INSIDE Goochland girl will be a page in the House of Delegates > page 2A
Volume 59, Number 1 • January 3, 2013
Goochland schools review security after Newtown tragedy
File Photo by Ken Odor
New Goochland Superintendent of Schools James Lane said last week that Goochland parents want the school system to take a proactive approach to security.
By Ben Orcutt Special Correspondent
As the nation continues to mourn the victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting massacre in Newtown, Conn., public school systems across the country are taking a closer look at how best to protect children. “In Goochland, we maintain that we have safe schools,” Superintendent Dr. James F. Lane said during the School Board’s Dec. 18 workshop meeting, just days after 20-year-old Adam Lanza shot his mother dead in the home they shared in Newtown and proceeded to Sandy Hook Elementary where he murdered 20 pupils and six staff members before taking his own life. “We at all times try to follow the best practices that’s shared with us by law enforcement and certainly this week the U.S. Secretary of Education and the Governor have given us guidance, which we’ve taken that guidance
into account,” Lane continued. “We review our crisis plan annually. In the state of Virginia we’re required to do that. Dr. [Peter M.] Gretz as our assistant superintendent of operations will be primarily in charge of the committee that reviews that every year and brings to the Board for approval. And so that process is already in place for us, but we’re going to continue to take that guidance into account and I want families to know that this is something that we take seriously.” There is a school resource officer at the middle school-high school complex and all three of Goochland’s elementary schools have buzzer-entry systems in place, Lane said. “We do lockdown drills on a regular basis,” he added. “In addition to active-shooter type of tragedies, we also do fire drills and tornado drills and we feel like we’re prepared for safety. We’re certainly open to any best practices. Parents have been e-mailing us throughout the week and we want to thank you for all the suggestions you brought forward and please know that as the months ahead come forward we’re going to continue to look at this, but we’re going to do everything in our power to keep your children safe.” Lane also spoke about Gov. Bob McDonnell’s announcement of a statewide review of school security. “All school principals are required to submit a survey every year that indicates which type of school safety measures that we have in place and so we report those things regularly to the state,” Lane said. “As I read [McDonnell’s announcement], what’s going to happen now is the Governor’s office – more likely the Virginia Department of Education – is going to work with each superintendent to share feedback on what they’ve learned in those surveys and give us some guidance on best practices…If there’s an area that they would like to see us improve they’ll let us know. We have not been given a timeline. All that’s been announced is that that’s going to be an executive order and he’s creating a task force also to bring best practices into play. That’s the second piece of the announcement.” Following the School Board meeting, Lane said that the weekend of the Sandy Hook massacre Goochland put information on the Internet about school safety see Security > page 3A
Photo by Ken Odor
Goodwill’s new store and donation center will open Jan. 10 in Centerville. Store employees are already on site accepting donations.
Goodwill to open new store Jan. 10 By Ken Odor jodor@goochlandgazette.com
It took awhile, but Goodwill Industries is finally ready to open a retail store in Goochland County. After almost two years of work, the company will open its retail store and donation center at 1650 St. Mathews Lane on Thursday, Jan. 10 at 9 a.m. “Our stores are fundamental in our ability to deliver our mission services. We are pleased to offer Goochland residents a convenient way to support our mission while stretching their dollar,” said Charles D. Layman, President and CEO of Goodwill in a news release. Layman said last week that Goodwill never gave up on a Goochland store even after the Planning Commission recommended against approval of a store at Bellview Gardens just east of the current site after strong neighbor-
Goodwill CEO Charles D. Layman
hood opposition. “The biggest thing is that it’s a growing county,” said Layman. “Access is great. We think it will work exceptionally well,” he said. The 17,500 square foot store cost almost $3 million to build and will employ have about 25 full and part-time employees. see Goodwill > page 4A