Board to Consider MathScience Innovation Center

Board to Consider MathScience Innovation Center
Posted on 03/28/2019
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Greetings Hanover County Public Schools Families,

At the March school board meeting, Superintendent Dr. Michael Gill shared his recommendation to the school board that Hanover County withdraw from the regional MathScience Innovation Center (MSiC). The board will consider this recommendation at its next meeting on April 9. This recommendation was developed after two key factors became evident.

The first key factor was a substantial loss in state funding through the general assembly’s budget process. Hanover County Public Schools (HCPS) is targeted to lose $491,000 in funding from the original proposed governor’s budget as compared to the budget passed by the general assembly. Inevitably, this resulted in our staff revisiting all major components of our budget and having to make difficult decisions. If the board chooses to accept Dr. Gill’s recommendation, the important features of our budget will still be supported. Funding for mental health, behaviors, and school counseling; support for students with disabilities; and providing our employees with a three percent raise will be preserved.

We anticipate that, along with some attrition savings, the action of withdrawing from the MathScience Innovation Center will cover the lost funding without jeopardizing initiatives on the school board’s adopted budget. It will also result in some limited additional savings, which we can apply back to the area of curriculum and instruction, specifically in the area of support for our curriculum specialists.

Secondly, due to the MSiC’s ongoing funding challenges, their model of service will be substantially changing. Regrettably, the new models being discussed are not as advantageous to our students as the current model. 

In recent years, HCPS has maintained a focus on relevant and innovative learning. To that end, I am pleased to share with you that many new science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) labs have been created in our schools, and our instructional leaders continue to grow expertise in providing hands-on learning experiences in these areas. Our in-house expertise will allow our students to continue to enjoy enjoy engaging and integrated STEM learning. As always, HCPS remains committed to providing rich experiences for our students in all areas, and we will continue to explore best practices for doing so moving forward.

Best,

Jennifer E. Greif
Assistant Superintendent for Instructional Leadership

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