The Nov. 5 election presentsan extraordinary opportunity to bring about positive change to our School Board.

The current School Board has too often shown an indifference toward good governance, as demonstrated by their failure to schedule – until the very end of this board’s term of office – the governance training they are legally required to undergo by the state Department of Education.

Richmond needs a School Board that is known for its work to support students andpositive educational outcomes, not as a venue of drama, political posturing and needless conflict. This may be our best opportunity to make that happen.

Richmonders for Effective Governance of Schools (REGS) is working to help all Richmonders take advantage of that unique opportunity by providing them with the knowledge they’ll need to be informed voters. We have conducted a rigorous, community member-led vetting process to identify and endorse School Board candidates who are 100% committed to equity, good governance, improving student outcomes and moving beyond the dysfunction and division that has often plagued the board. We urge all Richmond voters to use our endorsements, as well as those compiled by other community groups, to learn as much as they can about the candidates.

Following is REGS’ slate of endorsements for Richmond City School Board:

1st District: candidate Matthew R. Percival.

2nd District: candidate Katie B. Ricard.

3rd District: candidate Ali Faruk.4th District: incumbent Garrett L. Sawyer.

5th District: incumbent Stephanie Miller Rizzi.

6th District: REGS makes no endorsement. 7th District: incumbent

Cheryl L. Burke. 8th District: candidate PH “Cruz” Sherman.

9th District: incumbent Shavonda Dixon. 

All Richmonders — including college students and retirees in addition to parents of school- age kids — have a huge stake in this School Board election. Why? Because the performance of our School Board determines the performance of our public schools, and the performance of our public schools affects every Richmonders’ economic, social, and cultural quality of life. When students are able to succeed, we all prosper. 

REGS is an independent, non-partisan group of concerned citizens consisting of a 14-member Steering Committee and 20+ neighborhood volunteers from across Richmond. We believe excellent public schools in Richmond require a governance-minded, equity-focused School Board, and our rigorous endorsement process was built around that belief.

To learn more about REGS and our candidate endorsement process, or support our work, write to REGS4RPS@gmail.com or visit Facebook.com/REGS4RPS.

Thank you.

Richmonders for Effective Governance of Schools Steering Committee:

Kimberly Dickerson

Nancy Nelson

Tracy Epp

Lauren Northcutt

Sabrina Gross

Eric Payne

Shannon Heady

Katie Beck Sutler

Clarence McGill

Jerry Swerling

Cindy Menz-Erb

Lafonya Wallace

Rupa Murthy

LaKeisha Williams