Chesterfield County Public Schools -

Budget is moving toward Feb. 22 vote; please advocate for education funding

Through this video message, Superintendent Mervin B. Daugherty encourages families to advocate for state funding for schools by reaching out to state legislators. Find out who your legislators are by clicking here. 

The School Board will meet to adopt the FY 2025 budget at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 22 in the Public Meeting Room (10001 Iron Bridge Road). The meeting will be livestreamed and shown live on Comcast channel 98 and Verizon channel 28. 

Dr. Daugherty proposed the budget on Jan. 23. You can view that presentation here; watch a video of the School Board work session here; and review budget details here. The $913.7 million budget reflects commitment to continued educational excellence and addresses three sets of priorities:

• Compensation and required increases: Providing a 4% salary increase to employees and allowing for increased costs for services and state-mandated increases 

• Maintaining service levels: Continuing the quality education and support services our community values

• Additional needs: Addressing other needed items for schools based on final state revenue numbers

Upcoming Dates

• Chesterfield County schools and school offices will be closed Feb. 19.
• March 5 is an asynchronous learning day, which means students learn from home.
• Student calendars are available online.

Apply by Feb. 28 for virtual hiring fair

Chesterfield County Public Schools is holding a virtual job fair seeking teachers in critical needs areas. Highly qualified candidates in these areas are encouraged to apply by Feb. 28 to be considered for an interview: library, math, chemistry, biology, earth and space science, middle school science, special education, ESL, English, language arts, reading specialists and elementary education. Questions? Call 804-748-1984 or email careers@ccpsnet.net.

Families can now apply for prekindergarten, CCPSOnline and Chesterfield Virtual School

• Prekindergarten serves 4-year-olds with the greatest need, helping them prepare for kindergarten. Applications are being accepted now for the 2024-25 school year. This webpage has details and links to the application form in English and in Spanish. A limited number of prekindergarten spots are available at these sites:

  • Chester Early Childhood Learning Academy serving Bellwood, Bensley, Beulah, Marguerite Christian, Curtis, Ecoff, Enon, Gates, Harrowgate, Salem Church, Elizabeth Scott and Wells elementary schools

  • Bon Air, Davis, Chalkley, Crenshaw, Crestwood, Ettrick, Evergreen, Falling Creek, Greenfield, Hening, Hopkins, Jacobs Road, Matoaca, Providence and Reams Road elementary schools

• CCPSOnline classes are open to students in grades 9-12. With learning available 24/7 in a no-bells, no-limits virtual environment, the flexibility of CCPSOnline classes can help high school students create the schedule they want. Act now to take advantage of this Chesterfield County Public Schools opportunity:

  • CCPSOnline registration for summer 2024 and for the 2024-25 school year is open through April 28, and the website offers details including registration form.

  • Students and parents are invited to a virtual info session about CCPSOnline at 6:30 p.m. March 4; click this link to join the discussion. Also, students can talk to their school counselor about how CCPSOnline may fit into their schedule. 

• Chesterfield Virtual School is open for Chesterfield County students in grades K-8. As Virginia’s first virtual school, the Chesterfield Virtual School provides the opportunity to learn with teachers from across the country and students from all over Chesterfield County. The Chesterfield Virtual School works for students who are self-sufficient and self-driven. School days begin at 7:45 a.m. with morning meetings. Before students are dismissed for the day at 2:15 p.m., teachers cover all core academic subjects. After-school clubs offer additional connections for students. The Chesterfield Virtual School also offers gifted instruction, honors classes, special education and ESL. 
  • Enrollment for new students is open through April 28, and the school website offers details including registration form.
  • Students and parents are invited to a virtual info session about Chesterfield Virtual School on Feb. 21 at 8:30 a.m. or at 1:30 p.m. To join one of the informal sessions, go to meet.google.com and enter cvsinterestmeeting as the code.

Career and Technical Education Month

February is Career and Technical Education Month, which makes this a great month to celebrate work-based learning in Chesterfield County Public Schools. This video shows how students are supported throughout grades K-12.

