Tuesday, February 20, 2024

A statement by the Richmond City Council Education and Human Services Standing Committee

Richmond City Council / News Release

Education and Human Services Standing Committee

 

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Tuesday, 20 February 2024

 

A statement by the

Richmond City Council Education and Human Services Standing Committee regarding

We echo the sentiments of our colleague, School Board Chair Rizzi and agree that the issues that ail Richmond Public Schools do not lay on any one person’s feet. We recognize the tremendous challenges that public education systems face everyday, particularly in a post-pandemic era. In a city that has seen an increase in families experiencing homelessness, continued gaps in our mental health system and an ever-widening wealth disparity. These challenges are intertwined with classroom management issues, teacher retention rates, academic, and absenteeism outcomes.

These are not easy problems to solve, and it is often our most vulnerable community members, our children, who pay the highest price for what adults, on every level of policy making, fail to fix. This is why we remain committed to advocating for increased funding and better policies at the state and federal level. Further, we remain steadfast in our mission to collaborate with our School Board Colleagues, the Superintendent, city administration and our stakeholders to make continuous strides towards improving our school district and the lives of RPS families and students across the city.”

 

Richmond City Council Education and Human Services Standing Committee Councilmember Stephanie A. Lynch, Chair

Councilmember Cynthia I. Newbille, Vice Chair

Councilmember Nicole Jones, Member


Richmond City Council Education and Human Services Standing Committee

The Richmond City Council Education and Human Services Standing Committee monitors and recommends to Council official policy in the areas of recreation, social services, public health, mental health, substance abuse, advocacy, and public education. The Committee also balances the primary role of the School Board in crafting policy for Richmond Public Schools against the responsibility of Council of Council for oversight imposed by the appropriation of public funds.

 

 

 

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Richmond City Council - Richmond City Hall - 900 East Broad Street, Suite 300 - Richmond, Virginia 23219 U.S.A. - rva.gov/richmond-city-council (web)