Category Archives: schools
(Another) Congratulations to Open High School!
Congratulations to Open High School for its Gold Medal status in the U.S. News and World Report Best High Schools 2018 in the United States. Open High was ranked number four in the state.
Open High continues a long streak of excellence.
Open High Students Find Grading Problem
From WTVR.com:
The Open High School student said she realized midway through her junior year that her number one ranking had dipped to fourth, but she couldn’t figure out why. So she and her parents delved deep into the details and took what they found to the school system.
“It has definitely been a long journey worth fighting for,” Ward said.
She discovered that her GPA had miscalculated, and that Richmond students weren’t getting enough points for dual enrollment classes and International Baccalaureate courses. Ward joined other students and parents who vowed to hold Richmond Public School officials accountable for correcting the situation.
School Walk Out and March Planned For Friday; Could Impact Traffic/Parking
From NBC12 news:
Another anti-gun violence school walkout is planned for Friday, and this one will include a rally at the Virginia State Capitol.
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The protest will begin at 10 a.m. with a school walkout to honor the Columbine victims. Then starting at noon a march will take place from Brown’s Island to the Capitol.
Police are expecting a crowd of about 10,000 people to participate, and are asking people who are normally in that area during the day to be patient and plan ahead due to the rally.
Richmond Leading (For Once, But Hopefully Not The Last Time)
In doing so, he credited Richmond’s Put Schools First campaign for “being the catalyst” in raising issues plaguing poor school districts. He specifically mentioned both Sen. Glen Sturtevant, R-Richmond (a former city school board member and Oregon Hill’s state senator), and Democratic political consultant Paul Goldman. But of course, the campaign was bigger, a grassroots effort that included the Richmond Crusade for Voters, the Sierra Club Falls of the James, and the Richmond Green Party as supporting organizations.
Paul Goldman had this to say:
Thank you Richmond! As Senator Stanley says, YOUR willingness to buck the Mayor, the City Council, School Board, and give 85% support to last year’s School Facility Modernization Referendum “opened the eyes” of state officials. What the RTD’s “know it all” editorial board – with Amens from the usual RVA chorus – called a “distraction” is now positioned to make a huge difference. Democratic Governor Northam agrees with Republican Stanley about the damaging impact to those children attending a “crumbling school building” to use the Governor’s term. The average VA child, not just in RVA, but rural, suburban, and urban school communities in the Commonwealth attends such an obsolete, aged, building! YOU did it 56000 voters, YOU stood up for the kids, I applaud everyone, YOU deserve it.
All well and good. Of course there’s a lot of work ahead. And many supporters hope that this school modernization revolution will add green building, energy conservation, and working solar that can save taxpayer money.
Speaking of which, let’s hope this is not the only revolution that takes hold. This past week, the University of Maryland’s Program for Public Consultation presented new public opinion data that shows American voters are eager for three key electoral reforms that would give voters a greater voice at the ballot box and more fair representation in government, while tempering the partisan rancor that currently dominates our politics. Those three reforms are ranked-choice voting, multi-member districts, and congressional redistricting with nonpartisan commissions.
All three proposals were seen as at least tolerable by more than two-thirds of respondents, including super-majorities of Republicans and Democrats. Not surprisingly, given the outcry over partisan gerrymandering in recent months and two cases currently under review by the U.S. Supreme Court (Gill v. Whitford and Benisek v. Lamone), redrawing congressional district lines with nonpartisan citizen commissions is supported by the largest number of voters – 66 percent – including 53 percent of Republicans, 80 percent of Democrats and 62 percent of independents.
OregonHill.net has repeatedly called for ranked choice voting, for President of the United States, and for Mayor of the City of Richmond. Of course, the local corporate media has answered these calls with mostly silence. And, undoubtedly, local corporate Democrats will continue to try to corral these reforms and any other progressive movements by barking “But Trump” as loudly as possible. As horrible as conman Trump is, voters would be wise to use their own critical thinking.
Let’s hope Richmond, learning from Put Schools First referendum, can lead on voting reforms for the rest of the state.
Solar Patriotism At VCU This Friday
This community news site has run many editorials and posts in favor of more solar energy.
This Friday there will be a talk and book signing by Erik Curren, author of The Solar Patriot: A Citizen’s Guide to Helping America Win Clean Energy Independence.
From book description:
In the spirit of 1776, The Solar Patriot aims to recruit ordinary citizens as champions for homegrown, all-American clean energy. If you think that solar power should become America’s top energy source, and you’d like to help make it happen, then this is the book you’ve been waiting for. Even if you don’t have solar panels on your own roof, The Solar Patriot will give you ideas to join the revolution to free America from the tyranny of fossil fuels and make our nation cleaner, safer and more prosperous.
After Erik’s talk, he will join panelists Katharine Bond of Dominion Energy and Aaron Sutch of Solar United Neighbors of Virginia for a discussion of what it will take to get more solar power in Virginia.
The event will take place at 3 pm in the VCU Commons Theater (907 Floyd Ave) and it is free and open to the public.
Open High Prom Fun
The Times Dispatch has published a great group of photos from Open High’s prom. For many neighbors, we see these kids doing the day to day to and from trip to school, so its nice to see them dressed up and cutting loose a bit.
Governor Northam Signs The Bill – Put Schools First
From the Times Dispatch:
Gov. Ralph Northam has signed Senate Bill 750 from Sen. Glen Sturtevant, R-Richmond, which requires Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney to present a fully funded school facilities modernization plan to City Council by Jan. 1, 2019, or say it can’t be done.
The bill — structured as a change to the city’s charter — passed both the Senate and the House of Delegates without a single vote in opposition.
Like other pieces of signed legislation, the charter change takes effect July 1. That gives Stoney six months to present a plan. If the mayor presents a plan, City Council would have 90 days to take action on the plan.
This is a welcome result for the 85 percent of Richmonders who voted for the referendum this past November.
Oregon Hill’s State Senator Sturtevant deserves credit for bring the bill forward and nursing it through the General Assembly.
Open High PTSA: Save My Seat!
The PTSA at Open High School is raising money to replace broken chairs in their classrooms. Please click this link to donate:
http://www.signupgenius.com/go/8050d4daaad2ea46-save
Open High Walkout Protest for Parkland
As reported from Style magazine:
At 9:55 a.m. today, about 90 students filed out the front door of Open High School in Oregon Hill and lined up along South Belvidere Street. The students stood in silence for 17 minutes in remembrance of the 17 victims of the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in Parkland, Florida.