Teacher Raises in Henrico, a Film about Civic Engagement, and a Memorial at UR
Cheers RVA!
Today will be pleasant and sunny with a high of 77 and a low of 51. The week ahead looks a bit hotter, with highs in the mid-80’s and some potential afternoon/evening thunderstorms later in the week.
the juice:
The Henrico school board recently approved a $994 million budget for the 2025-2026 school year, including a 6% raise for all returning staff, according to the Citizen.
Also included are raises for support staff such as custodial workers and nutrition service workers, with pay increases ranging from 14% to 19%.
The budget includes the largest amount of state aid in history, as well as increased local aid, with federal aid remaining constant.
Henrico Public Schools currently serves more than 50k students.
the pulp:
A pregnant woman was killed in a shooting Sunday afternoon in Fairfield Court, according to WTVR. The incident is still under investigation.
A screening of 'Join or Die', a "story of America's civic unraveling through the journey of legendary social scientist Robert Putnam", will be held tonight at the Byrd Theater, via the Richmonder. The film is about the importance of civic engagement and aims to address why American democracy is in a crisis and what can be done about it. The screening begins at 6:30 pm with tickets available for $10 at the door.
the dive:
Michael Paul Williams reports on the recent unveiling of a memorial to enslaved laborers buried on land where the University of Richmond Campus now sits, via the RTD.
The dedication of the burying ground Memorial took place last Wednesday.
Williams notes the history of the land:
Richmond College, the precursor to UR, acquired the land in 1910. Campus development and other projects resulted in three known instances of grave disturbances from 1912 to the mid-1950s. Disinterred human remains, described as those of enslaved people, were reburied by UR at locations now unknown, according to the report.
He describes the memorial itself in contrast to recent executive orders that in his words "bury stories like this beneath a mound of revisionist folderol".
Read the full article here.
the vibe:
What’s wrong with this photo?
Redditor CarlCasper shared this photo of the two stadiums, but didn’t like the apartment building across the street so he added an AI-generated rock quarry instead.
Have an inquisitive day RVA!
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