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• Athletics, instruction materials, substitute teachers among list of proposed cuts by Charles City schools

  With a mandate from county supervisors to cut $436,732 from their current budget, Charles City School Board members received a list of recommendations during their March 7 work session. And not only did the proposed cuts stun the representatives, but the list also shocked a large group of teachers, parents, and students in attendance. The more than 300 people present during the four-hour meeting learned about 22 areas targeted for potential cuts for the current year. Included in trimming the deficit are removing the prepay plan for Appomattox Regional and Maggie Walker Governor’s schools ($97,773), substitute teachers ($32,172), instruction materials…
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• New Kent schools release survey results for superintendent search

  New Kent County public schools have released results from its survey conducted Feb. 5-24 on preferred criteria for the incoming superintendent. Approximately 286 surveys were returned with the following results and preferences: 1. Education and Training – majority vote (if the vote was less than a difference of 5%, percentages are noted) • An earned doctorate: preferred – 43.4%; required – 40.7% • Experience as a Superintendent: preferred • Experience as an Associate / Assistant Superintendent: preferred • Experience as a Central Office Administrator: preferred • Experience as a principal: required • Experience as a CEO other than school district:…
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• New Kent School Board vows to stand fast on ‘non-negotiable’ components for Historic School renovation

  New Kent’s School Board is drawing what one member labeled a “line in the sand” regarding certain features that school officials say must be incorporated into any plan for renovating the county’s Historic School into a grade K-5 elementary. The features rank as “non-negotiable,” they insist. And board members plan to present a united front and make their stance clear when they meet with county officials and representatives of Marengo Management, the company that has placed on the table an unsolicited proposal under the state’s Public-Private Educational Facilities Infrastructure Act (PPEA) to undertake the renovation work. That meeting is scheduled…
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• Revenue shortfall causes town hall tension in Charles City

  Normally, Charles City Board of Supervisors holds its quarterly meeting the first Wednesday in March. This year, supervisors elected to join each other and host a town hall meeting to receive public input on issues involving the county. Apparently, a lot weighed in on citizens’ minds at the March 6 gathering. With standing room only space available and close to 300 people in attendance, 36 people spoke at the town hall meeting, most with concerns about the county’s revenue shortfall. Supervisors announced a $900,000 revenue shortfall for the current fiscal year at its Feb. 25 meeting. Of that amount, schools…
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• New Kent school calendar extended by two days; next year’s calendar under consideration

  Two days for students are being added to the end of the school year on New Kent schools’ calendar to make up for days lost this week due to the latest snowstorm. County school board members voted 4-0 tonight (Thursday) to schedule school for students on Monday, June 16 and Tuesday, June 17. A teacher workday is now set for June 18. School officials opted to add days to the end of the year over concern for time lost in preparation for state Standards of Learning testing. Adding the two days means SOL testing can be pushed back two days,…
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• Three indicted in Charles City Circuit Court

  A Charles City Circuit Court grand jury indicted three individuals during Mar. 4 afternoon proceedings: –Jason McCoy Bell, 41, of the 4900 block of Shop Street, Chester, on one count of grand larceny. Bell allegedly stole a firearm belonging to David Bowling last July 11. –Lisa Marie Groffel, 35, of the 3000 block of Barnetts Road, Providence Forge, on one count of assault and battery on a law enforcement officer. According to the indictment, last Oct. 2 Groffel assaulted Deputy V.N. Byrd as the officer engaged in public duties. –Xavier Marquis Wallace, 20, of the 6100 block of Sturgeon Point…
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