April 9, 2021

Superintendent Submits Draft Budget

On Thursday, April 1, 2021, Superintendent Angela Hairston submitted to the Danville City School Board a proposed budget. Without any request for increased funding from City Council for operational expenses, the budget invests in five key areas:

● Salary increases for all employees

● Staffing enhancements

● Five additional instructional days

● Increased wrap-around services

● After school programming

“The School Board has a unique and essential role in ensuring that all students have equal access to education and that all employees are supported in their roles as champions for students and learning,” stated Crystal Cobbs, Chair of the Danville City School Board. “It is the board’s responsibility to make sure funds are allocated strategically across the division. We fully support Dr. Hairston’s proposed budget – a budget that invests in key initiatives that will move this division forward by focusing on the needs of all students.”

Employee raises budgeted for in FY22 and the step increase received in FY21 will equate to a 5% raise for all employees over the biennium. This budget includes a step increase plus an additional % yielding an average 3.5% increase for FY22, pending Governor Northam’s approval of the Conference Budget in April.

Hairston is proposing staffing enhancements which include the addition of certified teachers to reduce class sizes to 14-18 students; Literacy Specialists for elementary and middle schools; increased technology support for students; and increased support for Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) programs at Galileo and George Washington High Schools.

Hairston is also proposing school be extended by five days to address the effect of unlearned content during the pandemic. Teachers will receive a stipend of $1,500 and other qualifying employees will be paid their daily rate for the additional instructional days for the upcoming year.

In regard to wrap-around services, the proposed budget includes additional social workers and guidance counselors.

For after school programming, Hairston proposes increasing opportunities for after school programming and enrichment activities by investing in and strengthening partnerships with key community partners.

“As we are all aware, Danville Public Schools stands at a pivotal moment in our continued pursuit of excellence. Our collective focus is to right the ship and to meet the challenge of educating our students at high levels,” stated Hairston. “It is my desire and that of the employees and the community that our schools be the best and ensure all children have access to a high-quality education. We have a laser-like focus on every student being proudly enrolled in a great school system and one that ensures that every student’s barriers to achievement are overcome through high quality instruction and opportunities for extracurricular activities that serve to motivate success in the classroom.”

The proposed budget is a working draft for the next fiscal year, which begins July 1, 2021, and is based on Northam’s approval of the Conference Budget. Pending school board approval, the budget will then be submitted to City Council by May 1, 2021.

School board meetings are held the first and third Thursdays of every month at 5:30 p.m. in the Danville Room at the School Board Office located at 341 Main Street. The meetings also stream live on YouTube at http://www.YouTube.com/user/dpslive.

Pictured below (L to R): Mrs. Crystal Cobbs, Chair of the Danville City School Board, and Superintendent Angela Hairston

AmazonSmile. You Shop. You Give - Help Support DPSEF by Shopping at AmazonSmile!

Experience feel-good shopping. Shop at smile.amazon.com and they will donate to the Danville Public Schools Education Foundation, at no cost to you!

When first visiting AmazonSmile, customers are prompted to select a charitable organization from over one million eligible organizations. In order to browse or shop at AmazonSmile, customers must first select a charitable organization. For eligible purchases at AmazonSmile, the AmazonSmile Foundation will donate 0.5% of the purchase price to the customer’s selected charitable organization. Please select the Danville Public Schools Education Foundation or click on the quick link below.

https://smile.amazon.com/ch/65-1269109

About DPSEF

The Danville Public Schools Education Foundation (DPSEF) was founded in 2002 to develop alternative financial resources for Danville Public Schools (DPS) and to support educational activities for DPS students and professional development for teachers and staff. Their mission is A Community Invested in Education and Danville Public Schools. The Foundation raises awareness, financial, and in-kind support for public education across all sectors of our community and directs that support to learning and teaching activities not fully supported by tax dollars or expected to be delivered directly by DPS.

United Way - A Message from Ken Larking, Campaign Chair

Friends:

I am incredibly grateful to you for your donation to the United Way campaign this year. This campaign began last year at around the same time our world was confronted with the magnitude of the COVID-19 pandemic. It has been a challenging 12 months for everyone, but especially for those who are typically served by our United Way partners.

