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January 6, 2023
Dear Clark and Venable Staff, Students, and Families:
Last night at the School Board meeting, the Board voted to rename both schools to reflect our community’s values.
The Board voted to change the name of Clark Elementary School to Summit Elementary School, and Venable Elementary School to Trailblazers Elementary School. These final decisions cap a review process that began in the summer of 2020. Thanks to so many of you for your thoughtful input. A timeline for making the changes has not been finalized, but we know that the names will not be changed until at least August 2023.
The name Summit Elementary refers to the school’s mountain views; it is also meant to encourage students to both reach new heights and consider themselves “a gathering of leaders,” touching on three meanings of the word summit. The name Clark was for Gen. George Rogers Clark, a Revolutionary War leader who also enslaved people and led in the genocide against Native Americans.
The name Trailblazers Elementary honors the Charlottesville 12, the students who first desegregated Venable Elementary and Lane High School, as well as their parents and other early desegregation trailblazers in Charlottesville Schools. The name is also an invitation to current students to continue blazing new trails today. The name Venable was for Col. Charles S. Venable, a member of the Confederate Army and math professor at the University of Virginia who perpetuated damaging myths about slavery throughout his life.
We will keep in touch about when we will officially make the changes. The earliest date would be August 2023, but if there are decisions about additional schools’ name changes this spring, the division may make all name changes at once, perhaps in August 2024.
Division leaders will work closely with school leaders to make these changes as smooth as possible.
The Naming of Facilities Committee will now turn its attention to Burnley-Moran and Johnson Elementaries. Your opinions on those two schools will be welcomed; stay tuned for a survey and community forum.
For more information about Clark, Venable, and the process itself, please visit: http://charlottesvilleschools.org/school-names/
We are facing a significant shortage of school bus drivers as we begin the 2022-23 school year. While the City continues to recruit bus drivers, it is time for us to try new strategies such as:
Our old transportation model is not going to work for this fall or the future, and we are committed to working together to find solutions. We particularly want to minimize the equity impact of these changes. We have spent the summer in conversation with families, community partners and the City of Charlottesville. We look forward to continuing to build on ideas that make our schools and city safer, healthier, and more environmentally friendly.
Read below for our June 2022 update. Briefly, the bus driver shortage will not be fixed by better advertising, pay, benefits, or bonuses (the City has tried). The City needs 40 school bus drivers but expects to have 8. Apply for the position here!
The revised walk zones are about 0.75 miles for elementary schools (about 20 minutes), and 1.25 miles for Walker, Buford, and CHS (about 30 minutes). These distances are on the lower range of schools across the region and country, and these expanded walking (or “family responsibility”) zones are an important part of addressing the bus driver shortage. In some cases we have rounded up to get to the end of a cul-de-sac or natural neighborhood boundary. In a few cases with CHS students, we have extended the walk zone as high as 1.6 miles if the path is very walkable. We have stayed within or close to our projected time estimates for the walk.
If you have questions about why you are in a walk zone or don’t believe your child’s route is safe and can’t find a safe alternative, please contact walkzones@charlottesvilleschools.org or call 434-245-2400.
To ensure safety, we’ll provide bus eligibility in situations where walking infrastructure isn’t adequate (such as railroad tracks). The City is working now to address some of these issues – click here for a list of confirmed projects (updated weekly).
In a few cases, even if the route is not pedestrian-friendly, we have not given the student bus eligibility because we are asking the family to take responsibility for finding a safe way to transport their child for a short distance. In these rare situations, the home is very close to the school or the less-safe area of the route is very close to the child’s home.
There will also be exemptions for specific students for special needs such as documented medical conditions.
If you have questions about why you are in a walk zone or don’t believe your child’s route is safe and can’t find a safe alternative, please contact walkzones@charlottesvilleschools.org or call 434-245-2400.
We have created maps with commonly used walking routes to our elementary schools and middle school (based on distance, sidewalks, and crossing guards), but there may be other routes that your family prefers.
