Henrico middle school, high schools getting new security cameras

Late buses, staffing shortages, and security cameras were among the topics discussed during Thursday’s Henrico County School Board meeting.

According to Chief of Operations Lenny Pritchard, the school system was only “two routes away” from having all buses arrive at school before the first bells ring in the morning.

“I do feel very confident that those levels will be worked out and we can be at zero,” Pritchard said.

Pritchard said that the two late buses were not due to traffic but rather the fact that their routes are particularly long.

Pritchard also told board members that recently-purchased security cameras are being installed in middle and high schools.

“We are currently in the process of ending installation of those cameras in our secondary schools,” Pritchard said.

Secondary school administrators were trained on how to use the cameras, using a training program created by the cameras’ manufacturer, Pritchard said.

A topic that that came up often throughout the meeting was the ongoing problem of teacher vacancies – which filled steadily, but not completely, ahead of the new school year.

“It’s almost been like watching a telethon, as the numbers tick up,” said School Board Chair and Tuckahoe District representative Marcie Shea.

Though there are still teacher vacancies, every class was covered by an instructor on the first day of school.

However, many of those instructors are not permanent teachers, but substitutes or other staff members who are covering vacant classes. Permanent teachers eventually will be needed to fill their roles.

“Coverage is beyond just having an adult in the room,” said Superintendent Amy Cashwell, who herself is teaching a class during the first week of school. “It’s a combination of board subs – who have their teaching license or credentials in related areas, to serve for a long term until a regular teacher is found – and qualified teachers, who are currently in other roles who have been shifted temporarily to the classroom.”

Varina District representative Alicia Atkins explained that the higher rate of teacher vacancies in Eastern Henrico schools was being felt countywide.

“When one area has an issue, it impacts all the other areas,” Atkins said. “And we need to work towards a balanced Henrico.”

The next school board meeting will be held Sept. 8.

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Anya Sczerzenie is the Henrico Citizen’s education reporter and a Report for America corps member. Make a tax-deductible donation to support her work, and RFA will match it dollar for dollar. Sign up here for her free weekly education newsletter.