick Henry School of Science and Arts.

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Have a knack for getting the word out? A talent for crafting a compelling story for the public? Looking for a way to help the Patrick Henry School of Science and Arts? This volunteer position may be just the thing for you.

VP of PR and Community Engagement:

• To lead the PR committee, which is charged as follows:
• To craft, coordinate and disseminate message of Patrick Henry School of Science and Arts
• This is a Volunteer position that includes:
• acting as one of the official press contacts
• overseeing the content of public materials (brochures etc)
• crafting newsletter/updates
• giving input on web content, revisions and language
• Coordinating with community and other committees to have events that draw in newcomers and intensify the involvement of volunteers
• Coordinating with fundraising committee and communications committee.

If you are interested or know someone who is, please contact Krista Simmerman via e mail or phone 402-7287.  Thanks!

Are you a fan of the upcoming school and looking for meaningful ways to contribute to its opening? This volunteer position may be just the right fit for you:

Immediate opening for the position of Secretary to the Patrick Henry Elementary School of Science and Arts.

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The Dominion Foundation the philanthropic arm of Dominion Power is offering grants to schools. It seems like a tailor made fit for local school Patrick Henry as one of the items that proposals must align with is “Environmental Education: grants to develop math and/or science skills through the study of the environment.”

In the area of k-12 education, Dominion accepts grant applications, up to $10,000, to encourage the development of new programs to strengthen math and science education through the study of energy or the environment. The Dominion Foundation awarded $317,000 to 60 schools and educational organizations in eight states for the 2008-09 school year.

Dominion will begin accepting grant applications on Feb. 16 for the 2009-10 school year.  Applications are due no later than 5:00 p.m. on May 1. More information and forms here.

From the Patrick Henry School meeting last night:

The Patrick Henry School of Science and Arts, along with VCU and the Alliance for Chesapeake Bay, is applying for a stewardship fund for the Watershed Education Partnership Project. The scope of the project is still to be determined, based on grant allocated, but may include things like: a green roof, a terraced and vegetated forest-garden, and underground cistern. Please see abstract below. In order to qualify for the fund we need a dollar for dollar match from businesses and individuals in the community. This match can be in the form of dollars, in kind materials or in kind labor and volunteer hours. It can be all in kind or all cash. The scope of our grant application is $200, 000. We are actively seeking partners for this project before February 14th, 2009 – the deadline for applying.

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