Click on the links below for printable PDFs of our maps (you can also browse images of maps in the slideshow below):
Please consider the following:
Have suggestions to improve these maps? Email walkzones@charlottesvilleschools.org
Want tips for walking safely to school? Watch Dr. Gurley’s video, guest-starring some friends from Clark Elementary:
If you are interested in connecting with other families who share much of the same recommended route, please talk to your neighbors or contact your school PTO to see if they have an app to recommend or another process for coordinating walking buddies, biking groups, or rainy day carpools for your neighborhood.
Contact Community Bikes at 434-260-0893 or info@cbikes.org.
Later in August, the City will give us routing information. If you requested bus service, at that point, we will reach out to you again, letting you know this student’s bus information (if assigned to a bus) or announcing they are on the waitlist. See next section for tips on how to estimate if your child will be on the bus.
Remember, even if you live in the “bus zone,” there is a possibility that your child will not be assigned to the bus when school starts on August 24:
We have been in conversation with parents, community members, and the City about intersections and sidewalks that need enhancement. The City has been supportive and has made a list of scheduled improvements (see below). We meet with the City regularly to propose additional solutions and get status updates, and we will update this list about once a week. Thanks to the City and to community members for doing this research and advocacy!
If there are issues with these walk zones, let’s work together to find solutions. We will continue to work with families and the City to make improvements. As we learn more and as the City addresses known issues, we may expand these walk zones further. Please remember, our expanded walk zones are still on the “short” side of regional and national averages.
See below for other ideas, including mini-buses, partnership with JAUNT, and more. Have a new idea? Let us know at walkzones@charlottesvilleschools.org.
Read below for the original information we shared with families back in June. And join us at our final meeting to discuss these changes:
As we look to fall 2022, our school bus challenges appear to be worse, not better. While the City will continue to recruit bus drivers, it is time for us to try new strategies such as
Our old transportation model is not going to work for this fall or the future, so come help us find ways that make our schools and city safer, healthier, and more environmentally friendly. We particularly want to minimize the equity impact of these changes. Look below for the dates and details for community “Talk and Walk” sessions, or sign up to learn more or work to be part of the solution!
Want to Know More?
We’ll also be at “Healthy Streets, Healthy People” (organized by Move2HealthEquity and WellAWARE), Washington Park, July 16, 9am-1pm
Want to work towards a more walkable, bikable Charlottesville? Consider joining the Piedmont Mobility Alliance. We’ll also be be at the “Healthy Streets, Healthy People” event sponsored by Move2HealthEquity and WellAWARE at Washington Park on July 16, 9am-1pm!
This national problem is not getting better. The City has tried increasing pay, offering bonuses, and increasing marketing without long-term success.
We have looked at other college towns to see what is in place in similar communities. We need your help to work out the details, but here’s what we’re planning:
Community | Walk Zone |
Charlottesville Current | .3 mile elementary/.5 Buford/Walker/.7 mile CHS |
Albemarle | .5 – .7 mile elementary/1 – 1.2 miles all other |
Alexandria City | 1 mile elementary/ 1.5 miles high school |
Arlington | 1 mile elementary/ 1.5 miles all other grades |
Fairfax | 1 mile elementary/1.5 miles all other grades |
Loudon | 1 mile elementary/1.25 miles all other grades |
Manassas | 1 mile all students |
Richmond | 1 mile elementary, 1.5 miles all other grades |
Waynesboro | 1 mile all students |
Average Excluding Cville Current | .94 mile elementary, 1.28 mile all other grades |
New Charlottesville | .75 mile elementary, 1.25 mile Walker/Buford/CHS |
These transportation challenges are real – and the expanded walk zones impact many of our black and brown students. Let’s work together to find solutions.
Even with these changes, bus space will still be limited. Re-register your children now to help the City plan the routes. The “Type A” buses will not be available at the start of the year, so thanks for your continued patience.
