4 minute read
Church
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.”
Advertisement
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 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 system’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
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.
see BOARD pg. 24
EVANGELICALFRIENDS
HanoverEvangelicalFriends 6420MechTrnpk.804-730-9512, friendlychurch.org Worship:Sun.10:30AM SundaySchool@9:15AM
INDEPENDENTCHRISTIAN
FairmountChristianChurch, 559-8070 6502CreightonRd.
SundayAMWorshipServices Visit fairmountchristian.org for details.RickRaines,SeniorMinister;ChrisSantasiere,Associate Minister;SethWortman,Associate Minister; Tracy Thomas, Worship&MusicMinister;Ryan Card,AssociateWorshipMinister; Davis Ellenberger, Youth Minister; Ashley Sears, Children’sDirector
GethsemaneChurchofChrist 5146MechanicsvilleTurnpike SundayAMWorshipServices (Checkwebsitefortimes) 804-779-2044 BillWines,SeniorMinister www.gethsemanechristians.org
TruthBaptistChurch,627-2170 COME&SEE! Allinfoat: www.truthbaptistchurch.com
StPaulLutheranChurch(LCMS) 427-7500 ∂ 8100ShadyGroveRd, saintpaul-lcms.com Rev.RodneyBitely,Pastor;Sun. Sch.9:15am,Worship10:30am
INDEPENDENTBAPTIST
LUTHERAN
MECHANICSVILLECHURCHES
NAZARENE
HOPECOMMUNITYCHURCH 8391AtleeRd.23116/ www.hopenow.cc office@hopenow.cc AtleeChristianAcademy PK-5thGrade& AfterschoolCare 746-3900 www.atleechristianacademy.com acainfo@atleechristianacad emy.com HopeNowCounselingCenter LicensedCounselorsavailable 277-4558/ paul@hopenow.cc
PRESBYTERIAN
FairfieldPresbyterianChurch 6930ColdHarborRd.,23111 8:45&11:00amservices www.fairfieldpcusa.org
SEVENTH-DAYADVENTIST
MeadowbridgeSeventh-Day AdventistChurch 7400AntiqueLaneMech., SaturdayServices:
SabbathSchool,9:45am.
WorshipService,11am.
WednesdayeveningPrayer Meeting,6:30pm.
Churchphone:746-2788 meadowbridgesda.org meadowbridgesdachurch@gmai l.com
ADVERTISE
Call746-1235tofindout aboutupcoming opportunitiesto advertisewithTheLocal inprintandonline!
SOUTHERNBAPTIST SOUTHERNBAPTIST SOUTHERNBAPTIST
BlackCreekBaptistChurch, 6289McClellanRoad SundaySchool-9:00a.m. SundayWorship-10:15a.m. AdultBibleStudy&YouthGroup Wed.nightsat6:00p.m. Pastor,StephenKendrick www.blackcreek.org orcall(804)781-0330
BroadusMemorialBaptist
804-779-2700 www.BroadusChurch.org
1Churchin2Locations
WorshippingonSundays! In-person&onFacebook!
5351PoleGreenRd. Mechanicsville,23116 PhilPeacock,Pastor SundaySchool9a.m. Worship10a.m.
3407KingWilliamRd. Aylett,23009 JeffPoythress,Pastor Worship9:30a.m. SundaySchool10:30a.m.
Makingeachoneawitness!
CoolSpringBaptistChurch 9283AtleeStationRd. Forinfo,activities&worship timesvisit www.coolspring.org orcall746-0800
Toadvertise,emailusat sales@mechlocal.com
FellowshipCommunityChurchof Mechanicsville
After10yearsatHanoverHigh Schoolwehavepurchasedour ownbuilding. Wecontinueto teach the Word of God and watchforthemiraculous.
JoinusSundaymornings9:45am at8505BellCreekRoad,SuiteK. www.fellowshipcc.com
GraceUnitedFamilyChurch
YouarecordiallyInvited: ChristmasEve CandlelightService! December24,7:00-8:00P.M. HistoricBeulahChurch 7252BeulahChurchRoad Mechanicsville,23111
Forinfo,call335-6728
LoveGod.LearntheBible. CareforPeople. GlennHawkins,Pastor
MechanicsvilleBaptistChurch 8016AtleeRd. Office:746.7253 Worshipinperson andLiveStreamedonYouTube &Facebook onSundaysat8:30&11:00a.m. WednesdayNightSuppersat 5:00p.m. andBibleStudyat6:00p.m. Findusonthewebat mechanicsvillebaptist.org
Emailusat news@mechlocal.comor sports@mechlocal.com
NewBethesdaBaptistChurch 9019NewBethesdaRd.779-2101 Rev.TomGaskins,InterimPastor CalebBittler,Ministerto Students&Family SundaySchool9:30AM, Worship10:45AM BibleStudy/Prayer Youth&Childrenactivities 6:30pm,Wednesday www.newbethesda.org NewHighlandBaptistChurch 10:30amWorship 9200NewAshcakeRoad, 550-9601 www.newhighland.org ShalomBaptistChurch 8116WalnutGroveRd. Office:746.7737 Worshipinperson andLiveStreamedonYouTube &Facebook onSundaysat8:30&11:00a.m WednesdayNightSuppersat 5:30p.m. and Bible Studyat6:15p.m. Findusonthewebat shalombaptist.net WalnutGroveBaptistisaChurch committedtofollowingJesus& lovingpeople.Youcanfindusat wgva.church7046ColdHarborrd
SOVEREIGNGRACEBAPTIST
NewHopeBaptist -Locatedat 5452SpotsleeCircle,Mech.Sunday school 9:45 am, Morning worship 10:30 am, afternoon 1pm,WednesdayPrayer&Bible study7:30pm.L.RonaldStaley, Pastor.Formoreinfo321-2110.
www.sovereigngraceinmechanicsville.org UNITEDMETHODIST
LebanonUnitedMethodist Church 8492PeaksRoad,746-0980 R.SpencerBroce,Pastor WorshipInPersonandon FacebookLive: 10:00ameachSunday www.facebook.com/LebUMC 9:00amSundaySchool Formoreinfo,checkusoutat www.lebanonumc.org
MechanicsvilleUnitedMethodist Church 7356AtleeRoad746-5118 ReverendAmyDunn,pastor 10aminpersonworshipor Facebooklive@MechUMC ChildrensandYouthPrograms CubScoutsPack517 www.mechumc.org
ShadyGroveUnitedMethodist 8209ShadyGroveRd. atthecornerofMeadowbridge Rd.,Mechanicsville,804-746-9073 shadygroveumc.org
In-personWorshipSundaysat 8:15,9:45,&11:15a.m., Onlineat9:45a.m. Programsforallages. Rev.WayneSnead,Pastor info@shadygroveumc.org
