The Albemarle School Board has signed off on some changes in the central office that were requested by school superintendent Pam Moran, Scott Schenk writes in the Daily Progress today. They’re creating a new position—assistant superintendent for planning and operations—and cutting 15.3 full-time positions’ worth of jobs, saving $875k annually. The changes are said to be similar to those taking place in schools nationwide.
News and meta-news about Charlottesville, VA, since 2001.
Monthly Archive for March, 2009
Page 2 of 4
An independent candidate is joining the race for City Council, Rachana Dixit writes in today’s Daily Progress. Andrew Williams, 22-year-old State Farm employee and part-time PVCC student, is interested in government efficiency, affordable housing, and the water supply plan. As an independent, he’s got to get 125 signatures from C’ville voters to get on the ballot for the November election. There are three Democrats vying for their party’s nomination: incumbents Dave Norris and Julian Taliaferro, plus challenger Kristen Szakos. Charlottesville Democratic Party chair Jennifer McKeever says that she expects more independents to step up to the plate.
A public service announcement: Whisper Ridge, née Brown Schools, née Millmont Center, has changed their name again, presumably to escape their reputation, which is why they’ve done it every time before. They’re now The Jefferson Trail Treatment Center for Children. Every couple of years they’re caught for some sort of reprehensible abuse of the children in their care. (For examples, see any of these: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.) For the record, I called this 21 months ago.
And as long as I’m reminding people about disreputable companies with new names, remember that Lethal Wrecker is now Cavalier Towing, a name that I only now realize is as intentionally ironic as their old name.
A local Democrat intends to challenge Del. Rob Bell in this fall’s election, Brian McNeill writes for the Progress. Cynthia Neff retired to Charlottesville from IBM a few years ago, and says that she’s running against the Republican incumbent because she’s frustrated with his attention to brochure bills while ignoring weightier matters. Bell has almost half a million dollars in his campaign coffers, far and away the largest war chest of any member of the Virginia legislature. Neff serves on the board of the Albemarle County Democratic Committee, and managed Marcia Joseph’s challenge to BoS member Ken Boyd a couple of years ago.
The whole of the Board of Supervisors has come together to support a 74.2¢ real estate tax rate, Brandon Shulleeta writes in the Daily Progress today. The original debate was between starting with a 74.5¢ rate or a 90¢ rate, and whittling down from there, with Ken Boyd wanting the former and David Slutzky wanting the latter. (The existing rate is 71¢ per $100 of assessed value.) Slutzky had wanted at least 80¢ in the final rate, but told reporters after last night’s meeting that his constituents had told him, overwhelmingly, that taxes shouldn’t be raised now. Setting the rate at 74.2¢ keeps the dollar value of county revenues the same, as well as the dollar cost of taxes to property owners. Note that this wasn’t a vote to set the rate, just to determine the rate that they’ll advertise for a public hearing, after which they’ll set the rate.
Sideblog
Police announced this afternoon that their investigation into what was initially believed to be a fatal fire on Rugby Avenue is now a homicide investigation. #
The Virginia Supreme Court has denied George Huguely’s appeal. His second-degree murder conviction will stand, WRIC reports. #
In a carefully worded story, and not citing specific sources, WTVR reports that forensic evidence belonging to Jesse Matthew Jr., the main suspect in the disappearance of Hannah Graham, matches forensic evidence collected during the investigation of Morgan Harrington’s 2009 murder. #
In the wake of Hannah Graham’s disappearance, and the evidence that came from private security footage, city officials are revisiting the question of installing security cameras on the downtown mall. #
Both Charlottesville Registrar Sheri Iachetta and former Electoral Board member Stephanie Commander have turned themselves in to the police on
foursix and four felony counts of embezzlement, respectively. #Ten years ago, the National Institutes of Health budget doubled and schools like the University of Virginia built massive new research facilities. A decade later, those buildings remain largely underutilized. NPR visits UVA in this story on the effect of federal binge and spurge spending in the sciences. #
In 2012, Council approved a new student housing complex on West Main—now some council members are questioning whether what they were shown matches what was built. #
The Architectural Review Board has approved a bike-themed mural on West Market, below the McGuffey Art Center, although at least one member expressed concerns that it might look like the bicyclists were riding away from Charlottesville’s downtown. #
City Police Chief Tim Longo is meeting with city leaders to work on protocols regarding the use of military surplus police weapons in Charlottesville. #
A 100-year-old Colonnades resident received military honors for her service in the WWII Women’s Army Corps #
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