We appreciate a carpool, and yes, there’s an app for that! In fact, there are a lot of free apps. We hesitate to endorse a single solution, but we know that the apps will work best if people agree on one or two to use. PTOs may wish to investigate and make a school or division-wide recommendation.
Other possibilities include
If we do this right, rethinking how students get to and from school will have long-term benefits for our community:
Want to be part of the solution? Join us at one of our summer “Talk and Walk” sessions, sign up to get updates, or join the Piedmont Mobility Alliance.
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Message sent to families 4pm, Monday, November 14:
Dear Charlottesville Schools staff and families,
It is truly difficult to formulate the right words to express how we are feeling as a school community after the shootings at UVA. People in our community are grieving the loss of their family members, classmates, and friends, as well as their own sense of safety. What resonates with me in this moment is: “It’s okay to not be okay.”
Following today’s arrest of the UVA shooting suspect, Charlottesville City Schools will resume our regular schedule tomorrow morning. Though we’ll have a normal schedule, we know it will not be a normal day. This senseless violence touches us as a school community and as members of the Charlottesville community. This tragedy also follows several other local incidences of gun violence this fall—even earlier this weekend. Each shooting simultaneously breaks our hearts and fills us with fear.
Tomorrow at school, our mental health professionals will be available for students and staff to find calm, connection, or a place to take a break. Additionally, below are suggestions for speaking to children about today’s events as well as resources for caring for yourself and others. My hope is that each of us checks in with what we need and with one another.
Thank you for understanding our decision to close schools today prior to the UVA shooting suspect being apprehended. We appreciate the various police forces who worked to keep our community safe. We extend our deepest sympathies and support to the families of the victims and to the entire UVA community.
Take care,
Royal A. Gurley, Jr.
Superintendent, Charlottesville Schools
Talking to Your Child About Today’s Events and School Closure
Younger children may need help understanding both why school was closed today and why it’s ok to reopen tomorrow. Here is a simple explanation: “School was closed today to allow police time to find a person who committed a crime at UVA. The police found that person and so it is safe to go back to school tomorrow.”
Click here for additional suggestions for talking to children about difficult events from the American Psychological Association
Ways to Care for Yourself and Others
Adapted from the Community Mental Health and Wellness Coalition
Message Sent to Staff and Families on November 14, 2022, 6:42am:
Dear Charlottesville Staff and Families–
After a tragedy at the University of Virginia last night, UVA remains on “shelter in place” and has canceled classes today. Charlottesville City Schools will also cancel classes and close offices today (Monday, November 14) in order to give police time to investigate while they search for the suspect in our community. We are sorry for the late notice, but safety is our top priority. You can find news reports about the events and the suspect, but we are sharing UVA’s statement to families, below.
Please take care today. We expect to be open on time tomorrow, but given the unusual circumstances, we will confirm with you later this evening.
We extend our sympathy to the students and families impacted, and to the UVA community in general.
Dr. Royal A. Gurley
UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA
To the University Community,
I am writing to provide an update to the various community safety alerts the University
has issued over the last several hours.
Around 10:30 p.m. last night, there was a shooting on Grounds. One of our students,
Christopher Darnell Jones, Jr., is suspected to have committed the shooting. The
suspect remains at large and is considered armed and dangerous. Multiple law
enforcement agencies are coordinating to find and apprehend him. He was last seen
wearing a burgundy jacket, blue jeans, and red shoes, and he may be driving a black
SUV with VA license plate number TWX3580. First and foremost, please continue to
follow the guidance you receive though the UVA alert system, which is currently to
shelter in place.
As of this writing, I am heartbroken to report that the shooting has resulted in three
fatalities; two additional victims were injured and are receiving medical care. We are
working closely with the families of the victims, and we will share additional details as
soon as we are able. Our University Police Department has joined forces with other
law enforcement agencies to apprehend the suspect, and we will keep our community
apprised of developments as the situation evolves.
