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Vol. 33, No. 18 | Richmond Suburban News | September 7, 2016
STOPS AT EVERY HOME IN TOWN
System’s success credited to HCPS students, sta By Melody Kinser Managing Editor MECHANICSVILLE – When Dr. Michael accepted the position of superintendent of Hanover County Public Schools he was well aware of the division’s successes because he was already part of the division. He was named the 13th superintendent last fall while serving as the assistant superintendent of Instructional Leadership since 2014. In a recent interview with The Local, he was humble and modest, giving the credit for the district’s statewide acclaim to the students and staff. “We are extremely proud of the efforts of our staff and our students, first and foremost,â€? Gill said, “and the scores reflect a lot of hard work, a lot of dedication on behalf of our staff and certainly the efforts of our students.â€? He also praised the administration and the central office support staff. “It’s their hard work that is deserving of all praise. That being said, our belief — and it’s my belief — but I hope if you talk to any Hanover educator and, quite probably any educator period, is that no
single score on paper should define the worth of a child, should define the worth of a teacher, a school, a school division.� Gill’s comments came following the release of Standards of Learning assessments from the Virginia Department of Education, which reported that improvements in the commonwealth’s schools are being made in reading, math and science. Those results stem from the 2015see SUCCESS, pg. 5
Jim Ridolphi for The Local
Art McKinney, a prominent Ashland businessman, had a love for trains. Since his passing, an organization formed that led to the creation of a mural in his honor.
File photo/Kenny Moore
Dr. Michael Gill, superintendent of Hanover County Public Schools, addressed the 2016 class at the VCU Siegel Center in June.
McKinney’s vision a reality with train mural in Ashland By Jim Ridolphi for The Mechanicsville Local
A
SHLAND — From a small second floor office nestled along the railroad tracks in Ashland, Art McKinney reached out to the world. The company he founded and headed has achieved
worldwide recognition for completed projects, and McKinney and Company is a well-respected world-class engineering firm. The work continues in that small office without the stalwart who created the vision and traveled the world displaying his engineering prowess.
But the Virginia Tech graduate’s heart was never far from the place he called home, and the familiar roar of a passing train and a picture that existed only in his mind. McKinney often spoke about a vision he had for the block he knew so well, and
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see MURAL, pg. 4