Is popular PAL program ‘in limbo’?

By Jeremy M. Lazarus

Will the Richmond Police Athletic League offer spring and summer programs for the city’s youths?

The Richmond Police Department is keeping mum about the status of the nonprofit program that has long offered a variety of sports opportunities after some of the board members resigned.

The Free Press has not received a response to queries about the status of the operation, which is based at SCOR, the Sports Center of Richmond, 1385 Overbrook Road. Two staff members based at the office declined comment as well.

Former City Councilwoman Kim B. Gray brought the situation to the attention of the Free Press.

“I was approached by a concerned volunteer who said that Richmond PAL was having trouble due to board conflicts,” Ms. Gray said.

She said she was told that several of the board members had walked out of a meeting last week and quit, leaving the PAL program “in limbo.”

VDOE says it will work with federal special education office on compliance issues

By Jeremy M. Lazarus

The Virginia Department of Education is prepared to cooperate with a federal office that found the state agency failing to comply with elements of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

“We continue to work with our federal partners on compliance issues identified in the monitoring report,” department spokesman Charles Pyle stated in response to a Free Press query. “That is part of the process that follows any federal monitoring report.”

The Free Press reported in March 16-18 edition that the U.S. Office of Special Education planned to step up monitoring after finding VDOE had failed to address some compliance issues identified two years ago.

The office led by Valarie Williams also noted in a Feb. 17 letter that her office had identified new problems with the state’s operation.

She hinted in the January letter that a continued failure to correct might affect federal funding of the state’s special education programs, but she never indicated in that letter or a previous January letter that she was prepared to recommend that sanction should Virginia fail to come into compliance.

Mr. Pyle noted that Virginia’s program largely meets federal requirements, as evidenced by VDOE’s annual receipt of the U.S. Department of Education’s highest rating for compliance with IDEA and improving outcomes for students with disabilities.

The main issues Ms. Williams raised involved VDOE’s oversight and handling of parental complaints that are generated by disputes about the educational services their children receive in local school divisions.

Ms. Williams cited lax VDOE deadlines along with missed deadlines for hearing the disputes in a timely fashion among her criticisms.

Senseless

United Communities Against Crime, a local nonprofit organization run by Charles Willis, held a prayer vigil Thursday, March 16, 2023, for Tyrek Brandon, 21, who was murdered at the corner of Hull and 16th streets on Richmond’s South Side on March 6, 2023.

Family, friends, and members of the Richmond Police Department, including Interim Police Chief Rick Edwards and homicide detectives, attended the vigil where several people said the senseless killings must stop. Shaquan Holmes, 33, Mr. Brandon’s older brother, painfully speaks about the senseless loss of his younger brother. He attempted to hold back tears while holding the hand of their grandmother, Shirlene Holmes.

Mr. Brandon was described as a beloved son, brother, neighbor, and friend. Through their tears, mourners watched as balloons were released in his memory.

Richmond Police is asking for help. If there is anyone with information about Mr. Brandon’s murder, contact Major Crimes Detective C. Tovar at (804) 467-4433, or call Crime Stoppers at (804)780-1000.

Seven and counting

Public vigils that have taken place in 2023

Jan. 3 - Hundreds gather in Hopewell County to remember the life of P’Aris Mi-Unique Angel Moore, after she was fatally shot days before her 9th birthday the previous week.