October 28th Newsletter

There is universal agreement that Virginia’s NAEP scores (National Assessment of Educational Progress) from the recently announced state-level 4th and 8th grade reading and math results are extremely disappointing. There also is agreement that the scores reflect at least in part the devastating impact of the COVID pandemic on many students’ ability to access educational resources and learn in an environment conducive to academic success.

Where we need to find agreement, however, is on the steps we must take to improve this recent poor student performance while addressing much longer term and more systemic issues in our educational system. Fund Our Schools is a coalition of parents, students, and educational organizations, including the Virginia Education Association, Voices for Virginia’s Children, and the Legal Aid Justice Center. In response to the testing scores, the coalition has shared with legislators its analysis of the issues behind students’ poor performance and recommendations for action. As the coalition explains:

Virginia’s long-standing underfunding of our highest need schools continues to take a toll on our students. Continued lack of sufficient state resources has particularly impacted students facing the highest barriers, including Black, Hispanic/Latine, economically disadvantaged, and English Learner (EL) students. The NAEP is just one of many measures we use to assess student learning, and the results confirm what educators have been sounding the alarm about for years: the challenges posed by this pandemic have only worsened the existing gaps in opportunity between students.

The state’s failure to pay competitive wages and take other steps to stem our current staffing shortage, implement the minimum funding recommendations by the Virginia Board of Education, and fully lift the support cap that limits state funding for essential school support positions all have substantial negative impacts on students that face the most barriers to learning.

While we have a significant task before us to address these issues we also have the extraordinary opportunity to leverage state revenue surpluses and actually direct more funding to our teachers and schools. Making teacher pay competitive so that we can attract and retain the best talent in our classrooms and enabling schools to increase the number of support staff including more counselors are essential, immediate actions we must take. Remedial steps also should include bringing in more tutors for students who are facing particularly challenging struggles in catching up from time missed in the classroom. Longer term, we need to fully fund the Virginia Standards of Quality and help school systems to build and/or refurbish infrastructure. And as I discuss more below, I am encouraging Henrico voters to support the bond referendum on the ballot in November that includes funding for school construction and renovation projects in the county.

To read more about the Fund Our Schools recommendations please see the memorandum that they provided to the House and Senate budget committees leadership regarding the FY 23-24 budget.

If you have any questions or need assistance with a state agency, please contact my office at DelRWillett@house.virginia.gov or phone at 804-698-1073, and my expert staff will be happy to assist you. I also will continue to keep you informed with relevant, accurate information via Twitter, Facebook, and my website. Please stay well and stay in touch.

Sincerely,

Rodney

New Information

Election Day: Tuesday, November 8th

If you plan to vote absentee by mail this year, the deadline to request an absentee ballot be sent to you is today (Friday, October 28th) by 5:00 PM. Apply in person or online to ensure your request is received by your local voter registration office on time.

Early in-person voting ends Saturday, November 5th. Henrico residents may vote early at the registrar’s offices located at the Henrico County Western Government Center (4305 E Parham Rd., Admin Bldg Annex Room 105) and the Eastern Government Center (3820 Nine Mile Rd. Room 100) during weekdays, 8:00 am until 4:30 pm through Friday, November 4th, and on the next two Saturdays, October 29th and November 5th, from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm.

Polls are open on Election Day from 6:00 AM to 7:00 PM. Visit I Will Vote to check your polling location and make a plan to vote.

Henrico residents: Make sure to read up on the Henrico County Bond Referendum and be prepared to vote on four questions on the ballot for proposed county capital projects – including new and renovated schools, firehouses, and parks. See the proposed project map below.

Limited Public Service Loan Forgiveness Waiver:

Individuals who have worked LESS than 10 years in public service (federal, state, local, tribal government or a non-profit organization) still have time to apply for debt relief under recent changes made by the Biden administration that have temporarily made it easier to receive forgiveness or credit toward forgiveness. The limited waiver allows borrowers to receive credit for past periods of repayment that would not otherwise qualify for PSLF. Click here to check eligibility and find the application. The deadline to apply is October 31, 2022. Those with 10 years or more (consecutive or not) remain eligible to have all student debt canceled under the PSLF program regardless of these temporary changes.

Please also note that the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program is different from the Biden Administration’s one-time student loans debt relief of up to $20,000. The application for that was recently released and is open through December 31, 2023.

Overdose Spike Alert + Virtual Naloxone Trainings

On October 18, the Metro Richmond Spike Alert System sent out a warning about a sharp increase in opioid overdoses in the Richmond area. This system is intended to announce any opioid-related overdoses. Opioids are involved in 75% of overdoses in Henrico.