I am proud to say that, despite all the economic uncertainty, your donations have enabled us to raise $502,896. I appreciate the donors and the employers who encouraged and enabled their employees to pledge toward the campaign.

Whether you are a first time donor or a long time donor, and on behalf of all the partner organizations who receive assistance, thank you for your support of the United Way of Danville-Pittsylvania County!

With appreciation,

Ken Larking

Thank you to all of the DPS employees who generously donated to the United Way campaign this year. You raised $11,899!

VRS Hybrid Retirement Plan Learning Opportunities

Below is information regarding upcoming VRS Hybrid Plan Overview webinars and opportunities for individual counseling appointments with Lauren Hand, DPS’s Defined Contribution Plans Education Specialist. These sessions will be held on 4/20 & 4/21. Click on either link below to register. Please contact Coretta Lipscomb, Coordinator of Employee Benefits and Support Staff Services, if you have any questions.

Schedule a Hybrid Plan virtual session on April 20 or 21:
Name: Lauren Hand

Phone: 800-338-5804

Email: lhand@icmarc.org

Meeting Link: Webinar and Virtual Appointments available here: https://icmarc.secure.force.com/events?SiteId=a0lf1000006PZv5AAG

If you would like an appointment but these dates do not work for you, other appointment opportunities are available here:

https://icmarc.secure.force.com/events?SiteId=a0l3a00000IYEOYAA5

Medicare 101 Zoom Meeting Scheduled

Whether you are turning 65, over 65 and on group insurance, or making plans, this presentation will give you an overview of Medicare, what it covers, when to enroll, how to avoid penalties, and how retirement benefits coordinate. OneDigital will also discuss individual plans for those exploring options for other types of health coverage.

MEDICARE 101 Tuesday, April 27, 2021 ~ 4:30 p.m

Zoom Meeting Information: https://onedigital.zoom.us/j/94663112150?pwd=MEdZMCsyRU5FbHpUZ29Yc0NZN2Zodz09
Meeting ID: 946 6311 2150
Passcode: 830882
Dial by your location 877 853 5257 US Toll-free 888 475 4499 US Toll-free

You are cordially invited to STEAM Night on May 10 and May 11!

This year STEAM Night will be broken down into two separate nights. Monday, May 10, 2021, will be for elementary students in Pre-K through 5th grade, and Tuesday, May 11, 2021, will be for secondary students in grades 6 through 12. Rain dates have been set for Monday, May 17, 2021 (elementary), and Tuesday, May 18, 2021 (secondary). This event is hosted by Danville Public Schools but is open to ALL students from any surrounding school district!

To abide by CDC guidelines, our event will be outside this year and set up in the parking lot between Bonner and Westwood Middle School. Each station will be set 6 feet apart and all participants are required to wear a mask at all times. Our first station is set up as the Safety Station where each participant will be checked for a mask (and given one if they do not have one), have their temperature checked, and will have gloves and hand sanitizer available. The setup for our night is in a specific order with only one direction for foot traffic. At the end of the event, there is a Disposal Station for any/all PPE to be disposed of safely.

The DPS Food Truck will be on-site to feed ALL students 18 and under for FREE each night, the menu for each night can be seen on the website below. Adults can purchase a meal for only $4.00. We would love for families to bring a blanket, chairs, or towels and have a family picnic on the grounds!

Students will receive, at the Registration Station, a reusable bag for them to carry around to each station to collect the items they make, pick up, or receive.

Please share this information to get the word out!

Here is our website: https://sites.google.com/.../steam-night.../2021-steam-night

We look forward to seeing you on May 10 and 11, 2021!

*If you have children that fit in both grade levels for each night, please feel free to join us both nights or pick the night that works best for your family!

Edmunds Brothers Visit G.L.H. Johnson

Trey, Terrell, and Tremaine Edmunds stopped by Johnson Elementary to promote their inspirational children's book, "My Brother's Keeper." Join us for a conversation with the brothers about what this book means to them - Check out this Patrick Stowe video!

Photo Credit: Register and Bee

Bonner Welcomes Dr. Justin Durham!

Students and staff are excited to welcome Dr. Justin Durham as Principal at O.T. Bonner Middle School. "We have work to do and we can build upon this year. We are the shapers of lives as a family moving forward together." #werockbonner

We hope you had a wonderful, relaxing Spring Break!