Browsing: Schools

During the Nov. 7 Chesterfield County Public Schools board meeting, eight people spoke during public comment, with seven either lauding the pending approval of a new model policy while others lambasted the school board for allowing sexually-explicit books in middle school libraries.  During the first reading of proposed policies and revisions, communications officer Shawn Smith noted that Policy 3035 pulled wording verbatim from the state board of education in regard to sexually-explicit content.  The policy would require parents to be notified 30 days in advance if any sexually-explicit content would be used as part of curriculum.  According to Senate Bill…

Chesterfield County Public Schools Superintendent Merv Daugherty was given a two-year extension on Aug. 15 when the school board approved a new four-year contract.  Daugherty, who started with CCPS on Nov. 1, 2018 and subsequently received an extension through June 2024, got another one through June 30, 2026. The new extension will pay Daugherty the same annual salary of $253,720, but it also includes $1,100 a month as an automobile allowance.  A board document states that the extension was for Daugherty’s “outstanding performance.”  The extension was approved as part of the consent agenda.  School lunches The board approved slight increases…

On July 29, state Sen. Joe Morrissey (D) and Del. Carrie Coyner (R) discussed the new Chesterfield Recovery Academy, which is set to open Aug. 22 when the other public schools open.  The school will be located at 13900 Hull Street Road in Midlothian.  The eastern Chesterfield County duo chatted about the school on Morrissey’s program, the Fighting Joe Morrissey Show, which can be viewed live or replayed on Facebook.  Morrissey said the high school was the “brainchild” of Coyner, who said the idea sprung from her time serving on the Chesterfield County Public Schools board. “The idea was at…

With final passage of a budget by the General Assembly, the Chesterfield County Public Schools board met in a special meeting on June 21 and approved their final fiscal 2023 financial plan. It includes $6 million in one-time bonuses for staff and two-year funding for the Chesterfield Recovery Academy. The latter will get $864,000 this fiscal year and $500,000 next year. With the one-time funds, the school district was able to complete Phase I of Salary Study 2, according to Kimberly Hough, chief of human resources.  The salary study began in October last year and compared Chesterfield with 13 other…

Although Chesterfield County Public Schools are waiting for a Fiscal Year 2023 budget to be adopted by the General Assembly, school officials are proceeding with salary increases for teachers.  During a May 10 work session, the schools’ Chief Financial Officer Robert Meister said the increases will range from 8.6 to 8.8 percent. For beginning teachers, the new salary will jump from $46,000 to $49,481.  In addition, he said the schools will keep substitute pay at $101.50 a day along with $203 on Fridays and high demand days.  The funding is part of an $899.7 million budget approved by the county…

As part of their April 6 business meeting, the Chesterfield County Board of Supervisors approved a fiscal year 2023 budget and a 3-cent reduction in the real estate property tax from 95 to 92 cents per $100 of assessed value.  The commodity portion of water and wastewater bills will be going up an average of $1.54 per month from $59.17 to $60.71. However, George Hayes, director of utilities, said Chesterfield’s rates are “the most competitive rates in the region, if not the commonwealth.” The increase is targeted to result in an additional $3.1 million. As part of the $905.5 million…

Several local residents continued criticism of the Chesterfield County Public Schools Board during their Oct. 12 meeting. In addition to general criticism about a mask mandate for teachers and students, Anne Taydus called the board to task for the firing of Monacan High School government teacher Stephen Roszel. “You squashed him,” she said.  In addition, Taydus said that three school board members are “up for removal,” but she didn’t elaborate other than to say it’s not being covered in the media. Another media outlet reported that she was circulating a recall petition.  Roszel also addressed the board during public comment. …

An effort to hire more bus drivers has begun to pay off, according to Chesterfield County Public School officials. As a result of recently increasing the hourly pay for drivers to $20.21 an hour, the school system has over 350 new applicants. During the board’s Sept. 14 afternoon work session, transportation director James C. Frye said the pay rate was increased to $14.84 in September 2019 and then raised to $15.59 in December 2019. This year, it was increased to $17.21 in August and again in September.  “We’re very excited about the increase in driver pay,” Frye said. “Chesterfield County…

Chesterfield County grew 15.3 percent from 2010 to 2020 according to preliminary figures from the U.S. Census Bureau. Chesterfield’s growth rate topped Richmond (11) and Henrico (6), but trailed some fast-growing Northern Virginia counties such as Loudoun (34.8), Stafford (21) and Prince William (20). In fact, Loudoun grew so fast it overtook Chesterfield as the state’s fourth-largest locality, behind Fairfax, Prince William and Virginia Beach. The population growth in Northern and Central Virginia will result in a shift of state representation from Southwestern and Southern Virginia. The 16-person independent redistricting commission is working on redrawing boundaries that will go into…

On June 1, the Chesterfield County Public Schools board addressed several controversial topics, including critical race theory, gender identity and masks. Board Chair Ryan Harter (Matoaca) said critical race theory is not being taught in Chesterfield. The board unanimously approved a resolution recognizing June as LGBTQ+ pride month. They also approved the first reading of a new policy that requires school staff to, at the request of a student or parent, address the student using their asserted name and pronoun that corresponds with their gender identity. Final approval of the policy is scheduled for the board’s next meeting. The new…

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