BOARD Continued from pg. 4
freedom to reject policy,” he said. “You are also aware that legislation will be brought this session to clarify that this is not mandated.” Gathje said the school board took no inappropriate measures when it opted to reject the model policy. “After hearing all sides, the school board voted to reject those policies because of the threat to bodily safety, privacy and constitutional rights of all students. It’s the policies that are of serious concern.” When contacted for a response on the complaint last week, Hanover School Board chair Ola Hawkins said she had no comment regarding the pending complaint, citing board policy not to comment on pending litigation. In other matters, board members approved a policy change that allows administration to hire substitute
Jim Ridolphi / The Local
Sarah Bridges reminded board members that protecting all students includes transgender kids in Hanover schools. She said a recent decision not to fully implement VDOE mandated policy perpetuates bullying of these students.
teachers with a minimum education requirement of a high school diploma. Assistant superintendent for Human Resources Mandy Baker said the adjustment is necessary to obtain enough substitutes to meet the sys-
tem’s needs. “Retaining and hiring substitutes is constantly a priority for us and I’m here tonight to suggest we open up our candidate pool,” Baker told the board. “The Department of Education requires a minimum of a high school diploma for anyone who is going to work in the role as a substitute teacher, and many of our neighboring school divisions have adopted this approach,” Baker said. “I’ve polled our principals and curriculum specialists and asked their opinion, and the consensus was they too would like to move our Hanover requirement to a high school diploma,” she added. She asked board members to approve the revision. They obliged with a unanimous vote to approve the change. “Is this is a change you see in other divisions across the state,” board member Sterling Daniel questioned. “Correct,” Baker said.
In another matter, Assistant Superintendent for Business and Operations Christina Berta presented updated enrollment figures for the board’s consideration. Official enrollment counts are submitted twice a year. Berta said enrollment as of Sept. 30 was 16,636 students, representing an increase of 290 students from 2020 enrollment figures. The September figures represent an enrollment that is only 13 students off from projections made last year. “That is incredibly good forecasting during the pandemic, so kudos to Ms. Stone and Ms. Six,” Berta said. Berta predicted a downward trend in enrollment for the next five years as the number of students graduating is larger than the number of students entering kindergarten in the county. Projecting future enrollments includes factors like birth rates and future plans for development
planned for the area. “We are continuing to see smaller kindergarten classes compared to our exiting 12th grade classes, so that trend will drive our numbers down in the out years,” Berta said. For the 2022-23 school year, officials are projecting a loss of 221 students. Regarding capacity in Hanover schools, Berta said, “We’re in good shape, even in the out years.” But, there are areas of concern such as Cool Springs Elementary School, a campus that is seeing increased enrollments due to several subdivisions added in the area. Those increases may result in the installation of learning cottages, or enrollment could be redistributed if new campuses are constructed at other sites. “This is an area we will continue to monitor and see how those developments come to fruition,” Berta see BOARD pg. 24
MECHANICSVILLE CHURCHES EVANGELICAL FRIENDS Hanover Evangelical Friends 6420 Mech Trnpk. 804-730-9512, friendlychurch.org Worship: Sun. 10:30AM Sunday School @ 9:15AM
INDEPENDENT CHRISTIAN Fairmount Christian Church, 559-8070 6502 Creighton Rd. Sunday AM Worship Services Visit fairmountchristian.org for details. Rick Raines, Senior Minister; Chris Santasiere, Associate Minister; Seth Wortman, Associate Minister; Tracy Thomas, Worship & Music Minister; Ryan Card, Associate Worship Minister; Davis Ellenberger, Youth Minister; Ashley Sears, Children’s Director Gethsemane Church of Christ 5146 Mechanicsville Turnpike Sunday AM Worship Services (Check website for times) 804-779-2044 Bill Wines, Senior Minister www.gethsemanechristians.org
INDEPENDENT BAPTIST Truth Baptist Church, 627-2170 COME & SEE! All info at: www.truthbaptistchurch.com
LUTHERAN St Paul Lutheran Church (LCMS) 427-7500 ∂ 8100 Shady Grove Rd, saintpaul-lcms.com Rev. Rodney Bitely, Pastor; Sun. Sch. 9:15am, Worship 10:30am
NAZARENE HOPE COMMUNITY CHURCH 8391 Atlee Rd. 23116 / www.hopenow.cc office@hopenow.cc Atlee Christian Academy PK - 5th Grade & Afterschool Care 746-3900 www.atleechristianacademy.com
acainfo@atleechristianacad emy.com HopeNow Counseling Center Licensed Counselors available 277-4558 / paul@hopenow.cc
PRESBYTERIAN Fairfield Presbyterian Church 6930 Cold Harbor Rd., 23111 8:45 & 11:00am services www.fairfieldpcusa.org
SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST Meadowbridge Seventh-Day Adventist Church 7400 Antique Lane Mech., Saturday Services: Sabbath School, 9:45 am. Worship Service, 11 am. Wednesday evening Prayer Meeting, 6:30pm. Church phone: 746-2788 meadowbridgesda.org meadowbridgesdachurch@gmai l.com
ADVERTISE Call 746-1235 to find out about upcoming opportunities to advertise with The Local in print and online!
