Dear friends,
This week’s newsletter highlights proposed impacts of the Senate budget on our K-12 system, as well as provides information about the final days of early voting in Virginia's primary elections, celebrates Juneteenth and Father’s Day, and shares details from recent community engagements and events. Thank you for taking the time to read the newsletter and for staying informed.
The Senate Budget’s Impacts on K-12 in Senate District 10
Our state budget conferees are still negotiating the details of various amendments proposed this past Session to the biennium budget. We hope that they will achieve resolution in the next few weeks. At stake is nearly $1 billion; the Senate budget proposes to direct historic funding to our schools, while the Governor’s and House proposals direct hundreds of millions of dollars to corporate tax breaks.
How would the Senate budget proposals impact families and children in Senate District 10 (parts of Richmond City and Chesterfield County, and all of Powhatan County)?
In FY23-24, Richmond would receive an additional $18 million in funding, Chesterfield an additional $34 million, and Powhatan an additional $1.5 million. Additional funding is based on student population and other factors.
The Senate budget also proposes to lift the cap on support staff that was imposed during the 2008 financial crisis. Lifting the cap would increase state-supported staff in our localities: Richmond - 107 positions; Chesterfield - 343 positions; Powhatan - 22 positions.
Boosting at-risk add-on for high poverty schools, as the Senate budget proposes to do, means that Richmond would receive $1.7 million in additional funding, Chesterfield would receive $1.2 million.
We hear a lot about improving education outcomes for our students, and much of the discussion is focused on assessment of learning and academic rigor. Research, however, demonstrates that students learn better and retain learning when they are in classrooms with fewer students and more adults; when they have more opportunities for one-on-one instruction; when they are challenged to think critically and exposed to problem-solving and collaborative work. The Senate budget proposals are designed to equip school divisions with increased support and resources so that we can improve the quality of educational opportunities for all of our students.
Early Voting for June Primaries & Primary Election Day
Primary Election Day is Tuesday, June 20. In-person early voting opportunities are still available through Saturday, the final day for in-person early voting. Early voting is not available on Monday, and voters who do not participate in early voting will need to cast ballots on the actual Primary Election Day.
Early, In-Person Voting
Early, in-person voting in the current 10th Senatorial District is available only at the Registrar's Office for the June Primary Election. No other polling locations are open for early voting.
Absentee Voting
All ballots must be postmarked by June 20 (Primary Election Day), or dropped off at the corresponding drop off location. Using a delivery service that allows tracking is recommended.
Voting on Primary Election Day - Tuesday, June 20
Polling locations will be open from 6:00am until 7:00pm. If voters are in line by 7:00pm, they will be allowed to vote. Additional information on Primary Day voting is available on the Registrar’s Offices for the City of Richmond and Chesterfield County, and on the Virginia Department of Elections website.
ALERT: Voters in the City of Richmond should note recent changes in polling locations due to summer school courses within Richmond Public Schools. A full list of polling location changes can be found here and on the Registrar’s website.
Celebrating Father’s Day
Sunday, June 18, is Father’s Day. Fathers and father-figures play such an important role in the lives of children and young people. I wish all who take on this role and these responsibilities a very joyful Father’s Day.
For those who feel an absence this year, I hope that the day offers opportunities for reflections and memories.
Commemorating Juneteenth
Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day, commemorates the news of the Emancipation Proclamation reaching Galveston, Texas, which was the last state to abolish slavery, on June 19, 1865. Juneteenth became a state holiday in the Commonwealth in October 2020, and President Biden officially recognized Juneteenth as a federal holiday in June 2021. State and federal offices will be closed on Monday.
Here are just a few of the Juneteenth events occurring across the district:
Highlights from Community Events & Meetings
Connecting With My Office
Please email us at [email protected] or call our office at 804-698-7510. If you were forwarded this email, you can sign up to receive my office’s weekly newsletter here.
— Ghazala
Friends of Ghazala Hashmi
PO Box 72923
Richmond, VA 23235
Email Address
[email protected]
Paid for by: Friends of Ghazala Hashmi