School Board Candidate Forum Covers Wide Range of Topics

This event was organized by the VCU Political Science Department, the A. Philip Randolph Institute, The Alliance for Progressive Values, The Coalition to Stop Gun Violence, People of Faith for Equality, RePHRAME - Residents of Public Housing in Richmond Against Mass Evictions, Richmond NOW, Sierra Club - Fall of the James, S.O.N.G. Southerners On New Ground, UniteWomen.org - Virginia Chapter, Virginia New Majority - Central Virginia Chapter, and Virginia Organizing.

The Forum started about 8:10 PM. Scott Price, Policy Director for The Alliance for Progressive Values, opened the forum and introduced the moderator for the evening, Kirsten Gray. Kirsten described the format and rules for the evening and then allowed each candidate two minutes to make an opening statement.

Mary Blanchard, 4th District [3:41], Dr. Patricia C. Churchill, 4th District [5:25], Kristen Larson, 4th Distict [7:21], Mamie Taylor, 5th District [9:21], Maurice Henderson, 5th District [10:53], Shondra Harris-Muhammed, 6th District [12:59], Rich Savage, 4th District [14:44], Vaness Womack Easter, 4th District [16:46], Norma Murdoch-Kitt, 3rd District [18:49], Jeff Bourne, 3rd District [20:58], Kim Gray, 2nd District [23:05], Mariah White, 2nd District [25:03], Daisy Weaver, 2nd District [27:11], Trent Park, 1st District [29:36], Glen Sturtevant, 1st District [31:53], Tichi Pinkney-Eppes, 9th District [33:58], and Albertina Carter, 8th District [34:44].

Candidates from the 3rd and 2nd Districts were asked their position the School Board's recent decision to reopen A.V. Norrell, a fifty year old school built on or near an old city landfill for a kindergarten class of 3 and 4 year olds.

Current School Board member Dr. Norma Murdoch-Kitt, 3rd District, supported the decision [1:24]. Jeff Bourne, 3rd District candidate, did not support the decision [3:25]. Current School Board member Kim Gray, 2nd District, was the only School Board member to vote against the decision [5:13]. Mariah White [7:22] and Daisy Weaver [8:56], 2nd District candidates, also were opposed to the decision to reopen Norrell.

The five candidates for 4th District were asked what they thought of the recommendations from the Citywide Task Force on Rezoning and its recommendations for school closures.

Rich Savage [0:40], Kristen Larson [2:34], Vanessa Womack Easter [4:37], Dr. Patricia C. Churchill [6:54], and Mary Blanchard [9:10] responded to the question.

Several candidates were asked "When administrators lack incompetence or misbehave are you comfortable with their being promoted in the system? What would you do to stop this?" The example of the former Blackwell Elementary principal was cited.

Trent Park, 1st District [1:24], Glen Sturtevant, 1st District [3:33], Shonda Harris-Muhammed, 6th District [5:18], Tichi Pinkney-Eppes, 9th District [7:43].

Candidates were asked if they supported incorporating specific language about gender and sexual orientation into the schools' anti-bullying policy.

Maurice Henderson, 5th District [1:05], Mamie Taylor, 5th District [2:56], and Albertina Carter, 8th District [5:26] responded.

"How did our schools get millions of dollars in debt?"..."Was it a good idea to cut plant service transportation jobs and to give 5 day furloughs to all employees in order to balance the budget?"

Shonda Harris-Muhammed, 6th District [1:29], Mariah White, 2nd District [4:08], Daisy Weaver, 2nd District [6:14], and Kim Gray, 2nd District [8:37] responded.

5th District candidates Mamie Taylor [1:53] and Maurice Henderson [3:50] were asked, Why are test scores so low and how can they be improved?

The question: What recommendations of the Mayor's RPS Budget Task Force do you support or oppose? Please be specific.

Tichi Pinkney-Eppes, 9th District [0:55], Glen Sturtevant, 1st District [2:31], and Trent Park, 1st District [4:12] responded to the question.

How can we replicate the success of some Richmond schools in other schools that do not perform so well?

Kristen Larson, 4th District [0:39], Patricia Conn Churchill, 4th District [2:34], Mary Blanchard, 4th District [4:36], Rich Savage, 4th District [5:47], and Vanessa Womack Easter, 4th District [7:40] responded.

Candidates were asked about recent salary increases for the Superintendent in the face of budget cuts for schools.

Jeff Bourne, 3rd District [1:00], Norma Murdoch-Kitt, 3rd District [2:59], and Albertina Carter, 8th District [5:14] responded.

What interest or stake do 1st District Parents and Voters have in devoting its resources to struggling schools in other districts?

First District candidates Trent Park [0:47] and Glen Sturtevant [2:41] responded.

How can Richmond Public Schools become more green?

Daisy Weaver, 2nd District [0:35], Mariah White, 2nd District [2:12], and Kim Gray, 2nd District [3:18] responded.

The question: Traditionally, Superintendents have had a powerful influence on their boards. How will your tenure be different?

Tichi Pinkney-Eppes, 9th District [0:47], Shonda Harris-Muhammed, 6th District [1:51], Maurice Henderson, 5th District [3:43], and Mamie Taylor, 5th District [5:56] responded to the question.

What would you do to make RPS meetings more accessible to the public?

Norma Murdoch-Kitt, 3rd District [0:42], Jeff Bourne, 3rd District [2:10], Vanessa Womack Easter, 4th District [3:35], Rich Savage, 4th District [4:26], Patricia Conn Churchill, 4th District [5:32], Kristen Larson, 4th District [7:22], and Albertina Carter, 8th District [9:25] responded.

Each candidate was given an opportunity to make closing comments.

Patricia Conn Churchill, 4th District [1:06], Kristen Larson, 4th District [1:26], Mamie Taylor, 5th District [2:11], Maurice Henderson, 5th District [3:05], Shonda Harris-Muhammed, 6th District [5:05], Albertina Carter, 8th District [6:34], Tichi Pinkney-Eppes, 9th District [8:27], Glen Sturtevant, 1st District [9:18], Trent Park, 1st District [10:08], Daisy Weaver, 2nd District [10:56], Mariah White, 2nd District [11:52], Kim Gray, 2nd District [12:15], Jeff Bourne, 3rd District [12:58], Norma Murdoch-Kitt, 3rd District [13:44], Vanessa Womack Easter, 4th District [15:55], and Rich Savage, 4th District [16:45] made closing comments.