School Board choices
11/4/2016, 9:21 p.m.
Four years ago, we, like many, had high hopes that the new representatives to the Richmond School Board would usher in progress.
The record shows that despite their hard work, their only apparent success was the appointment of a new superintendent, Dr. Dana T. Bedden.
Meanwhile, the percentage of students passing the state Standards of Learning tests has declined. As a result, too many of our city schools have been denied state accreditation, and too many of our students do not graduate from high school in four years.
Sadly, our school system continues to rank among the state’s leaders in the percentage of students who have 10 or more days of unexcused absences, who are suspended or expelled or who ultimately drop out.
Nonetheless, we are endorsing the four incumbents: J.E. Dawson Boyer,1st District; Jeff M. Bourne, 3rd District; Mamie L. Taylor, 5th District; and Shonda M. Harris-Muhammed, 6th District. We recommend keeping some experienced hands to assist the five newcomers to the board who will be learning their way.
In the five districts in which voters will elect new representatives, we endorse candidates we believe can help shape the policies to help lift our school system: J. Scott Barlow, 2nd District; Irvine Lee Reaves Jr., 4th District; Nadine D. Marsh-Carter, 7th District; Dawn C. Page, 8th District; and Linda Baker Owen, 9th District.
