Henrico School Board to give update on high school boundary change proposal, employee feedback channels

Henrico School Board members will hear more information about the proposed attendance zone changes for four high schools from Henrico Schools Superintendent Amy Cashwell at a 3 p.m. work session Thursday.

The proposal, introduced at the Feb. 27 meeting, would shift school boundaries to move some students from the Douglas S. Freeman High zone into the zone for Mills E. Godwin High, and move some students from the Highland Springs High zone into the Henrico High zone. In an informal vote, the school board voted 3-2 to hold off on the proposal until receiving more information.

At Thursday’s work session, Cashwell will give a presentation on how the boundary proposal would impact school bus routes and transportation, projected enrollment numbers in HCPS, and the timeline for more capacity coming on with new Advanced Career Education centers and specialty centers.

The school board also will receive an update on progress made to address several concerns brought up by HCPS employees, including the language in staff contracts, the feedback mechanisms for staff, and HCPS’ pay scale.

In October, the school board announced that it did not have a majority to pursue a collective bargaining resolution, which would give HCPS staff the right to negotiate their contracts, but said it would “look closely at our internal practices and policies to make changes rooted in employee feedback” and directed Cashwell to carry out a number of tasks:

• evaluate current contract language for clarity and consistency;

• create regulations and guidance to protect staff time, including ensuring adequate planning time;

• diversity and enhance employee feedback mechanisms;

• update the employee leave policy and invest in automated process technology;

• provide greater transparency into the pay scale;

• and create a tool to track the progress of these priorities and future initiatives related to employee engagement.

During the past year, some HCPS staff have brought up their concerns with staff contracts, saying that contracts include vague language that allows some teachers to take on more responsibilities than others. Staffers also have complained about a lack of teacher voice in the division’s decisions. 

Also during its meeting, the school board will review changes to several HCPS policies, including policies on “Family Life Education,” “Controversial Subjects,” “Procedures for Emergency School Closing,” and “Acceleration of Students.”

Changes to the family life education policy would allow students to opt-out of family life education, also known as sex education, at the discretion of their parent or guardian, which is in line with HCPS’ current practice according to the HCPS Policy Review Summary. Parents would also be allowed to review the content used for family life education.

Language would be added to the “Controversial Subjects” policy that states that controversial subjects should only be taught if “relevant to the curriculum” and “appropriate for the students’ age,” stating that teachers must present “multiple credible perspectives on controversial subjects” and use “credible and relevant information.” An added line would require school principals to consult with central office Teaching and Learning staff about content that could be considered controversial.

Changes to the policy on emergency school closures, which aligns with current protocol according to the HCPS Policy Review Summary, would state that the superintendent is in charge of making the final decision on individual or divisionwide school closings and cancellations of after-school activities and extracurriculars on non-school days. Principals can cancel after-school activities at their individual school if necessary. An added line would also require HCPS to notify parents and staff about closures “as quickly as possible through multiple communication channels.”

Another policy change would allow elementary students to skip a grade level or accelerate in a single subject even if they are not identified as gifted “in limited circumstances.” The director of learning also would need to approve a student’s request to skip a grade level along with the director of elementary education.

Another change would make grades earned in high school credit-bearing courses taken by a student in middle school count as a part of the student’s high school cumulative grade point average.

The school board also will vote on accepting a $701,301 grant, funded by the U.S. Office of Refugee Resettlement, which goes towards school support for Afghan students in the district and aims to help with students’ academic performance and school integration.

Liana Hardy is the Citizen’s Report for America Corps member and education reporter. Her position is dependent upon reader support; make a tax-deductible contribution to the Citizen through RFA here.