According to the RHHD, people are more prone to overdosing if they have already overdosed, are using opioids alone, or have just resumed using them after a period of not using them. These symptoms can be used to identify possible opioid-related overdoses: unresponsiveness, deep snoring or gurgling, grey or blue fingertips and lips, and/or no breathing or abnormal breathing, according to the agency.

Free naloxone, along with training about how to use it, is available from the Henrico Mental Health and Developmental Services by calling (804) 727-8515 and from the Richmond and Henrico Health Districts by calling (804) 592-8069.

The RHHD also offers a free 30 minutes naloxone training through Zoom at 6 PM on Tuesdays and 1 PM on Thursdays each week. To view one, visit zoom.us/join at one of those times and enter meeting ID 514 839 4896 and passcode I5S2M8.

"Crush the Crisis" Opioid Take Back Day: Saturday, October 29th

The annual "Crush the Crisis" opioid take back day is being held by HCA Virginia Health System to increase public awareness of the risks associated with opioid usage and the need for safe medication disposal. Unused or expired prescription drugs can be anonymously and safely disposed of by community members on October 29th 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM. This will take place at the venues indicated below, and they will coincide with the Drug Enforcement Administration's (DEA) National Prescription Drug Take Back Day.

Law enforcement officers will be collecting tablets, capsules and patches of Hydrocodone (Norco, Lortab, Vicodin), Oxycodone (Oxycontin, Percocet), Tramadol (Ultram), Codeine, Fentanyl (Duragesic), Morphine, Hydromorphone (Dilaudid) and Oxymorphone (Opana). Ointments, lotions, drops, liquid medication in leak-proof containers, vape cartridges without batteries and pet medication will also be accepted. Any medications will be accepted; however, needles, syringes, lancets or liquids will not be accepted.

Local facilities will accept drop offs between 10 AM - 2 PM at these locations:

• 7607 Forest Ave, Richmond VA 23229 - Henrico, Parham, and Retreat Doctors’ Hospitals

• Hancock Village Shopping Center 14500 Hancock Village St, Chesterfield, VA 23832 (behind Swift Creek FSED) - CJW Medical Center

For more information and other Crush the Crisis events being held around Virginia, visit www.hcahealthcare.com/campaigns/crush-the-crisis or call (833) 582-1970.

RetirePath Virginia Update:

RetirePath Virginia is the newest savings program from Virginia529. Starting in early 2023, Virginia employers without a workplace retirement plan may be able to take part in the RetirePath Virginia pilot. There are no employer fees, no fiduciary obligations, and few administrative requirements. This will be an easy method for assisting employees with saving for the future. Interested employers can learn more and apply at RetirePathVA.com/pilot by December 9, 2022.

Pilot participants will receive dedicated support and the chance to be featured in statewide promotional materials. The program is available to for-profit and non-profit Virginia businesses with 25 or more eligible employees, operating for more than two years, and not currently offering a workplace retirement savings option. RetirePath Virginia is scheduled to start by July 1, 2023, with phased registration for eligible Virginia employers.

Operation Catalytic Converter Crackdown: November 13th, December 12th, and January 8th

There has been an increase in thefts of catalytic converters in the Richmond Region. Older vehicles are being targeted in commercial parking lots, daycares, auto-repair businesses, car dealerships, and even residential neighborhoods and apartments. Local law enforcement has initiated a new effort to deter theft from stealing these exhaust emission control devices.

Officials are encouraging community members to get their converters etched with the vehicle's identification number, and then spray painted the color corresponding to the locality where the vehicle is registered. Police believe that this will discourage scrap yards and other recycling businesses from purchasing the parts and instead alert authorities.

Police have partnered with Midas of Richmond to aid vehicle owners by offering free etching and spray paint jobs on catalytic converters. Midas is hosting these converter marking events at five of its shops in Richmond, Henrico County, Chesterfield County, and Colonial Heights on these three Sundays: Nov. 13, Dec. 11, and Jan. 8. You must register to reserve a time and location. This can be done at converter.midasofrichmond.com.

Found Money: Virginia’s Unclaimed Property Program

Virginia’s Unclaimed Property Program provides a quick and easy way for Virginia residents to find money, whether it be a lost check or forgotten bank account. It does this through returning stocks, bonds, dividends, utility deposits, insurance proceeds, tangible property, and more.

Visit vamoneysearch.gov to search for property using the click and claim searchable database and to register any potential claims. Please email ucpmail@trs.virginia.gov with questions or call 1-800-468-1088.