The long-awaited opening day for Patrick Henry School of Science and Arts is fast approaching and there are a few items that the staff is requesting. If you have these items or you’d like to make a monetary donation, it would be greatly appreciated.

Item 1) 20 ft of cubicle wall or room dividers needed -  contact Ms. Hill at lthill82@gmail.com

Item 2) Playground equipment – contact Ariel Lister at agl8v@virginia.edu

Playground / Blacktop Wish List
Outdoor

• Basketball (Balls & Hoop)
• Soccer balls
• Footballs
• Jump Ropes
• Hula Hoops
• Bubbles
• Sidewalk Chalk
• Velcro Catch (tennis ball & mit)
• Scoop & Ball Catch
• Bean Bag Toss
• Badminton Rackets & Birdies
• Street Hockey

For inclement weather recess will be held inside. We will need an supply of quiet games for grades K-5

Indoor

• Board Games
• Books
• Puzzles
• Drawing Materials (crayons & paper)

Patrick Henry School of Science and Arts will be opening August 11th and today they posted some of the teachers who will be leading the classrooms. Today is also the last day to mail in applications for the 12 kindergarten spots that became available. Other RPS schools will open September 7, after Labor Day. Part of the charter school plan is to have the same number of school days, just spread throughout the year to minimize the lengthy summer breaks when kids seem to forget so much. You can see this year’s calendar in PDF form here. The YMCA will be offering childcare during the intersession breaks.

The RTD has an article this morning about Patrick Henry School looking to the School Board to help with busing students after a proposed plan with the Back to Bottom Bus fell through. There are about 22 students that need transportation.

Though the School Board didn’t discuss the issue at last night’s regular meeting and took no action on Patrick Henry’s request, one parent said that if the school system provides out-of-zone transportation for Patrick Henry students, the same should be done for all students attending out-of-zone schools.

The new charter school, Patrick Henry School of Science and Arts, opens in its temporary location, August 11. Dress codes and supply lists have been sent out, and the teachers have been selected and should be hired shortly. The Richmond Times-Dispatch discusses the funding issues the school has been facing to update the old Patrick Henry School Building, which is an integral part of the charter contract.

The school needs to raise the $1 million to make the building handicap-accessible and for some operational expenses. Patrick Henry has found about half of that in grant funding, which will be dispersed over three years, but actual dollar support from the community has been harder to find.

“What we keep hearing from people is that they’d like to see the program up and running first,” said Kristen Larson, who has been on the Patrick Henry board for about a year and a half.

In a 5-4 vote, the school board for RPS approved the charter school’s use of a temporary location at Woodland Heights Baptist Church. It is unclear what would have happened if it hadn’t been approved but it would have been a huge stumbling block to the school’s opening this summer.

There are several stories online about the vote and Kristen Larson, spokesperson for the school says “Thank you to everyone who spoke, sent letters and came in support of the vote last night at City Hall. Several RPS Board members mentioned the strong parental and community support.” School District 4 Rep, Adria A. Graham Scott, voted for the move and District 5 Rep, Maurice Henderson, voted against.

Other good news from the RTD:

Jane Ellis, director of charter school lending for the North Carolina-based Center for Community Self-Help, spoke at yesterday afternoon’s board work session. She revealed that Self-Help sent a commitment letter to provide a two-year loan of $200,000 to Patrick Henry’s board for first-year renovations.

Today is a big day for the Patrick Henry School of Science and Arts. Tonight the school board will vote on whether classes can be temporarily held at  nearby Woodland Heights Baptist Church. If approved, classes would start August 11 with a staff that Principal Pamela Boyd has been interviewing. The school has the funds to teach its curriculum that it gathered through several grants and at this time. Roughly 120 children have registered to attend. Letters will soon be sent out to families on the wait list to fill out the classes.

Funds for the renovation, however, have been harder to come by but Richmond T-D and RVAnews are reporting that the school board submitted a proposed lease to the charter school, which may make it easier to raise funds. Without a lease, few potential benefactors felt secure enough donating money.

If you’d like to show your support for the Patrick Henry school, please consider emailing your school board rep or attending the school board meeting at city hall this evening at 6pm.

For those that were curious about volunteer opportunities at other schools, Richmond Times-Dispatch ran a great article about different organizations that place volunteers directly in the schools. For example programs like the Carver Promise program places students with mentors from the community. And Communities in Schools has, among many things, placed healthcare resources in George Wythe High School when it became apparent that many students there receive inadequate healthcare.

