IF….IF…IF…and that is a BIG IF, EVERY school in Henrico County Public School District lived out the mission of the district for EVERY child, in EVERY neighborhood, in EVERY class, for EVERY family…then the issue of redistricting would be a non-issue.
The fact is that tempers are flying high because of the potential for students in successful schools being forced to attend unsuccessful and unsafe schools in the district. The sad reality is that there are children that attend these unsafe and unsuccessful schools every day with no one to speak out on their behalf. John Montgomery is not speaking out. Lamont Bagby is silent. Diana Winston only parts her lips when people praise her. Lisa Marshall on opens her mouth to say what she can’t do, and Linda McBride is too out of touch to be in touch with the needs of children in Henrico.
Of course, the superintendent, Fred Morton, is by far, hands down, the worse superintendent that Henrico County Public Schools has ever had because of his utter disregard for the needs of ALL children to be in safe and successful schools. He would rather that Henrico’s children be in unsafe and failing schools that his buddies are over, as long as they all get paid!
NEITHER SUCCESS, SAFETY, OR COMPETENCY IS AN OPTION WITH THIS LEADERSHIP!
We guess that schools like Tucker High, Rolfe Middle, Fairfield Middle, and others are good enough for some children, but not good enough for ALL children. These schools are not only some of the most dangerous schools in the district, but they have some of the poorest leaders that do not have any level of vision or passion for children or their families.
This is really not a redistricting issue, it is a quality of education issue, and the fact still stands that there are some children in Henrico County Public Schools that are forced to go to UNSAFE, HIGHLY VIOLENT, POORLY LEAD, LOW ACHIEVING schools and no one cares until their child may be forced to join those children.
What is even more unjust about this reality is that Mediocre Morton and this Sorry School Board have made no real effort to improve the safety, quality of education, or quality of leadership in these schools. Instead they have protected and defended this systematic destruction of the educational futures of children in order to keep their cronies in place and their prideful politics in tact. God forbid they get REAL leaders in these schools that can set the tone for success and safety for children.
So much for “it taking a village to raise a child.”
KEEP UP THE NERVE and maybe someday, EVERY school in Henrico will live up to the district’s mission!
