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Vol. 35, No. 39 | Richmond Suburban News | January 30, 2019

County administrator outlines initiatives By Jim Ridolphi for The Mechanicsville Local

HARRIS

ASHLAND – The Hanover County Board of Supervisors got a sneak peek at what might be contained in County Administrator Rhu Harris proposed budget as he presented a list of initiatives for 2020 at last week’s regularly scheduled meeting. Harris is scheduled to reveal his 20202021 budget next month.

Heading that list is a transportation issue that plagues many special needs, elderly and disabled county citizens. Harris said many people do not have access to vehicles and a new program seeks to address those issues and provide rides to doctors’ visits or other important appointments. “As many of you are aware, Hanover has the highest percentage of population over 65… and about a thousand Hanoverians have no access to a vehicle for transportation,” Harris said.

The cost for the first year of the program is 80 percent federally funded, and Harris said the service could provide county citizens with transportation alternatives. The county must apply for the federal grant money by Feb. 1. “This is the first step of what we think we can find to help those citizens who are truly struggling to meet life’s daily needs,” Harris said. Also included in the list of priorities is a see INITIATIVES, pg. 15

Proposed school budget gets positive feedback from public By Jim Ridolphi for The Mechanicsville Local ASHLAND -- A week after Hanover County Public Schools superintendent Michael Gill presented his proposed 2019-2020 budget, members of the public received an opportunity to voice their opinions regarding the $194.5 million operating budget. Most comments offered during the special meeting were positive, and many highlighted the 3 percent salary increase for school employees and the budget’s commitment to mental health and behavioral issues as positive and much needed. Gill’s proposal is laden with additional positions, including counselors and behavioral specialists in an effort to con-

front a growing problem in schools nationwide. Gill said this year’s budget is a “step in the right direc-

“We appreciate the 3 percent raise that will go to all school board employees, not just to SOQ funded positions and not just to teachers.” GENE MATTHEWS President, Hanover Education Associaton

tion” in addressing issues that reportedly affect one out of every five middle school students.

The endorsement of efforts to combat the growing problem was almost uniform in all of the comments received at the meeting. “Our association strongly supports Dr. Gill’s 20192020 proposed budget,” said Hanover Education Association president Gene Matthews. “We appreciate the 3 percent raise that will go to all school board employees, not just to SOQ (Statement of Qualifications) funded positions and not just to teachers.” Matthews also endorsed a proposed adjustment to the teachers’ pay scale that takes the first step in addressing salary compression. “We particularly appreciate the adjustment the superintendent has made to the teacher salary scale to begin

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Jim Ridolphi for The Local

John Axselle, left, listens as Marla Coleman talks about the Hanover County Public Schools’ 2019-2020 budget during a public hearing on Jan. 22 at the Central Office in Ashland.

the transition from a compressed scale to a linear one,” he said. Matthews was joined by Hanover Professional Educators president Bill Callahan as both groups endorsed the proposed budget set for approval at the Feb. 12 school board meeting.

“Our two groups also concur with the counselor, special education and behavior support positions, as well as the additional funding proposed for special education so that our students with disabilities can receive all of the services they need,” Matthews consee BUDGET pg. 15

Schaeffer running for HCBOS Contributed Report news@mechlocal.com BEAVERDAM – Andy Schaeffer is announcing his candidacy for the Beaverdam District seat on the Hanover County Board of Supervisors. In challenging Aubrey “Bucky” Stanley, who has held the office since 1983, Schaeffer said “the time has come for a fresh approach in the Beaverdam District.” “Citizens have complained for years about the lack of high speed internet in Western Hanover. This issue SCHAEFFER is not just a Beaverdam issue or a Hanover issue. It is felt at state and federal levels,” he said. Schaeffer said both candidates that ran for the First District seat in the U.S. House of Representatives made the issue part of their platform. “The Governor has created a group to help Rural Virginians find solutions,” he added. “The problem is that no one on the local level has been see SCHAEFFER, pg. 5


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