This is a message any leader hopes never to have to send, and I am devastated that
this violence has visited the University of Virginia. This is a traumatic incident for
everyone in our community, and we have cancelled classes for today (Monday, Nov.
14). At this point only designated essential employees should report to work on
Monday (all remote employees should continue to work remotely). If you are unsure
of your status, please contact your supervisor.
We will continue to provide updates as the situation unfolds. Please know we have
support available if you need it. Students may call Counseling and Psychological
Services at 434-243-5150, 24 hours a day. Information about CAPS is available on
the Student Health and Wellness website. Faculty and staff can find a similar
resource through the Faculty and Employee Assistance Program by calling 434-243-
2643 or by emailing the office via the FAP website.
For those who have questions about these events, including how to establish contact
with family members or friends who are here on Grounds, please call the UVA
Emergency Hotline at 877-685-4836.
I am holding the victims, their families, and all members of the University of Virginia
community in my heart today, and we will make plans to come together as a
community to grieve as soon as the suspect is apprehended.
Charlottesville, VA — On Wednesday, November 30th, the Chris Long Foundation and Charlottesville City Schools will officially launch the latest component of the Foundation’s new EdZone program: the distribution of essential needs items at all six CCS elementary schools during the 2022-2023 school year.
Each elementary school (Burnley-Moran, Clark, Greenbrier, Jackson-Via, Johnson, Venable) will identify a dedicated space (an “EdZone closet”) where students can access basic supplies that many other students take for granted. Essential needs items include things like soap, shampoo, a toothbrush and toothpaste, menstrual hygiene products, deodorant, clean socks and underwear, and seasonal items like umbrellas, hats, and gloves.
In close consultation with participating schools to assess and determine student needs, CCS’ Coordinator of Family and Student Engagement will procure and distribute these essential needs items to the elementary schools through a central storeroom at the CCS Division Administrative Annex at Charlottesville High School. Elementary school students in need will be identified by professional staff who are already supporting them on a daily basis (e.g., school administrators, teachers, counselors, nurses, social workers) and can help them access items from the EdZone closet in a way that respects their dignity and privacy. The Foundation has future plans to support periodic drive-through “Response to Essential Needs” events at Charlottesville High School, where all CCS families can pick up bags of essential needs items and grocery cards.
“There’s evidence that students who are not getting these basic needs met can suffer from stress and low self-esteem. It can cause them to feel disconnected from their classmates and even miss school, all of which affects how they feel about being at school and ultimately, their performance,” said Chris Long, founder of the Chris Long Foundation. “The goal of our EdZone partnership with CCS is to support student success by ensuring kids arrive at school comfortable, confident, and ready to learn.”
“We are so appreciative of the support from the Chris Long Foundation, with their vision for meeting students’ needs in ways that are respectful. The EdZone closets will make a big impact,” commented Chantel Beverly, principal at Venable Elementary School, which is hosting the program launch.
Superintendent Dr. Royal Gurley agreed: “When I arrived at Charlottesville City Schools last year, the wide diversity of our students’ experiences was immediately apparent. One step toward eradicating academic disparities is to truly make our students feel welcome, supported, and equipped to succeed. We thank Chris Long and the Foundation for being such good partners in this work.”
A generous group of local individual donors, foundations, and businesses stepped up to fully fund the launch of EdZone. Funders include Better Living Building Supply, Woodard Properties, Diane and Howie Long, Pam and Frank Edmonds, the Genan Foundation, Ellen and Michael Geismar, and Frank Saul Construction.
