Kamras gets overwhelming public support for 4-year contract
Richmond Public Schools parents and students, teachers and staff overwhelmingly voiced their support for Superintendent Jason Kamras’ contract to be renewed for four years.
VEA president learns a hard lesson about COVID-19
Dr. James J. Fedderman is a career educator, but he’s learned more than he cares to know about COVID-19.
6 people, organizations receive awards at VUU’s MLK Community Leaders Celebration
The values of inclusion and diversity, public service, hope and progress were the themes of Virginia Union University’s 43rd Annual Community Leaders Celebration honoring the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
School Board to start work on Kamras’ proposed $341M budget
Richmond Public Schools Superintendent Jason Kamras presented to the School Board Tuesday night a $341 million proposed budget for the next fiscal year.
Area residents react to Jan. 6 events
Americans will mark Jan. 6, 2021, as another day that will live in infamy. On that day, throngs of Trump supporters left a rally where he had spoken and made their way to the U.S. Capitol, pushing past barricades and Capitol Police to force their way inside to disrupt Congress and the certification of Electoral College votes declaring Democrat Joe Biden the winner of the November presidential election.
School Board deadlocked over Kamras’ contract
The Richmond School Board apparently is deadlocked on how long to extend Superintendent Jason Kamras’ contract that ends June 30.
School Board swears in new members, selects new leaders
The East End gained another leadership post with Cheryl L. Burke’s election as the new Richmond School Board chair.
Area historian awarded $10,000 grant for documentary on Virginia Randolph
Historian Elvatrice Belsches’ 20-year dream to make a documentary about noted educator Virginia E. Randolph is getting an initial boost with a $10,000 grant from Virginia Humanities to support the research and development of a script.
Mothers Club comes to an end after 66 years
After 66 years of donating to charities, helping individuals and organizations in the Richmond community and building a strong bond of friendship among their members and children, The Mothers Club has disbanded.
Cozy with Chromebook
Richmond School Board votes for students to continue virtual classes through the end of the academic year
Richmond students won’t be going back into school buildings for in-person classes next semester.
Richmond family grateful through Thanksgiving changes
Thanksgiving 2020 will be very different for the Shaw family, like many others across the Commonwealth and the nation.
Ambassadors’ to help RRHA families with virtual learning
Three public agencies have partnered to ensure that families in the city’s public housing communities have the technical tools and resources to ensure effective daily virtual learning for their children.
School Board approves demolition of Elkhardt-Thompson Middle School building
The Richmond School Board has ap- proved the demolition of the Elkhardt-Thompson Middle School building on South Side.
Daphne Maxwell Reid rejoins cast for ‘The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air’ reunion
Actress Daphne Maxwell Reid recently joined the cast of “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” for a reunion show airing this week, 30 years after the popular TV sitcom premiered in 1990.
12-year-old activist, minister Elijah Lee is finalist for Kid of the Year
At the tender age of 12, Elijah Lee has grown an extensive résumé as a spiritual leader, nationally known child advocate and speaker. Add to that finalist for the first-ever Kid of the Year Award.
Richmonders react to Biden-Harris victory
People around Richmond celebrated with jubilation Saturday the election of Democrats Joe Biden as president and U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris as the first woman, first Black and first South Asian vice president.
RPS changes grading system for elementary students; outlook for reopening not rosy
In a unanimous vote, the Richmond School Board approved changing the grading policy for kindergarten through fifth-grade students for the first semester of the school year.
5 incumbents, 4 new members elected to Richmond School Board
The Richmond School Board will have four new members when the new board is sworn in in January, while five veteran board members retained their seats in Tuesday’s election.
ELECTION 2020: Six contested races taking place for Richmond School Board
The Richmond School Board will change after Nov. 3, with three current board members deciding not to seek re-election. Four incumbents also are facing challengers.
First Black student at R-MC shares honor with former college president
Randolph-Macon College has honored its first African-American student and its 13th president by naming a new academic building after them — Payne Hall.
RPS expands mental health services for students through ChildSavers
Richmond Public Schools has expanded the ChildSavers program to Thomas C. Boushall Middle, George W. Carver Elementary and J.H. Blackwell Elementary schools, offering more students access to mental health services.
Need a ride to the polls?
With early voting ending Saturday, Oct. 31, several local organizations are increasing get-out-the-vote efforts to get people to the polls.
Absenteeism up in Richmond schools during pandemic
The coronavirus is causing a significant increase in absenteeism among Richmond Public Schools students.
Impact of attending Million Man March 25 years ago still felt today
Twenty-five years ago on Oct. 16, 1995, an estimated 1 million African-American men from across the United States descended on the Washington Mall for the historic Million Man March.
Local filmmaker delves into issue of domestic violence
Local filmmaker Chandra Broadnax-Payne tackles the issue of domestic violence in her documentary, “A Silent Enemy,” that premieres this weekend.
RPS program aims to bring stability, academic success to homeless students and their families
For Demeka Artis and her three children, home was, for more than a year, bouncing from hotel to hotel and worrying about food and paying bills.
Church-based education pod opens in East End
Dr. Patricia A. Gould-Champ’s ministry is supporting East End students and parents with learning pods as a daily education solution.
