DELIVER TO: Postal Patron Mechanicsville, VA 23111
STOPS AT EVERY HOME IN TOWN
PRSRT. STANDARD U.S. POSTAGE PAID Mechanicsville, VA Permit No.141
Vol. 29, No. 42 | Richmond Suburban Newspapers | February 20, 2013
Wilson on budget: time to land plane know that ultimately the board will have to approve a budget. I’m growing desirous of us landing this plane at a particular place,” Jamelle Wilson, superintendent of Hanover County Public Schools, said. More than a dozen Hanover County students and teachers addressed the School Board on Feb. 12 during a public comment period, focusing most of their comments on proposed cuts to IB
By Jim Ridolphi for The Mechanicsville Local With little more than a week remaining until the Hanover County School Board is scheduled to adopt a budget, the public took full advantage of a final opportunity to address the panel before Jim Ridolphi for The Local action is taken on this year’s proposed Patrick Henry High School junior Tara Ruff expressed her views on pay to play document. and a proposed plan to add another teaching block to the high school schedule “As we head toward next week, we during the Feb. 12 meeting of the Hanover County School Board.
see WILSON, pg. 26
School funding support continues By Jim Ridolphi for The Mechanicsville Local
Jim Ridolphi for The Local
Patty Davis urged the Board of Supervisors to fully fund county schools, saying an education will serve them in any economic downturn.
As day turned into night at last Wednesday’s meeting of the Hanover County Board of Supervisors, a steady line of speakers expressed their opinions on the upcoming budget. Patty Davis of the Chickahominy District was one of many who spoke in favor of additional funding for Hanover schools. “We are losing good teachers,” she said. “Every year that the budget is not to an adequate place is a
2904443-01
SEW Much Fun! If you enjoy sewing, you’ll love visiting our store. We offer a wide selection of fabrics, notions, sewing classes and custom sewing!
r arttheis ad. u Q h Fatore wit n o m t r Ceootf $25 o E E s FR rcha
u w/p
child’s life.” Davis also that current economic forecasts are not predicting a full recovery until 2016. She said the county can’t afford to wait that long to begin a “refunding” of the system. “I’m talking to teachers who are putting in applications out to surrounding communities. They won’t be here in 2016,” she said. “Every year we hold back that funding impacts what students can do in the future.” She summed her comments by express-
ing the importance and value of education. “The one thing we can give them that will last through any economic downturn or situation is their education. We need you all to find a way to restore funding to those schools, and to our safety net,” Davis said. She also urged the board to fund the Hanover County Sheriff ’s Office and Hanover County Fire/EMS at higher levels and suggested a re-evaluation of the possibility of imposing a temporary meals tax in see SCHOOL, pg. 28
JETHRO H. PILAND III
22-year vet to head up Fire/EMS Jethro H. Piland III, a 22-year veteran of Hanover County Fire/EMS, has been appointed chief. He had been acting chief since October. “Jethro Piland has experience in every realm of fire and EMS operations,” said Cecil R. Harris Jr., county administrator. “Through the years, he has been a key contributor to the development of the see FIRE/EMS, pg. 4
7225 Bell Creek Road Next to Panera & Moe’s
! EN P O W NO
(804) 789-1803