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Vol. 26, No. 24 | Richmond Suburban Newspapers | October 17, 2012
Education groups endorse school budget goals By Jim Ridolphi for The Mechanicsville Local Hanover County school officials are entering this year’s preliminary budget process with the support of three of the county’s major educational organizations.
They expressed support for a list of goals and objectives for the upcoming budget session during the Tuesday, Oct. 9, Hanover County School Board meeting. This budget process promises financial challenges for most
school districts across the state. Angela Downer of the Hanover Professional Educators said her organization has four principle goals in the upcoming process. She recommended that the School Board attempt to:
✏ Reduce class sizes whenever possible. ✏ Preserve as many jobs as possible. ✏ Consider a salary increase for teachers. ✏ Provide financial assistance to retirees to assist with
health care insurance costs. “We would like to thank Dr. (Jamelle) Wilson (superintendent of Hanover County Public Schools) for drafting goals which are reflective of what is most valued in our school district. We appreciate every-
‘It was such a simple strategy: two men and a gun’
Former schools chief opens up about diary of ’02 sniper attack In December 2010, Col. V. Stuart Cook, sheriff at the time of the sniper attack in Ashland, talked about the case soon after John Allen Muhammad was executed. That article can be found at http:// www.mechlocal.com/ index.php/news/article/ sheriff_worst_scenario_ came_true/
Friday, Oct. 19, will mark the 10th anniversary of a day that Stewart D. Roberson, fort was such a simple mer superintendent of Hanover strategy: two men County Public Schools, will and a gun, but then never forget. That was when — when you rectwo snipers struck Ashland and ognize that their selection of terror gripped a community. targets and locations and how Just before 8 p.m. on that they were publicly defying Saturday 10 years ago, the officials — it was a strategy that sounds of gunshots filled the air I don’t believe anyone would outside the Ponderosa restauhave scripted.” rant off Interstate 95 in Ashland.
By Melody Kinser mkinser@mechlocal.com
“I
John Allen Muhammad, at that time known only as the D.C. sniper, and Lee Boyd Malvo, his teenage accomplice, had taken aim at a couple from Melbourne, Fla. Jeffrey Hopper, 37 at the time, was shot in the abdomen as he and his wife exited the restaurant. He is among the three of the 13 victims who survived the sniper attacks. For Roberson, the experi-
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ence sent him to a therapeutic place: writing. At the time, many were not aware that the school district leader was keepsee SNIPER, pg. 4
thing you’re doing to guarantee the continued success of our schools,” Downer said. Bob Brown, president of the Hanover Education Foundation, said he approached the list of goals from three difsee BUDGET, pg. 5