SOUTHERN BAPTIST
SOUTHERN BAPTIST
SOUTHERN BAPTIST
Black Creek Baptist Church, 6289 McClellan Road Sunday School - 9:00 a.m. Sunday Worship - 10:15 a.m. Adult Bible Study & Youth Group Wed. nights at 6:00 p.m. Pastor, Stephen Kendrick www.blackcreek.org or call (804)781-0330
Fellowship Community Church of Mechanicsville After 10 years at Hanover High School we have purchased our own building. We continue to teach the Word of God and watch for the miraculous. Join us Sunday mornings 9:45am at 8505 Bell Creek Road, Suite K. www.fellowshipcc.com
New Bethesda Baptist Church 9019 New Bethesda Rd. 779-2101 Rev. Tom Gaskins, Interim Pastor Caleb Bittler, Minister to Students & Family Sunday School 9:30 AM, Worship 10:45 AM Bible Study/Prayer Youth & Children activities 6:30pm, Wednesday www.newbethesda.org
Lebanon United Methodist Church 8492 Peaks Road, 746-0980 R. Spencer Broce, Pastor Worship In Person and on Facebook Live: 10:00 am each Sunday www.facebook.com/LebUMC 9:00 am Sunday School For more info, check us out at www.lebanonumc.org
Grace United Family Church
New Highland Baptist Church 10:30 am Worship 9200 New Ashcake Road, 550-9601 www.newhighland.org
Mechanicsville United Methodist Church 7356 Atlee Road 746-5118 Reverend Amy Dunn, pastor 10 am in person worship or Facebook live @MechUMC Childrens and Youth Programs Cub Scouts Pack 517 www.mechumc.org
Broadus Memorial Baptist 804-779-2700 www.BroadusChurch.org 1 Church in 2 Locations Worshipping on Sundays! In-person & on Facebook! 5351 Pole Green Rd. Mechanicsville, 23116 Phil Peacock, Pastor Sunday School 9 a.m. Worship 10 a.m. 3407 King William Rd. Aylett, 23009 Jeff Poythress, Pastor Worship 9:30 a.m. Sunday School 10:30 a.m.
You are cordially Invited: Christmas Eve Candlelight Service! December 24, 7:00-8:00 P.M. Historic Beulah Church 7252 Beulah Church Road Mechanicsville, 23111 For info, call 335-6728 Love God. Learn the Bible. Care for People. Glenn Hawkins, Pastor
Cool Spring Baptist Church 9283 Atlee Station Rd. For info, activities & worship times visit www.coolspring.org or call 746-0800
Mechanicsville Baptist Church 8016 Atlee Rd. Office: 746.7253 Worship in person and Live Streamed on YouTube & Facebook on Sundays at 8:30 & 11:00 a.m. Wednesday Night Suppers at 5:00 p.m. and Bible Study at 6:00 p.m. Find us on the web at mechanicsvillebaptist.org
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Making each one a witness!
Shalom Baptist Church 8116 Walnut Grove Rd. Office: 746.7737 Worship in person and Live Streamed on YouTube & Facebook on Sundays at 8:30 & 11:00 a.m Wednesday Night Suppers at 5:30 p.m. and Bible Study at 6:15 p.m. Find us on the web at shalombaptist.net Walnut Grove Baptist is a Church committed to following Jesus & loving people. You can find us at wgva.church 7046 Cold Harbor rd
SOVEREIGN GRACE BAPTIST
UNITED METHODIST
Shady Grove United Methodist 8209 Shady Grove Rd. at the corner of Meadowbridge Rd., Mechanicsville, 804-746-9073 shadygroveumc.org In-person Worship Sundays at 8:15, 9:45, & 11:15 a.m., Online at 9:45 a.m. Programs for all ages. Rev. Wayne Snead, Pastor info@shadygroveumc.org
ROMAN CATHOLIC
New Hope Baptist - Located at 5452 Spotslee Circle, Mech. Sunday school 9:45 am, Morning worship 10:30 am, afternoon 1pm, Wednesday Prayer & Bible study 7:30 pm. L. Ronald Staley, Pastor. For more info 321-2110. www.sovereigngraceinmechanicsville.org
Church of the Redeemer 8275 Meadowbridge Road 746-4911 www.churchredeemer.org
The Mechanicsville Local
December 22, 2021 23
Mass celebrated on Saturday 5:30 PM Sunday 8:00 & 10:00 AM
