RCPS Family,

It is hard to believe we are already nearing the end of the first nine weeks. Although challenges remain as COVID-19 continues to be a part of our daily lives, I see how excited our students and teachers are to be back in the classroom full-time. Students are reading, writing, and discussing relevant content in every subject, every day. This has led to better engagement and connections within our classrooms.

And while our students and teachers have been hard at work, I’m also inspired by the work of our Strategic Planning Committee. More than 40 members strong, the committee is made up of teachers, staff, and administrators from across the division, members of the School Board and City Council, family members, and community, business, and educational leaders. They have been meeting since this summer, carefully crafting the strategic path forward for our school division.

The plan features:

• revised mission and vision statements,

• a portrait of an RCPS graduate,

• and priorities and goals for the division over the next five years.

The plan will be presented to the School Board at an upcoming meeting, and we will communicate with our families once it has been approved. I would like to thank the Strategic Planning Committee, teachers, staff, families, and community members who have participated in focus groups and invested their time and talents in the future of our students, our division, and our city. We Are One!

Thank you for your continued support of Roanoke City Public Schools. I hope you and your family enjoy the beautiful fall weather and are excited for the second nine weeks.

Sincerely,

Verletta B. White

Superintendent

We hope you will join us for a Student & Family Town Hall with Superintendent White on Thursday, October 28 at 6:30 p.m.

Questions may be emailed ahead of time to townhall@rcps.info. Families can also submit questions during the meeting through the Q&A feature. The town hall will be held on Microsoft Teams, and the link will be available on the RCPS website and social media beginning Tuesday, October 26.

For staff, please check your email or see your supervisor for details on the Wednesday, October 27 Staff Town Hall, including how to submit questions and access the meeting.

Roanoke City Public Schools is an urban school division in Roanoke, Virginia, serving a pre-K through 12th grade population of approximately 14,000 students. Its mission is to graduate students prepared for life in a rapidly changing world. RCPS believes strong students create strong schools and ultimately a strong city.