Communicate with your constituents, Ms. Jaeckle
0To the Editor: At the Board of Supervisors meeting this week Chairwoman Dorothy Jaeckle, superintendent for the Bermuda District, defended her recent statements about non-English-speakers and homeless citizens which have caused controversy across the county and the region. In a statement she read from the dais, she said: “This is not an anti-immigrant discussion. This is not illegal vs. legal. I believe even if it was not the law, we would be foolish to not provide an education to any child that resides in our community. This is about a communication issue between a teacher and a student. I would…
Supervisor Jaeckle’s comments on immigrants and the poor
0Supervisor Jaeckle’s comments on immigrants and the poor To the Editor: To me, this is a case of an elected official using a cost-benefit analysis to mask prejudices against immigrants and poor families. Regarding immigrant students, she argues that spending more on ESOL programs hurts English speaking students. Where is the data for this claim? SOL scores in Chesterfield have long performed above national averages. Jaeckle said her goal is to reduce the pupil-to-teacher ratio (PTR), but it seems that she only wants to reduce class sizes for English speaking students. Chesterfield school board chairman Javaid Siddiqi states, there are 2.5…
Regarding Times-Dispatch article
0Dear Village News Readers, I would like to give you some background on what prompted the discussion that was reported in such a misleading, out-of-context manner in the Richmond Times-Dispatch. Over the past several years the Board of Supervisors and the School Board worked together to restore some of the budget cuts made during the recession that, talking with teachers, principals, and parents, we felt were negatively impacting the classroom. Increased class size and loss of electives pretty clearly rose to the top. On the electives issue, let’s use orchestra and foreign languages as an example. Prior to the recession,…
Tax rate could drop in coming years
0In what looks like good news for home owners in Chesterfield County, Dr. Joseph Casey, Chesterfield County Administrator, indicated that the 2017 proposed budget, while staying consistent with the last couple of years, could lead to a reduced real estate tax rate within the coming years. Currently the rate stands at $.96 per $100 of assessed value of a residence. The real tax rate could drop slightly by $.01 to $.95 according to Dr. Casey. “If we can position the county at some later year we would like to return to a pre-recession rate,” Casey said. Casey wrote in an…
What’s word, L.C. Bird
0No matter the task, it seemed to be business as usual for L.C. Bird boys’ basketball during the 2016-17 season. Winning a state championship was no exception, as the Skyhawks defeated Bethel, 65-52, to earn the school’s first basketball title in workman like fashion. “We try to make everything as competitive as we can,” said L.C. Bird coach Troy Manns. “The guys have learned that from the guys that came before them. Our players want to follow in those players’ footsteps.” L.C. Bird maintained control of the game nearly throughout, displaying a calm, cool demeanor and executing their game plan.…
Honoring an old friend, sister, daughter
0If you attended high school in Chester in the 1970s, you would have lived and breathed Thomas Dale High School especially if you were a cheerleader and the homecoming queen. But cheering wasn’t enough for an energetic girl who would go on to garner accolades from her life as a newspaper reporting. While working toward a degree in Liberal Arts from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, she worked on the college newspaper, The Collegiate Times. Her degree in journalism and communication set her on a path that would last the rest of her life. Kathryn Thompson Leckie died the…
Honoring an old friend, sister, daughter
0By Mark Fausz If you attended high school in Chester in the 1970s, you would have lived and breathed Thomas Dale High School especially if you were a cheerleader and the homecoming queen. But cheering wasn’t enough for an energetic girl who would go on to garner accolades from her life as a newspaper reporting. While working toward a degree in Liberal Arts from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, she worked on the college newspaper, The Collegiate Times. Her degree in journalism and communication set her on a path that would last the rest of her life. Kathryn Thompson…
Moore’s Lake turnstile
0The popular swimming hole right off U.S. Route One between Richmond and Petersburg, (directly across the Bermuda Crossroads Shopping Center) was the most refreshing refuge from humidity and sweltering dog days west of Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. It was a mecca for locals seeking a few hours of blessed relief and a major vacation destination for tourists from throughout the state. Folks were drawn by its sandy beach, water slides, and the high diving board where giggling girls congregated to watch the boys show off. The adjacent dance hall filled the evening air with Big Band melodies. Everyone…