doncoleman.org

Budget

Simply put our budget resources should be focused on:

• Our classrooms and school buildings (including getting them ADA approved)
• Professional development for our teachers
• Leadership development for our principals

In-Fighting Among Leadership

We need a City Wide Vision for Educational Excellence: Quality & Equality, Collaborative Efforts, and Financial Health. Furthermore, we need to restore the public’s confidence in RPS by hearing the concerns of teachers, parents, and children alike.

I personally will demonstrate exemplary leadership of unity and mutual respect. I have experience working with various groups, organizations and ministries in East End. I'm the kind of leader that can bring together a diverse group of people towards a common goal.

Bellevue Elementary Closing

I want concerned parents to know according to the Master Plan Bellevue will not be closed until 2011 at the earliest. I know the importance of Bellevue to the community. Therefore I plan on continuing the conversation regarding its closing during my time on the School Board. Master Plan has provisions in it for Historic Sites and I believe Bellevue may qualify as such.

Retaining/Caring for Teachers

According to an NEA study teachers leave for three simple reasons, Too Little Support, No Respect, and Unfair Accountability. I will initiate Teacher Appreciation teams, made up of School Board and Community Members. They would be tasked with developing ways to support and show appreciation to our teachers.

Additionally, as we continue to improve our schools, we need to be holding teachers to fair standards and giving them the tools and resources to be successful in thier profession.

Charter Schools

First I must state that as a School Board member I am committed to representing my constituent’s parents and students. Charter Schools usually foster a tremendous amount of parental and community involvement. For this reason, I would not  be against the possibility of a charter school. However we have to be careful about geographical bias in our school system. Where a charter school is located and who it serves must be carefully considered.

Most importantly, we cannot abandon our local public schools. I cannot overstate how much public schools are community assets that cannot be taken for granted. I will be an advocate for continued improvement in our public schools. They should be able to compete with any other educational options.

What will be your goals as a School Board Member?

• Help to develop a City Wide Vision for Educational Excellence
• Restore vital the relationships between our schools, our homes and our community, exemplified in the Coleman Connection Strategy.
• Be an advocate for all the voices of the 7th district. I will be a servant to those from Church Hill, Creighton Court, Fairfield, Court, Fulton Bottom, Fulton Hill, Mosby Court, Oakwood, Union Hill, and the many other diverse communities of Richmond’s East End.

Who do you support for Mayor/City Council/ School Board?

We have an opportunity to have a Mayor, City Council and School Board, that share in a common vision of educational excellence. I'm confident that you, the voters, will choose the right people to lead. I will support all those elected to office on Nov 4th, and I pledge to foster working relationships of collaboration and mutual respect.