With a July opening date looming, where does Patrick Henry School of Science and Arts stand? The Richmond Times-Dispatch reports on the school’s funding and development status and sums up many families’ situation.

But some Richmond parents are in limbo as they look ahead to next school year. They have taken a leap of faith and applied to a school that doesn’t exist except on paper but is scheduled to be up and running in July

As of now, the school has no permanent home, no staff other than a principal, and a confirmed enrollment of 95 of the 160 students with which it had hoped to start.

The next school board meeting scheduled for May 3rd, may answer some of the questions about location and start date for the school. As previously reported, PHSSA is requesting that the school hold classes at Woodland Heights Baptist Church, while they secure necessary leases and funding to begin construction to bring the original Patrick Henry School building into ADA compliance.

To answer some of the questions raised in the article about enrollment and staffing; there will be a registration event this Thursday, April 29th from 7:30-9:30pm for families to bring in all necessary info to register their child. After this event remaining spots in the classrooms will be offered to families on the waiting list. Also individuals were interviewed this past weekend for the classroom positions at the school.

Update: RTD also ran a great article about Pamela Boyd, the new principal of PHSSA.

RVA News’ Chris Dovi has a new article up about Patrick Henry and its recent fund raiser. There is also an update on the school’s proposed temporary alternate site.

[ Fund raising is] Critical, but perhaps less pressing if the School Board approves a charter amendment to allow the school to start its first year in the basement of nearby Woodland Heights Baptist Church. The building is not only ADA compliant, but has a seemingly endless supply of unused classrooms all tailor-made for a small school. The church’s kid-worthiness is further bolstered by the fact that the plaintiffs in an ADA lawsuit settlement agreement with Richmond Schools approved the site in a letter sent to schools officials this week.

This proposal still needs to go to RPS School board for approval, but having the plaintiffs accept the location is a good sign. With a July opening date looming, some parents I’ve spoken to are concerned that the original site may not be ready in time due to hitches in acquiring leases and funding for the required ADA updates.

Two PHSSA headlines in one day? It appears our neighborhood charter school is working hard to keep the ball rolling. Today, in addition to announcing the hiring of their first principal, PH has announced that they are in talks to temporarily move into nearby Woodland Heights Baptist Church. With a July opening date looming large, it is looking more difficult to get agreements in place in time to renovate their permanent home at Semmes Blvd to make it ADA compliant. It’s encouraging to see that PH is committed to opening the school regardless of roadblocks that keep presenting themselves.

From RVAnews.com

Patrick Henry’s board sent a letter Wednesday seeking permission from the Richmond School Board to move its planned July opening day to the church facilities. The church building already is compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), one of the major construction stumbling blocks at the 80-year-old Patrick Henry building. Woodland Heights is already is used as an election polling station, a duty that requires ADA compliance to meet federal election guidelines.

“This is not a permanent alternate location,” says Patrick Henry spokeswoman Kristen Larson, who confirms that a lack of a lease agreement with Richmond Schools in part pushed them to the decision to seek other space. “In order to open in July, we have to begin construction by April 15. This is March 23 and we don’t even have [construction] permits yet.”

Richmond.com is also wondering if Richmond’s School Board is being unresponsive in an attempt to stall Patrick Henry School of Science and Arts opening.

In characterizing the delays the founders of Patrick Henry School of Science and Arts have been experiencing in their dealings with the School Board, [former SB member Carol. O.] Wolf said, “In basketball parlance, it appears RPS is playing a game of ‘stall ball.’”

Wolf was referring to a pre-shot clock, slow-down strategy infamously used by the North Carolina Tar Heels decades ago. Since she served on the school board from 2002 through 2008, Wolf, a former full-time journalist, also might know an intriguing story about public schools when she sees one.

“But, this isn’t a basketball game,” Wolf added. “This is about working together as a community for the betterment of all.”

Email to fourth district school board representative, Adria Graham Scott has gone unanswered. I’m starting to wonder, with the dearth of statements from ANY school board members excepting for chairwoman Kimberly Bridges, whether last year’s supposedly squashed “gag order” actually went into effect. It’s surprising to not have quotes from any of the other members of the board, and I can’t imagine that they all share exactly the same opinion.

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.

Read more >

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.

Read more >

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.

Read more >

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.

Read more >

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.

Read more >

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!

Read more >

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.

Read more >

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!