Author Archives: Josh Mandell

Josh Mandell graduated from Yale in 2016 and has been recognized by the Virginia Press Association with five awards for education writing, health, science and environmental writing and multimedia reporting.
Posted inGovernment and public institutions, How we learn

What does 2019 have in store for local schools?

by Josh Mandell

Updated Jan. 11, 2019, 1:56 p.m.  In 2019, our local school boards and the voting public will make decisions with wide-ranging implications for Charlottesville and Albemarle County. Here are some of the big stories in education policy that Charlottesville Tomorrow will be following this year. Anti-racism in Albemarle Anti-racist groups have been a political force […]

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Charlottesville, Albemarle schools await guidance on Governor’s budget

by Josh Mandell

Though Gov. Ralph S. Northam’s proposed budget promises substantial funding increases for schools statewide, it is unclear how the increase would affect Charlottesville and Albemarle County. Northam’s budget proposal includes an additional $88 million to fund a 2 percent increase for teachers that would result in a total 5 percent raise for the 2019-2020 school […]

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Local students generate ideas for inclusive playground

by Josh Mandell

A campaign to bring a fully inclusive playground to Charlottesville is driving hands-on learning experiences for local students. The Bennett’s Village playground campaign was created by the family and friends of Bennett McClurken-Gibney, a Johnson Elementary School student who died in February at age 5. As an infant, Bennett was diagnosed as having spinal muscular […]

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CvilleBioHub names first executive director

by Josh Mandell

A pipeline of talent and technology from the University of Virginia has fueled the creation of dozens of life sciences companies in the Charlottesville area. A local nonprofit recently hired a new leader to unite these companies behind a vision of an even more successful future. “We still have a need to connect the community,” […]

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Charlottesville School Board backs $58 million for school expansion, grade reconfiguration

by Josh Mandell

After months of uncertainty, the Charlottesville School Board appears united behind plans to reconfigure middle school grades and build a centralized preschool facility. “We need to move,” said School Board member Leah Puryear. “We have been talking about this long enough.” Charlottesville City Schools contracted with VMDO Architects in 2017 to study school capacity and […]

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School Board tweaks proposed anti-racism policy at work session

by Josh Mandell

The Albemarle County School Board moved closer to approving a new anti-racism policy at a work session on Thursday, but it continued to draw criticism from local anti-racist activists. The School Board directed staff to begin developing an anti-racism policy in July. The direction came after numerous parents and community members affiliated with the Hate-Free […]

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Albemarle piloting school safety review process

by Josh Mandell

Mass shootings at several American schools this year have prompted Albemarle County Public Schools to pilot a new approach to planning for emergencies. Student services officer Nicholas King on Thursday presented the School Board with an update on the division’s new school safety reviews. King said the 90-minute process is “a way to keep this […]