Near West End School Board Rep Kim Bridges likes to keep her constituents informed.  Here is her November update:

What would you do if you won $11,000?
If you’re Hill teacher Stephen Beckett, you make plans for Antarctica and then head back to the classroom like it’s just another day.  As I suspected he would be, Mr. Beckett was outside of Hill this a.m. like he is every other morning, supervising kids while they chat, toss a football or shoot hoops before school.  No sign of Northface gear since he won the REB award for teaching excellence this week, but this winner is already talking about podcasts direct to Hill from the Antarctic.  These awards let teachers do “cool” things, but the best part is how the lessons learned make it back to Richmond students.  Congratulations Mr. Beckett, and bundle up. Read more at http://www.inrich.com/cva/ric/news.apx.-content-articles-RTD-2008-11-12-0168.html.
 
Election Thanks
You did it again 1st District!  You came out in great numbers to vote and show everyone what an involved community we have:
https://www.voterinfo.sbe.virginia.gov/election/DATA/2008/07261AFC-9ED3-410F-B07D-84D014AB2C6B/Unofficial/00_760_s.shtml
Thanks especially for going all the way through the ballot to vote for the lowly school board race. I was at the polls at TJ and Hill and talked to many people who were eager to learn more about our schools.  Luckily, I had my handy dandy three-fold business card at the ready, with information about each of the 4 schools housed here in the 1st. (With the support of the Richmond Education Association and Coalition for a Greater Richmond.)  I’m asking everyone—including Museum District Association members who’ll get some of the cards tomorrow at their annual meeting–to read up on the schools and then pass the card along to someone else in the district who may not know much about what’s going on in our schools. 
 
Find out what an outside expert says about RPS auditing
Next Friday, November 21 is the culmination of some work which might be one of the most important tasks completed during this school board term.  For the past nine months, I have been privileged to lead the school board’s Internal Audit committee as we have focused on a long-neglected but critical function for any organization. This committee, with valuable input from the business community and higher ed professionals, worked diligently to craft an audit charter and develop an annual audit work plan.  And those efforts culminated in an external review which will be presented on 11/21 at 2:30.  I know it doesn’t have the appeal of a school tour or a community event, but if you’re at all interested in the progress that RPS is making in oversight and operations, this is the meeting for you.  I’ll send the presentation afterwards just in case you don’t make it.
 
Upcoming Events (before Thanksgiving)
Tuesday, November 18 from 8:15 – 11:45 – Get on the Bus tour of 3 RPS schools. Several 1st District citizens took the tour last spring and the responses were overwhelmingly positive.  This time we’re touring Overby-Shepard Elementary, Martin Luther King Middle and Franklin Military Institute. FREE to you if you RSVP to 780-7100 by this Friday. 
 
Tuesday, November 18 at 6:30 p.m. – TJ’s monthly PTSA meeting
 
Thursday, November 20 at 7:00 p.m. – Learn about Richmond Community High and have fun with math at Hill’s PTA meeting.  Bring some canned goods for Hill’s food drive.
 
Sunday, November 23 at 2:00 p.m… – Community Clean Up for Hill Athletic Field
Whether you have a child at Hill or not, you’re invited to join us as we revamp the athletic field at the corner of Thompson & Patterson.  With more teams than ever using the middle school’s field, there’s work to be done and refreshments to be had.  It’ll take a team effort!
 
Wednesday, November 26 at 6:00 p.m. – Harvest Dinner at Richmond Community High
 
And mark your calendar for the start of December…Barnes & Noble night to benefit Mary Munford’s coming up December 6 & 7.  When you show the Munford flyer that’s available at the store, the school will get proceeds from your purchase.
 
See you at school!  Kim Bridges, 1st District School Board representative