Outstanding School Counselors of the Year

Feb. 5-9 was National School Counseling Week, an annual recognition designed to focus public attention on the contribution of school counselors within U.S. school systems. Each year, Chesterfield County Public Schools recognizes outstanding school counselors who go above and beyond in order to maximize student success and promote access and opportunity for all students. Congratulations to these top school counselor leaders who are all in for all students:

• Outstanding First Year Counselor of the Year: Shenell Tolson (Harrowgate Elementary and Elizabeth Scott Elementary) and Ashlene Jones (Robious Middle)
• Outstanding Elementary School Counselor of the Year: Maria Bediako (Crestwood Elementary)
• Outstanding Middle School Counselor of the Year: Balsorah Lynch (Carver Middle)
• Outstanding High School Counselor of the Year: Merel Williams (Cosby High)

IEP process is topic of Feb. 21 Coffee & Conversation

A virtual Coffee & Conversation discussion will focus on the individualized education program process. The Family and Community Engagement Office of Chesterfield County Public Schools will host the free webinar 1-2 p.m. Feb. 21, and a representative of the Parent Educational Advocacy Training Center will be the featured speaker. Click here to register and to see upcoming Coffee & Conversation topics.

Hall of Fame to induct six outstanding educators

The Chesterfield County Public Schools Hall of Fame is inducting six new members in recognition of their outstanding accomplishments in support of students and schools.

The school system is built on the talents of outstanding teachers, educational and operational support staff members, leaders and volunteers. Their abilities and dedication are why Chesterfield County Public Schools — the largest school division in central Virginia — is a nationally recognized, award-winning school system. These memorable educators are being inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2024:

• Jim Alberston, teacher and coach
• Betsy Stark Barton, teacher and history specialist
• Joann Crowell-Redd, principal and director of human resources
• Donna Dalton, chief academic officer
• Patricia Lancaster, teacher and administrator
• Sandra Silvestre, teacher

The new honorees will be inducted April 11 during the Hall of Fame Gala, presented by the Chesterfield Education Foundation in partnership with TowneBank. The gala is open to the public; tickets can be purchased at bit.ly/24CCPSfame for $65. Proceeds from the Hall of Fame Gala will support MEGA Mentors. The six new honorees will join previous Hall of Fame inductees, who are featured in this digital gallery.

When individuals with disabilities turn 18

Turning 18 is an important milestone for all individuals. When an individual turns 18, he or she can make the legal, financial, medical and educational decisions in their life. For some individuals with disabilities, additional adult support may be required. This Parent Educational Advocacy Training Center resource document will guide you through considerations when your child becomes an adult.

Transition University offers info for special education families and professionals

The Parent Educational Advocacy Training Center is offering a free, self-paced course to help make transition planning easier. The five-session online course is designed for parents and caregivers of elementary, middle or high school students who receive special education services and the professionals who support them. 

Register for the course at this link. The course began Feb. 12 but it is not too late to register because all modules are available through April 8. Topics include:

• What do we mean by transition and why is it important?
• Supported decision making, power of attorney, guardianship and age of majority
• Future planning including special needs trust, ABLE accounts and letters of intent
• Transitioning into independent living (employment, further education, housing, etc.)
• Connecting to your community and adult services (waivers, SSI, VR, etc.)

The goal of Transition University is to share factual information on transition services and to help make the transition from school services to the adult services world less confusing. Participants who complete the course will receive a certificate of completion for 7.5 hours.

FACE FWD film series starts Feb. 27

Chesterfield County Public Schools will host a free documentary film series for families and educators on these Tuesdays: 

• “The Disruptors” on Feb. 27
• “Split Up” on March 5
• "Anxious Nation" on  March 12
• “Deej” on March 26

Organized by the Office of Family and Community Engagement, the FACE FWD film series will explore cultural competency, social-emotional development and adolescent support. Tickets are free, but reservations are required via Eventbrite for each of the four films. Each film will begin at 6:30 p.m. in the auditorium of the Career and Technical Center @ Hull, 13900 Hull Street Road, Midlothian, VA 23112.

Reserve your free tickets for “The Disruptors,” which will be shown at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 27 in the CTC@Hull auditorium. The film explores attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, which is one of the most commonly diagnosed and widely misunderstood neurological conditions in the world, affecting nearly 10% of children and a rising number of adults. But what if having an ADHD brain is actually an asset? A growing number of innovators, entrepreneurs, CEOs, Olympic athletes and award-winning artists have recently disclosed that their ADHD, managed effectively, has played a vital role in their success. “The Disruptors” hears from many of those game-changing people about their ADHD, debunks harmful myths and takes viewers inside a number of families as they navigate living with ADHD.

