Letter to Richmond School Board Regarding PHSSA

Sorry, this is not relevant to most of you. However, again, for those that have a dog in this fight, there are just hours left to write the school board and tell them how you feel. Also come to the school board meeting tonight at 6:00.

Here is my letter. Sorry to my readers for the "angry" tone. :)

I am writing you to address my deep concern over Patrick Henry. It is my understanding that now, after reregistering my child, now after registering my child in the school, that it is a possibility you will not allow the school to open. I feel you have some explaining to do.

I am getting a clear impression my child?s education is of little or no interest to you. However, for the sake of that child I need to express my utter disappoint, disgust and actual horror at the way the school board has handled this. I am not alone in feeling that even the best of Richmond?s choices for elementary school are subpar. Yes, I am clear that nationally we have a crisis in our schools. Yes I am aware that Richmond is not unique in having woefully inadequate schools that are going to lead us into a national crisis in about 15 year. I understand this all. What escapes me is why, WHY you would make it so hard for the children of Richmond to have another choice. To have hope.

I want to make it clear, that had I known that you would do what you are doing, I and my husband would have either put our son into a private school, or moved. However, we took a chance he would get the lottery. He got in the lottery. I, like so many mothers that night, wept. Wept at the shear relief that he had a chance at a stellar education without causing us to go into 100K in debt over the next 10 years. I made decisions based on the fact I thought Patrick Henry was opening this year. Decisions that cannot be undone. You had no right to string us along if ultimately you were going to do what you are doing. You had no right to give us hope that did not exist.


I wonder what you will say to the parents that gave up their private school slots, because they thought they had a school for their child with a curriculum that matched private schools. How will you explain, they removed their child from a stellar school and now, now at the 10th hour have no adequate place to send their child. They now, have no hope. What will you say?


What I really want to know?what I feel you must tell me, is what I say to my precious child. What? What words can I use to tell him why you thought he wasn?t worth it? What words can I use to tell him that I took a gamble, a gamble on him, on his future success? that I took a gamble? and lost. What to do I say? How do I explain, that in the city of Richmond, status quo was far more important that a bright tender little boy named Tristan. It is not me I feel you should look in the eye and explain yourself?it is him.


You can use all the reasons you wish to justify what you and I both know you are doing. You are selling the kids of Richmond out for ego, for status quo. You are selling out their mothers hope. You can talk about ADA. Show me your compliance? You can talk about lack of funds. How many of us, living paycheck to paycheck do you think are going to give money to a school, that the school board might crush? However, let me be clear I know I, and I can tell you at least 15 other families I know that will be attending plan on giving generously once the school is open. I cannot part with a thousand dollars for principle. However, be clear I will not only be willing to but will gladly part with that every year, just to save the 10K in private school tuition or having to move from a city I love. I can also name 5 businesses (my husband?s being one) that specifically said to me they would donate to PHSSA, once it was open but not until then because of how the school board has acted.

But you know that, and I know you do. So your final stance is you want to make sure it is done right the first time. Are you kidding me? You have had how many years and you STILL don?t have it right. Shame. Shame on you. Shame for what you and I both KNOW you are doing. Shame. Shame for failing Richmond, shame for turning your backs on the children you are supposed to serve. Shame for steeling hope.