PHSSA support - please!!

Although I've never wanted to be a teacher (I can't teach to save my life), I (obviously) think education is extremely important - look at how much schooling I did! It has also been my experience that alternative forms of education work much better than the standard that is presented in public schools. I attended a governor's school (nerds unite) as well as took college courses throughout high school, including a summer semester at Johns Hopkins. So when the Patrick Henry School of Science and Arts became a reality for Richmond Public Schools, I jumped at the chance to help out. Besides the concentration in science (hello! perfect!), the charter school opens so many opportunities to an alternative way of teaching that I just knew would be beneficial. Their focus is a integrative curriculum, which has been proven to work better than standard rote learning.

 As with anything new, the school has been met with major opposition from RPS. Of course they'd oppose it - although they have to fund the school once it opens, RPS has no say in curriculum, as the school is run by a board of directors, not the school board. So they have to put money in but  get "nothing" out of it. And although we have incredible support from the governor, we are still met with opposition from community members who think it is an excuse for the "white Richmonders" to send their children to an alternative school. Which is definitely not the case. Those who have enrolled make up an extremely diverse group - much like Richmond itself, including African American, white and Hispanic children.

As opening day of the school grows closer, we are met with more and more roadblocks from RPS. The building is an old one. It is not ADA compliant. However, we have set up a plan to make part of the building, the part that students would use the first year, compliant. However, we do not get funding from RPS until the school is actually open, which means not enough money to bring the entire school up to code before that. (Interesting is that a number of RPS schools are not ADA compliant either, yet they are open and have been for quite some time). Hence, we have found an alternative site for the first year. But we must depend on RPS to allow us to use this site (which is within walking distance of the school, so kids will still be able to work on their gardens, and identify with the school). Fingers crossed that the council finds it in their best interest, and that of the children in their city, to help us open and become the great school that we are striving to be:


April 2010

Dear Friends of PHSSA,
Times have been very busy here at the first charter school in Richmond. For a quick overview of some of the school's recent activities, visit the PHSSA website.
Currently, 95 students have enrolled at PHSSA. The most important and pending initiative for these families and the school is finalizing an alternate location for the school to open for 2010-11 school year. The PHSSA Board is working with the leadership at Woodland Heights Baptist Church to rent 10 classrooms, 2 common rooms and the dining hall in their Education Center from them for a period of up to a year. Since Richmond Public School Board and PHSSA Board have not solidified agreement on a lease for the Patrick Henry School building, PHSSA Board feels that this is the best option for PHSSA families. Read more about the details about the Education Center at WHBC (EC-WHBC).
Urgent: We Need Your Help

Getting PHSSA, the first charter school in Richmond, up and running has uncovered many unforeseen challenges. We have been working with Richmond Public School Board for two years to try and make this school a reality for the community.

This option to open the school at the EC-WHBC is not in PHSSA’s original contract with RPS and will therefore require a vote to be approved. PHSSA Board of Directors sent a letter to RPS School Board to request this change to the contract. They will vote to approve or deny this request on Monday, May 3rd at City Hall at 6 pm. We currently have 95 students enrolled in the school and the school needs community and family support to encourage school board members to approve this vote. Let your voice be heard!!

Here's what you can do:

Call, email and ask to meet with your school board rep before May 3rd and ask them to vote ‘yes’ on the alternate location for PHSSA. Find out who your school board reps at RPS's website.

Ask your friends, family, neighbors, relatives to do the same.

Blog and write letters to local newspaper editors about how PHSSA is important to your family and this city!

Attend the RPS Board Meeting on Monday, May 3rd at City Hall at 6 pm. Speak during public comments period and tell the school board members why you think PHSSA is important to your community and your family. Ask them to vote 'yes' on alternate location. See the guidelines for public comments. Contact RPS Clerk Angela Lewis at alewis@richmond.k12.va.us or 804.780.7716 by this Friday, April 30 at noon to register to give comments at the May 3rd meeting.

PHSSA is ready to open the school and has the funding in place to run the integrated curriculum program. The challenge PHSSA is facing is that the PH building is not renovated and ready for children yet. This is why the PHSSA Board of Directors sought out an alternate location. Now RPS School Board needs to approve this alternate location. Please ask them to approve it and help make this school a reality for Richmond!

Thank you so much for your support of the first charter school in Richmond!

PHSSA Board of Directors

http://www.patrickhenrycharter.org/