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Vol. 36, No. 44 | Richmond Suburban News | January 27, 2021
Proposed school budget has raises, new positions By Jim Ridolphi for The Mechanicsville Local
MICHAEL GILL
HANOVER — Hanover County Public Schools superintendent Michael Gill presented a 2022 operating budget that seeks to turn back the clock on many goals outlined in last year’s budget presentation. Many items on the 2021 budget were slashed due to COVID-19 concerns, including teacher salary increases and a number of additional mental health
Call center fielding vaccination questions HANOVER -- Effective Wednesday, Jan. 20, Hanover County set up a call center to answer questions related to COVID-19. The number is 804-3653240, and it is open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, excluding holidays. Voice messages left in the mailbox after hours will be returned the next business day. This is being done in coordination with the Chickahominy Health District, which includes Goochland, New Kent and Charles City. “Our staff will be prepared to provide the most current information related to the Coronavirus, including the vaccine,” said Deputy County
Administrator Jim Taylor. Referring to the Virginia Department of Health’s (VDH) priority groups, Taylor said that the call center could help people determine which group they are in and sign them up for alerts and notifications. The call center may be beneficial to people who don’t have internet access or an email address. Currently, first responders and healthcare professionals are receiving the vaccination. Regional events at the Richmond International Raceway are taking place this week to provide many teachers an opportunity to be vaccinated against the coronasee CALL, pg. 7
and emotional support positions. Gill told Hanover County School Board members that all of those important needs addressed in last year’s budget are back on the table with this year’s proposal at a special budget meeting held Jan. 19 at the Central Office. Included in that list of budget priorities is a 2.5 percent increase for teachers and a continuing commitment to address compression issues in the salary scale. Gill proposed a $300 buffer sepa-
rating pay grades that will result in additional raises for about 75 percent of Hanover teachers. Including the 2.5 percent salary increase and compression adjustments, some teachers could enjoy an up to 6 percent increase, with an average increase of 3.7 percent systemwide. The proposal also restores nine additional positions addressing increasing mental health, behavioral and emotional well-being among students and
Unique view of historic church
school counselors. When Gill was forced to adjust his 2021 budget almost last year, he told board members he was not hitting the delete button, but only pausing on the long list of needs facing the system. On Jan. 19, the superintendent indicated the 2022 proposed budget attempts to hit the play button again. This year’s proposal continues a tradition of placing priorities on academsee BUDGET, pg. 4
Local rescue pup Allie taking part in Puppy Bowl By Melody Kinser Managing Editor
Photojournalist Joel Klein captured this unusual image of Historic Polegreen Church last week. He said he used an 8mm fisheye lens for the rounded effect to one of Hanover County’s most popular scenic destinations. The photo received quite a response on The Local’s Facebook page.
MECHANICSVILLE -- A 6½-month-old rescue named Alabama, known as Allie, will be taking part in Puppy Bowl XVII on Feb. 7 on Animal Planet. She will be appearing as her pre-adoption name, Milky Way. The program will air at 2 p.m. on Animal Planet and Discovery+. Erin Kennedy of Mechanicsville rescued Allie, a pit-boxer-Catahoula (a Louisiana bred dog), from Operation Paws for Homes. “What essentially happened – and is important to note – is that I rescued her from an organization called Operation Paws for Homes. They are mostly in Central Virginia, but have 800 volunteers between North Carolina and Hershey,
Photo submitted by Erin Kennedy
Alabama “Allie” competes in Puppy Bowl XVII on Feb. 7 as Milky Way. Erin Kennedy adopted her from Operation Paws for Homes.
Pennsylvania,” Kennedy said. This will be the sixth year that Operation Paws for Homes has partnered with Animal Planet and the Puppy Bowl. see PUPPY, pg. 9