Illustrator Shannon Wright brings skills to Richmond Folk Festival official poster
Artist Shannon Wright, an illustrator and cartoonist whose work has been featured in major publications, books and online sites including The New York Times, The Atlantic magazine, The Guardian newspaper in the United Kingdom, Google Doodles and Scholastic, has been commissioned to create the official poster for the 16th Annual Richmond Folk Festival.
Virginia Museum of History & Culture to undergo $30M renovation
The Virginia Museum of History & Culture has announced plans for a major $30 million renovation of its facility beginning in October.
School Board moves ahead on day care plans
The Richmond School Board is moving ahead with plans for five schools to open for day care for families that will be provided by three outside organizations.
Need for socialization, enrichment leads families to create education pods for children
Adam and T.Q. Evans thought the best way for their two young sons to learn during the COVID-19 pandemic was through an education pod.
Virtual jitters
First day of school has ups and downs for Richmond families with online learning
When the first day of school came to an end Tuesday, Richmond Public Schools parents Safiya and Kendell Wilson happily exhaled.
Henry L. Marsh III Elementary School
New school a reflection and symbol of namesake’s life, achievements
Former state Sen. Henry L. Marsh III, one of Richmond’s African-American political trailblazers, was given a private tour last week of the new East End elementary school named in his honor.
Parents anxious about virtual learning as new school year starts
As Richmond Public Schools launches a new school year Tuesday, Sept. 8, with all virtual learning, parents and students are grappling with the reality of not having face-to-face instruction.
RPS’ ‘Lit Limo’ keeps the joy of reading alive during the summer and into the fall
When Richmond Public Schools’“Lit Limo” literacy bus cruised to neighborhoods across the city delivering books and activities in English and Spanish for students of all ages, it was a great relief to parents and school administrators alike.
School supplies, show giveaways start for ‘back to school’
As Richmond area students prepare for virtual learning this semester, they still will need school supplies and other items as online classes begin Tuesday, Sept. 8.
Rodney A. Robinson, national teacher of the year, returns to RPS in new role
Rodney A. Robinson, whose successful and inspiring work with students at the Richmond Juvenile Detention Center propelled him into the national spotlight as the 2019 National Teacher of the Year, has been named a senior adviser for Richmond Public Schools.
Local father and son artists share national spotlight
Local artists Jerome W. Jones Jr. and Jeromyah Jones, known for their portraits of prominent figures, received a tidal wave of interest from across the country after a recent interview on NBC’s “Today” show.
RPS releases initial details of online reopening
When school starts Tuesday, Sept. 8, for Richmond Public Schools students, their online lessons will begin at 9:15 a.m. and end at 4:20 p.m. Students in pre-school through third grade will start earlier — at 9 a.m. and end at 2:45 p.m.
Kamras seeking removal of school resource officers
A 90-minute virtual town hall with Richmond Public Schools students may lead to the elimination of police officers in city schools.
George Floyd Hologram Memorial brings new light, tribute to Monument Avenue
Hundreds of people gathered at the Robert E. Lee statue on Monument Avenue on Tuesday night to hear the family of George Floyd and their attorney Benjamin Crump speak and to witness the unveiling of a new hologram in tribute to Mr. Floyd.
Chesterfield schools to reopen for online learning in the fall; Henrico leaning toward virtual option
Chesterfield County Public Schools is following Richmond’s lead, approving reopening this fall for virtual learning only.
Richmond School Board awaits details on fall’s virtual reopening
In just a few weeks, Richmond Public Schools will be starting a new school year – virtually.
New RPS HR director comes from system with similar challenges
Sandra Lee has her work cut out for her.
Online Only
Threat of COVID-19 keeping RPS students at home
Richmond Public Schools students will continue learning online this fall when the 2020-21 academic year starts Sept. 8.
School officials, mayor tour progress of new River City Middle School
As the city’s second Confederate monument was being taken down last week, Mayor Levar M. Stoney, schools Superintendent Jason Kamras, School Board Chair Linda Owen and Vice Chair Cheryl Burke toured one of three educational monuments under construction that are dedicated to the future of city students.
School Board continues to wrestle with reopening plans, issues
As the Richmond School Board works to come up with a plan for reopening city schools in the fall, one of the big concerns is educational equity and what that means for a school system where nearly 20 percent of the 24,000 students have special or high needs.
RPS students, families celebrate at ‘different’ graduation ceremonies
There was no glitz and glamour or boisterous cheering typical at graduations, but students in the Class of 2020 at two Richmond high schools had the adoration and cheers of family Tuesday when they accepted their diplomas during ceremonies that practiced social distancing.
Who should be on Monument Avenue?
Who should go on the pedestals along Monument Avenue once the Confederate statues are removed?
Jayla Henderson and Kevin Gayles top city scholar-athletes for Class of 2020
Jayla Henderson, captain of the Thomas Jefferson High School girls’ basketball and volleyball teams, and Kevin Gayles, Huguenot High School’s football team captain, were honored as the Richmond Public Schools 2020 Scholar-Athletes for their athletic, academic and extracurricular achievements.
