April 20, 2019


Dear RPS Family,
 
What a storm! I hope you all made it through safely. I managed to get myself stranded at Charlotte International Airport as a result of the weather. So I'm writing to you this morning from the airport lounge :)
 
First off, Happy Easter and Happy Passover! I hope you have a chance to celebrate with family and friends, and that your holidays are filled with peace and love.
 
2 topics today:
 
RPS Inspiration
 
A huge thank you to the RVA community for donating to the TJ Robotics Team so they can compete this week at the world championships. We're incredibly proud of the VikingBots and so grateful to the teachers/staff/community partners at TJ who've made this program possible. To learn more, check out this great article about the team. VikingBots, go get 'em in Detroit!


I also have to give a huge shout-out to the amazing students from Armstrong and Community who staged an incredible production of  Once on This Island at Armstrong this week. It was fabulous! As I shared before, this is the first time in THREE DECADES that a full production of this kind has been staged at Armstrong. To learn more, check out this great article about the performance. As with TJ, thank you so much to all the teachers/staff/community partners who helped make this possible. We appreciate you!


Finally, I'm delighted to share that  Mateo Ascencio Silvan , an aspiring fashion designer and junior at George Wythe High School, placed second at the 2019 Virginia Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) Conference in Virginia Beach this month. Dazzling the judges with his gorgeous designs, Mateo qualified for a trip to the national competition in California this summer. Check out one of his amazing designs below!


The Budget!
 
Monday is the BIG night, everyone. The Council's public hearing on the Mayor's FY20 budget starts at 6 pm, but you should plan to come early as the chamber is going to be packed. Please bring at least 3 friends, wear red to show your support for our teachers and students, and make signs that say #YesForRPS and #FundEquity. 
 
You may have seen some news stories indicating that a majority of the Council is not in favor of the Mayor's budget. Don't let that deter you. There's still a very real chance that the Council will muster five votes (or more) for a compromise package that preserves full funding for RPS. But we need to keep the press ure on. Council members need to know that the RPS family will remember their votes on this budget when everyone goes to the polls in the fall of 2020.

To get you pumped up, see below for several wonderful opinion pieces about the budget that have been published over the last several weeks. I encourage you to read (and share!) them.
I also want to remind everyone that I will be holding a "Trust Town Hall" on Tuesday, April 23, at MLK Middle School, at 6 pm . I invite you to come especially if you do not trust RPS to use any new funds effectiv ely. I want to hear your concerns, talk through what we are doing and can do to address them, and figure out how to partner on behalf of the children of Richmond. 

Let me close by sharing a picture of the boiler at Mary Scott Preschool. 


This is the original boiler from 1952. It often fails in the winter, which means our 4-year-olds frequently need to wear hats, coats, and gloves in class. That's criminal. We must do better by our children. 

Without additional funding, next year I'll have to decide which children get heat and which don't. I'm not saying that to be dramatic or incendiary. It's simply the truth.  RVA, I know we're better than that. Now's the time to stand up for equity - not by talking about it; by funding it.
 
With great appreciation,
 
Jason Kamras
Superintendent
301 North 9th St, Richmond, VA 23219
P: 804.780.7710 | www.rvaschools.net
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