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Vol. 36, No. 50 | Richmond Suburban News | March 17, 2021
STOPS AT EVERY HOME IN TOWN
School board to consider IB consolidation in April By Jim Ridolphi for The Mechanicsville Local ASHLAND — Last month, Hanover County School Board members got their first look at a plan to consolidate the county’s four International Baccalaureate (IB) programs to one countywide program located at Atlee High School. Administration officials presented a plan that highlighted substantial savings and other benefits, but also included the omission of dabbling, allowing students not enrolled in IB to take some of the offered classes. The board was scheduled to vote on the plan at this month’s meeting but decided to delay that action at a workshop session held earlier this month in an effort to gather more information
regarding the proposed changes. referred to as dabblers, significantly enhance the In addition, some Hanover County Board experience for the entire community and urged board members to allow all of Supervisors had expressed qualified students to expericoncern regarding the changence IB instruction. es when Michael Gill, super“IB doesn’t tell “Some of the brightintendent of Hanover County you what to think. est students in my classes Public Schools, presented his are partial IB and they conbudget last month. It teaches you tribute immensely,” Steven Over the past five years, how to think.” Wiecek, an IB diploma senior, more than 500 Hanover stuSTEVEN WIECEK said. “These students have dents have enrolled in course IB diploma senior found a balance between AP only IB classes, meaning (Advanced Placement) and IB access to the classes were open that works best for them and to all advanced students in addition to those seeking IB-centered diplomas. they bring diverse perspectives.” Wiecek said removing those students for not One IB student said those students, often
taking a full load seemed “shortsighted” to him and does not align with Hanover’s promise to prepare students to work with people with different perspectives. He expressed his opposition to the consolidation of the county’s four IB programs in addition to his concerns regarding diploma only offerings. Wiecek also noted the differences in IB and AP (Advanced Placement) classes in that, while the latter provides a variety of facts, IB focuses on critical thinking and in-depth analysis. “IB doesn’t tell you what to think. It teaches you how to think,” Wiecek said. Other students described and lauded their IB experience, many of them calling their decisee IB, pg. 13
Supervisors nix plan Age isn’t an issue in local girl’s desire to help for Route 54 mixed use development By Melody Kinser Managing Editor
By Jim Ridolphi for The Mechanicsville Local HANOVER — The Hanover County Board of Supervisors denied a request to rezone 51 acres currently zoned agricultural located just east of Ashland on Route 54 for a mixed use development that included commercial and residential elements. Developers envisioned a village-type community that featured 100 age-restricted townhomes and 60,000 square feet of commercial and retail space. But a number of neighbors
opposed the rezoning, many citing the rough transition provided in the plans from rural to commercial land. Others expressed concerns regarding traffic and lifestyle impacts to neighbors residing in Providence Woodside Estates and others. During the past months, the applicant adjusted the original plan, agreeing to age-restricted townhomes and the removal of a planned convenience store with gas pumps. Even with the concessions, more than 360 people signed a petition see MIXED USE, pg. 16
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ECHANICSVILLE – Three years ago, for her 10th birthday, Ella Young told her family and friends that she didn’t want gifts. Instead, she asked them to donate food and toiletry items to help the homeless. Last week, the Bell Creek Middle School online eighthgrader talked about how she got on this path to a rewarding purpose. “I always felt like I have Photo courtesy of Ella Young more than others. I just Ella Young, 13, of Mechanicsville is shown with some of the bags of donations she has wanted to give back,” Ella received in her three-year commitment to helping the homeless in Richmond. A QR Code to see HELP, pg. 4
send donations through her Amazon Wish List is on page 4.