Radford City Schools students to return earlier than expected after COVID-19 spread
Radford, Va. โ In-person classes will resume on Monday, March 29, for students at John N. Dalton Intermediate and Radford High Schools. In a letter, the Superintendent said it was โmuchโ earlier than expected. Last week, the district announced it would suspend in-person instruction until April 2 and all extra-curricular activities until April 4. โI think that the longer that this goes on, the more tired, that we become with trying to mitigate and provide those various strategies in place, not just in schools but all over,โ Radford Superintendent Robert Graham said. As a result, in-person learning and all extra-curricular actives except football will resume on Monday, March 29.
Radford schools to reopen all buildings to students March 1
RADFORD, Va. โ Radford City Schools will open all buildings to all students who choose to participate in face-to-face learning beginning March 1. โNow that weโve had our vaccinations and weโre getting better reports about lower case numbers in Radford and the New River Valley, we are excited to welcome those who want to come back four days a week,โ said Superintendent Robert Graham. โYes, youโre right at our elementary school in particular and you mentioned the construction at McHarg. Thatโs been hard to have two schools in one and make that physical distancing work.โAdThe school system is asking families to complete a survey that will help them revise bus routes, plan for school meals and ensure that mitigation strategies can remain in place regardless of the number of students and staff in the buildings. Click here to read the full release and for survey links.
Radford superintendent weighs in on push for in-person learning
RADFORD, Va โ Superintendents in southwest Virginia are standing by the Department of Educationโs call for more in-person instruction. Radford City School Superintendent Robert Graham says while the hybrid learning model has done a great job of keeping his students safe during COVID-19 surges, Graham believes the best place for learning is in the classroom. Graham says he is grateful for the flexibility of parents, students and teachers throughout the school year. โWe have greater success with in-person learning than we do virtual, now thatโs not to say that some of our students arenโt excelling with virtual learning and they have an art teacher certainly have stepped up and provided just outstanding instruction,โ Radford City School Superintendent Robert Graham said. Graham says the division will be working with the Department of Education and the New River Health to make any adjustments.
The end of snow days? How local schools will adjust for winter weather in the age of virtual learning
BOTETOURT COUNTY, Va. โ As we prepare for winter weather, a lot of people are wondering if the move toward virtual learning this year will make snow days a thing of the past. In Botetourt County, the school board is thinking outside the box, recently approving a new weather-related code. Now, on top of regular snow days, code 3 and 4 remote days will allow for at-home learning because of inclement weather. In Radford, Superintendent Robert Graham said theyโll evaluate snow days on a case-by-case basis. In Roanoke County, any virtual learning day must provide the same services for special needs students and English language learners and provide the same access to meals.
Radford schools officially break ground on McHarg Elementary
RADFORD, Va. โ Perfect weather was the best backdrop for the long-awaited groundbreaking of the elementary school in Radford on Wednesday. While the building may be new, the name is familiar to the community. McHarg Elementary has existed in Radford for decades but is finally receiving some much-needed attention. Weโre adding a second-grade hallway, a new kitchen and couple other new rooms. The Radford mayor, school board chair and other community leaders spoke at the event.
Study finds Virginia public schools could lose $160 million in funding due to an early drop in enrollment
RADFORD, Va. โ Each year, public schools in Virginia report enrollment numbers to the Virginia Department of Education to help regulate state funding. A new survey estimates that Virginiaโs public schools are down 36,000 students which could result in a loss of nearly $160 million. In Radford, public school attendance has dropped by roughly 70 students and Radford City School Superintendent Robert Graham predicts that trend will continue. Typically, Radford schools lose 15-20 students each year but add the same amount. Across the state, an estimated 36,000 fewer students are enrolled in public schools, according to a survey by the Virginia Association of School Superintendents (VASS).
Radford City Public Schools will now resume in-person learning on Aug. 31
Rather than two weeks of 100% virtual learning, in-person learning will continue on Aug. 31. โMy worry is that they wonโt go back, that this is going to kind of be the permenant way of the rest of the school year,โ Radford City Parent Charlotte Parks said. Parks hopes people in the city use the schools closing as an example of being more careful. While the rest of this week will be fully virtual, starting Aug. 31, the school divisionโs hybrid schedule will resume. ORIGINAL STORYStudents in Radford City Public Schools, regardless of grade level, will participate in virtual learning for the next two weeks.
Radford schools reopen as local coronavirus cases double
RADFORD, Va. It was the first day of the new school year in Radford Thursday. Virtual Radford is the districts online schooling system powered by Google Classroom. We actually have about 20% of our student population that have signed up for Virtual Radford this year, explained Matthew Whelan, Virtual Radford Tech Support. In response to recent case surges, Radford University released the following statement:Radford University has developed a comprehensive plan in response to the COVID-19 global health pandemic. Any and all COVID-19 cases at Radford University are included as part of the Virginia Department of Healths localized reporting totals.
United Way awards Radford schools $1,000 for masks
RADFORD, Va. The United Way of the New River Valley awarded Radford City Schools $1,000 for personal protective equipment. Thursday, the nonprofit delivered a check to Superintendent Robert Graham, which the district will use to buy masks for students. Appalachian Power gave $5,000 in grant money to the United Way. Floyd and Montgomery County schools will also get a $1,000 donation. The rest of the grant money Davis says will likely go to other nonprofits in the New River Valley.
Radford City School leaders discuss options for next school year
RADFORD, Va Radford City School leaders are weighing the options of what this school year could look like. Tuesday night the school board will consider three different models including an in-person school year, an online learning model, and an option combing the two. Superintendent Robert Graham said the division has multiple committees on each grade level weighing which is the best and most safe option for the school year. He hopes to bring as many students as he can back to school for in-person learning this fall. Tuesdays school board meeting will be streamed on the Radford City Schools Facebook page here.