EdZone is the newest program created by the Chris Long Foundation to advance educational equity issues in communities around the United States. Over the next year the program will expand to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and St. Louis, Missouri, two cities where Long played in the NFL. EdZone also distributes high-quality, culturally-relevant books in schools to advance student literacy and develop a lifelong love of reading. In May 2022, in partnership with FirstBook and Charlottesville City Schools, the Foundation distributed over 2,500 books at Burnley-Moran Elementary School. Chris Long served as a guest reader for the event and engaged with students about his own school experience, his family and interests, and his time in the NFL. The Foundation also supported two CCS “Response to Essential Needs” drive-through events in December 2020 and December 2021.
About the Chris Long Foundation
The Chris Long Foundation is a nonprofit, founded by two-time Super Bowl Champion and 2018 NFL Walter Payton Man of the Year, Chris Long. By bringing together a community of elite athletes and passionate fans, the Chris Long Foundation relentlessly serves our overlooked neighbors, both domestic and international, by creating solutions for clean water and education access. Visit www.chrislongfoundation.org to find out more.
About Charlottesville City Schools
Charlottesville City Schools serves approximately 4500 students in nine schools, from three-year-olds in preschool to students who qualify for services after high school. By meeting each student’s personal and academic needs, the schools are committed to ending the predictability of life outcomes based on factors such as race and poverty. Learn more at charlottesvilleschools.org.
October 21, 2022
Dear CHS community –
At our staff meeting this week, I had the honor of introducing our new athletic director, Andy Jones. Mr. Jones is a familiar face to many of our students and athletes, since he is a long-time assistant coach for CHS boys basketball and has coordinated Buford’s athletic programs for many years.
Mr. Jones has worked for Charlottesville City Schools since 2005, first as a teacher and then an instructional coach. (Mr. Jones has coached both athletes and teachers!) He won a Golden Apple award at Buford in 2014. Mr. Jones played basketball at Longwood University before completing his undergraduate degree at the University of North Carolina and later earning his master’s at Mary Baldwin.
Strong relationally and organizationally, Mr. Jones began his work as athletic director this week. Please join me in welcoming him!
Mr. Rashaad Pitt, CHS Principal
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In keeping with other area venues’ safety practices, starting October 3, 2022, Charlottesville High School will pilot a clear bag procedure for spectators and audience members at all school-sponsored ticketed events during the first semester of this year. This impacts events at locations such as Theodose Stadium, the Martin Luther King Performing Arts Center, the Black Box Theatre, and both gymnasiums.
Across the country and locally (including at Albemarle County Public Schools and UVA), clear bag policies are being implemented as a way of keeping fans and attendees safer, while also expediting entry into events. It will limit the type of bags that spectators or audience members bring into ticketed events, with some exceptions for medical or childcare needs. Event staff, with the support of school administrators, will implement this procedure at event entrances.
Clear bags that allow all contents to be seen will be permitted. There are no limits on bag size or style as long as it is a clear, see-through container. Clear bags will be made available for purchase at school entrances upon request to guests. Unless the bag is clear, spectators cannot bring bags such as the following: backpacks, camera bags, cinch bags, purses, fanny packs, coolers, and computer bags.
We will post signage in parking areas as a reminder since other types of bags will need to be returned to the car or another safe location during the event.
Student-athletes, student performers, game officials, media, and other professionals who are participating in the ticketed event will be permitted to take their equipment bags and other personal bags into the locker room or other designated spaces.
This procedure will remain in place through the first semester of school. As always, we are continually identifying new ways to promote safety, and we will keep you posted about any changes or additions to our procedures.
Thanks for your support as we work to keep our students, staff, families, and community as safe as possible. “Clearly,” your safety is important to us! Go Black Knights!
With appreciation,
Mr. Rashaad Pitt, Mrs. Kim Powell, and Dr. Royal A. Gurley
Submission: Social media posts that celebrate the contributions of our teachers on our three main division-level accounts (@CvilleSchools on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram) . These posts include milestone moments (such as retirement after a long career or the winning of an award) and the day-to-day work and care of teachers, e.g., being a substitute teacher; capturing a moment of joy with students. These posts also display a range of media, from photography to graphic design to video to appearances in local news.