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Vol. 34, No. 2 | Richmond Suburban News | May 17, 2017
Fall will bring new grading scale to county By Jim Ridolphi for The Mechanicsville Local ASHLAND — Beginning with the 2017-2018 school year, Hanover County Public Schools students will be evaluated by the same grading scale that most of their counterparts in neighborJim Ridolphi for The Local ing school systems enjoy today. The Hanover School Board voted Hanover County School Board Vice Chair Sue Dibble 6-1 in a vote that scrapped the current explained her reason to 7-point grading scale in favor of a more support a change in the grading scale before she made commonly used 10-point system. A group of concerned Hanover para motion to make the change.
ents contended for months that the 7-point scale discriminates against their children regarding college admissions and scholarships. Ninety percent of Virginia schools currently employ the 10-point scale with two more districts making the switch for the upcoming school year. Hanover Parents supporting a 10point scale engaged board members with their concerns, and the group has attended board meetings for months to further its cause. Julie Stubblefield, one of the group’s
founders, said the tenacity of the group paid off in the end, and was pleased with the board’s action last week. “It took us a long time to get here, but we’re here now so I’m ecstatic,� she said following the Tuesday, May 9, meeting. “This shows that the community can make a difference by speaking up wisely and being polite with board members and others. When you approach it in a constructive and collaborative way, magical things can happen.� Vice Chair Sue Dibble, South Anna District, thanked the dedicated group
of parents for their input and patience during the process before she voted in favor of the change. Many in that group comprised an advisory committee that studied grading scales last year. “In going through this process, we identified some circumstances in which our students are possibly at a disadvantage when compared to other localities,� Dibble said. She said a move to the new scale was revenue neutral and added, “There’s
Jim Ridolphi for The Local
Supervisors recognize longtime employees By Jim Ridolphi for The Mechanicsville Local HANOVER — Members of the Hanover County Board of Supervisors collectively stood and applauded in a unified symbol of appreciation following last week’s Employee Service Awards ceremony. Each year, the board dedicates one session to recognize employees who have extended tenures with county
see GRADING, pg. 5
Sharlee Mills, a 35-year employee with the Hanover County Planning Department, received a special recognition from Angela KellyWiecek, chair of the Hanover County Board of Supervisors, as her fellow planning department employees and County Administrator Cecil R. “Rhu� Harris Jr., right, look on.
government, the Sheriff ’s Office or Fire/EMS. This year, director of Human Resources Janet Lawson presented a list of 87 employees who have worked for the county for as little as 15 years and as much as 35 years. County Administrator Cecil R. “Rhu� Harris Jr. thanked the honorees for their service and urged the see EMPLOYEES, pg. 8
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