DELIVER TO: Postal Patron Mechanicsville, VA 23111
STOPS AT EVERY HOME IN TOWN
Prsrt. Standard U.S. POSTAGE PAID Mechanicsville, VA Permit No.141
Vol. 36, No. 13 | Richmond Suburban News | August 19, 2020
Officials outline, refine face-to-face return to school By Jim Ridolphi for The Mechanicsville Local ASHLAND -- When classrooms in Hanover County Public Schools open for faceto-face instruction on Sept. 8, more than 6,000 students won’t be there. That represents the number of parents who opted for
a virtual-only instruction for at least the first semester of next year’s session. Latest figures indicate about 63% of HCPS students have selected face-to-face instruction for the upcoming semester. About 9% of the county’s teaching staff has opted for virtual-only instruction for the first semester, but an addi-
“We are definitely seeing more requests than usual for a leave of absence for the upcoming school year, but right now we are holding steady with about 30 vacancies in our teaching force.” JENNIFER GREIF Assistant superintendent Instructional Leadership
tional 128 teachers said they might be willing to participate in remote instruction. Jennifer Greif, assistant superintendent for Instructional Leadership, updated Hanover County School Board members on the return to learn plan at last week’s meeting, but acknowledged administrators continue to work through a number of issues regarding the opening. Less than four weeks prior to the scheduled opening of county schools, Greif said the system is experiencing a slightly higher number of vacancies than in past years. “We are definitely seeing more requests than usual for a leave of absence for the upcoming school year, but right now we are holding steady with about 30 vacancies
Melody Kinser/The Local
A Hanover County Public Schools bus was making its way on Atlee Road in Mechanicsville in this file photo from 2018. The Hanover County School Board continued talks last week on the upcoming term while the nation continues to battle the COVID-19 pandemic.
in our teaching force,” she told board members. For students attending faceto-face classes, start times have been staggered to allow more
ASHLAND -The Hanover County School Board approved a list of candidates that will comprise the committee tasked with renaming Lee-Davis High School and Stonewall Jackson Middle School during last week’s regular meeting.
The board approved a fast track timeline that seeks to have new names in place following next month’s regular school board meeting. After nominations are received from the public, the list will be narrowed to 12 to 15 names to be considered by the public. By Aug. 27, the selection committee will limit the
end from 2:15 to 2:45 p.m., while secondary schools will begin from 8:45 to 9:15 a.m. and depart campus from 3:30 see RETURN, pg. 4
Christmas Parade canceled
Panel appointed to decide school names By Jim Ridolphi for The Mechanicsville Local
efficient drop-off of students and reduce large gatherings of students in one spot. Elementary schools will begin at 7:30 to 8:10 a.m. and
Melody Kinser/The Local
A bench in front of Lee-Davis High School remained the day after the names were taken off the building, as well as Stonewall Jackson Middle School following a 4-3 vote by the Hanover County School Board last month.
choices to three finalists for each school, and the public will be polled on those selections.
Nomination forms are available on the Hanover see NAMES, pg. 5
(Editor’s note: The following was submitted by Dave Fuller and Bret Atwood, cochairs of the Mechanicsville Rotary Christmas Parade.) The difficult decision has been made by the Mechanicsville Rotary Club to cancel the 2020 Mechanicsville Christmas Parade due to the uncertainty and risk of potential spread of COVID-19 and the organization’s concern for
the health and safety of our loyal participants, attendees, vendors and volunteers. We did not come to this decision lightly. We as volunteers spend countless hours planning, staging and working this large-scale, free community event. It is a labor of love. The Ruritan Club of Mechanicsville raises funds every year from sales of consee PARADE, pg. 27