SEARCH SITE

VIRGINIA LAW PORTAL

SEARCHABLE DATABASES

ACROSS SESSIONS

Developed and maintained by the Division of Legislative Automated Systems.

2006 SESSION


HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 197
Commending the Newport News School Board.

 

Agreed to by the House of Delegates, January 20, 2006
Agreed to by the Senate, January 26, 2006

 

WHEREAS, the Newport News School Board was selected as the 2005 School Board of the Year by the Virginia School Boards Association; and

WHEREAS, eligible local school boards from around the Commonwealth were rated and judged for their excellence in four categories: planning, policy, promotion, and board development; and

WHEREAS, the Newport News School Board was the first school board to receive the honor since the inception of the awards program four years ago; and

WHEREAS, the district’s students are excelling academically and earning state and national recognition due to the Newport News School Board's outstanding leadership and guidance; and

WHEREAS, the seven members of the Newport News School Board are Debbie H. Johnston, chairman; Richard B. Donaldson, Jr., vice chairman; Effie C. Ashe; Dr. William J. Collins III; Everette A. Hicks, Sr.; Michael W. Wagner; and Dr. Patricia P. Woodbury; and

WHEREAS, Newport News Public Schools met the Adequate Yearly Progress standards set forth under the federal No Child Left Behind Act for the first time in 2005, and the school division has also made significant strides in meeting state Standards of Learning; and

WHEREAS, Newsweek magazine recognized all five of Newport News Public Schools’ high schools as being among the best in the nation; and

WHEREAS, the Newport News School Board worked closely with the General Assembly of Virginia to promote the expansion of quality programs for early childhood education, specifically to expand the existing Virginia Preschool Program to serve additional students throughout the state; and

WHEREAS, in 2004-2005 the Newport News School Board created the Family University Network (FUN) to help family members navigate the world of public education, hired parent involvement specialists for each of the 21 Title 1 schools in Newport News, and implemented other initiatives to increase parental involvement; and

WHEREAS, the Newport News School Board participated in numerous training and development programs, conferences, and workshops through the Virginia School Boards Association and the National School Boards Association; and

WHEREAS, the Newport News School Board is dedicated to increasing academic achievement for all students while closing the achievement gap; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend and congratulate the Newport News School Board on its selection as the 2005 School Board of the Year; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the Newport News School Board as an expression of the General Assembly's gratitude for its commitment to the students and citizens of Newport News.