See the programs for families page on the school system’s website for details about the other films in FACE FWD. 

Feb. 20 is deadline for R.E.B. nominations

Nominate outstanding teachers for R.E.B. Awards for Teaching Excellence! The program is accepting nominations through 5 p.m. Feb. 20. About 15 central Virginia teachers are selected each year to receive amazing grants up to $15,000 to support professional development. Award winners have earned graduate degrees, climbed mountains, traced their ancestors and met peers from around the world — all to continue their love for learning and to pass it on to their students. Details can be found on the foundation’s website.

Parents can create list of books their student cannot check out

Chesterfield County Public Schools continues to be at the forefront of ensuring that parents and guardians have transparency about school library books. 

The district recently added a feature to the online catalog for school libraries that offers another avenue for families to be involved in what their children read. Starting now, parents can create a list of books that their student will not be allowed to check out. (This new feature is in addition to existing opportunities for parents that provide online access to their student’s school library accounts and the ability to opt in to receive an email when their student checks out a book.)

Follow these steps to take advantage of this new method of overseeing what your child can check out from the school library:

• Look up your public access catalog login ID by going to ParentVUE using a web browser on a computer or mobile device (not using the mobile app). In ParentVUE, go to My Account to find Adult ID#. (Contact your school if you need help accessing your ParentVUE account.) Your public access catalog login ID is your ParentVUE adult ID number with G added to the front. For example, if your ParentVUE adult ID number is 123456, then G123456 is your public access catalog ID. 
• Select your child’s campus on the school system’s library catalog page.
• Click My Account on the left side of the screen.
• You will be prompted for a library card number and PIN. Your library card number is your ParentVUE ID number with G added to the front. Your PIN is the last four digits of your ParentVUE ID number. 
• Add books you do not want your student to be able to check out to a prohibited resource list. This document provides details about how to build a prohibited resource list for your student.

Free dental care for children without insurance

The VCU School of Dentistry is offering free dental care for children who are 14 or younger and who do not have insurance. Appointments are required and can be made by emailing PedsDent@vcu.edu this information: child’s name, date of birth, phone number and home address. Appointments will be scheduled Feb. 16 at the Children’s Pavilion in downtown Richmond. These flyers provide information in English and Spanish.

Resources for grandparents who are raising children

Chesterfield County Public Schools will join other organizations on Feb. 20 to offer information for grandparents and other relatives who are raising children during a Kinship Program and Resource Fair. This flyer provides details in English and in Spanish.

High school students invited to Feb. 24 RVA Teen Summit

High school students are invited to attend the RVA Teen Summit on Feb. 24. This is the second year for the event, which is designed to connect central Virginia students and provide a safe space for them to speak out. This flyer provides details. Free and open to CCPS high school students, the summit will take place at the Richmond Convention Center with transportation provided from four hubs. Students can get a permission slip here or at their school’s front office. Completed permission slips are due by Feb. 15 either returned to the front office at your child's school or emailed to amelia_bartilotti@ccpsnet.net.

Video guide and other resources for families of students in special education

• Guide to special education: Available from the Virginia Department of Education is the Virginia Family's Guide to Special Education. The department developed this new guide to help those involved in special education, whether as families, teachers, school administrators, advocates or students. Meeting the needs of children with disabilities requires an understanding of rights and responsibilities, which include the child’s rights and the school’s responsibilities to meet their needs. This guide includes a description of the special education process and what is required during each step of that process. The guide is currently available in English; translations will soon be available in Spanish, Arabic, Amharic, Urdu and Vietnamese.
• New video guide: The Virginia Department of Education has released a video guide to the special education evaluation process. These video modules provide parents, families and other stakeholders a brief but comprehensive overview of the special education process on these topics: introduction to video series, identification, evaluation, eligibility, individualized education program, reevaluation, early intervention and what’s next. Each module is designed to be viewed as a stand-alone resource or viewed in succession. 
• Website: Lots of helpful information is available on the special education for families webpage of the Virginia Department of Education.