Not surprisingly, their take isn’t exactly enthusiastic. While the article doesn’t out-and-out accuse the PH Initiative of promoting school segregation, it certainly floats the suggestion. REA President Wade Ellegood (who, you might recall, is on the committee to recruit a new RPS Superintendent), is particularly opposed:

I think they are making a major mistake by allowing this charter school even though it has not met the criteria of the state…Outside of that 90 percent of what’s in their application does not meet state standards and it does not make any sense for us to invest in something that doesn’t meet state standards.

Richmond City Parent Teacher Association President Tichi Pickney Eppes is only slightly less disagreeable towards the concept, stating that “all of our elementary schools are accredited. So if that is the case we don’t necessarily need another chartered elementary school. The kids are doing fine it would appear in their current environment.”

If you’ll pardon the editorializing again….Does Mr. Ellegood include the 7 or 8 current RPS schools that didn’t meet Adequate Yearly Progress in his comments about not investing “in something that doesn’t meet state standards?” And does Ms. Eppes really believe that all of “the kids are doing fine…in their current environment?”

Finally, the article mentions “traditional charter schools that are operating currently in RPS.” Would someone be so kind as to inform me which RPS schools are charter schools? Because the state Dept. Of Education seems to think there are only 3 (with a 4th due in August) public charter schools in Virginia, and none are in the Richmond area.

Style profiles the newly-remodeled Thai’s Mama in the Stratford Hills Shopping Center.

A new month brings a new round of computer classes at the Westover Hills Library. Full flyer below…
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With the news that 4th District rep George Braxton wouldn’t be returning to the School Board after his current term is up, we wondered who would be best for the 4th District. The first candidate has stepped up in the form of local blogger Bert Berlin. We’re hoping to catch up with Bert for a brief Q&A regarding his candidacy (and if you have any burning questions, shoot ‘em our way).

This begs the question: will Bert run unopposed, or will other hats be thrown into the ring?

A woman’s body was found inside a home at 102 W. 33rd St late Sunday afternoon. Police are treating the incident as a homicide.

The National Duathlon Festival hits Richmond this weekend. This two day festival of on- and off-road running/biking events is centered mainly around the 2nd & Byrd St area, but there will be some road closures affecting us. On Sunday

• The curb lane of the Lee Bridge closed in both directions, 7AM - 1PM
• Riverside Drive closed from Lee Bridge access ramps to 42nd Street, 7AM - 1PM
• 42nd Street from Riverside Drive to Springhill Avenue partially closed, police present to monitor and control, 7AM - 1PM
• Parking on both sides of 42nd Street prohibited, 7AM - 1PM

As of 5:45ish, the entry ramp from eastbound Forest Hill to northbound Powhite was open to traffic again.

School Board chair and 4th District rep George Braxton will not seek re-election this fall, citing the ever-popular “focusing more on my growing family and career” as his reason for stepping down.

Two questions spring immediately to mind:

• Are West and Braxton it or will more follow suit?
• Who’s best for the 4th District now?

It’s going to be an interesting few months.

Channel 8 has a feature story* on building tensions between Woodland Heights residents and Park cyclists. I’m embarrassed to say that I’ve not ridden on the park trails since moving to the neighborhood, but I’d love to see some closure to this before I start!

*Windows Media link…Sorry Mac-types.

The members of the committee charged with finding the next RPS Superintendent have been revealed. While the field of education makes up a majority of the committee, I do find it curious that only 1 current RPS employee is included. I realize the seasons can’t change in this town without Jim Ukrop’s approval, but it seems to me that the inclusion of a couple more principals or, god forbid, teachers (y’know, the ones who might actually know from experience where the current system is broken) might be a wise idea.

At last night’s school board meeting, the PH Charter group had their proposal returned pending more information. Meetings with the school board to provide that information should occur soon, with a tentative vote scheduled by the board for May 5.

Richmond.com answers more questions…

A couple reports have come in of a fire in the building that houses Blanchard’s Coffee and the antique store. If anyone’s around and knows the scoop…

Update: have since been told it was “no big deal.”

It’s street cleaning week for most of us. The city seems a little more tow-happy than in the past, so park accordingly.

The City of Richmond is receiving its 17th Tree City USA award from The National Arbor Day Foundation. The award will be given during a ceremony that will include a Tree City flag presentation, a tree planting and a give-away of free tree seedlings to festival attendees by the Virginia Department of Forestry.

The award ceremony will be held Saturday, April 19, 11AM, at the City ShowMobile Stage, 2nd and Decatur streets, during the Richmond Earth Day 2008 Festival in Manchester.