Henrico School Board to hold public hearing on redistricting proposal Oct. 23

As the Henrico School Board approaches the final stages of its redistricting process, Henrico Schools families, staff, and community members will have the opportunity to address the school board on the proposed redistricting at a public hearing this Thursday at 7 p.m.

Thursday’s hearing will be followed by two more in-person opportunities to directly address the school board on redistricting: a public forum on Nov. 13, when the board will put together a final redistricting proposal, and a public forum on Dec. 11, when the board will make a final vote. The board has also provided additional online opportunities for feedback, including a redistricting survey and written public forums.

In order to speak at the hearing, members of the public must fill out an online form or call the school board clerk by 4:30 p.m. this Wednesday.

The board’s redistricting proposal has undergone several changes since it was first introduced on Sept. 11. After receiving feedback from attendees at three town hall meetings and updated enrollment statistics from HCPS, the board has dropped or significantly changed three of the eight original redistricting scenarios. 

The current proposal would change attendance boundaries for almost 700 students at six different high schools: Douglas S. Freeman, Mills E. Godwin, J.R. Tucker, Hermitage, Henrico, and Highland Springs. Smaller boundary shifts at two elementary schools – Ruby F. Carver and Maybeury – and three middle schools – Tuckahoe, Pocahontas, and Quioccasin – would impact an estimated 60 students.

The board is also set to review a summary of the public input received on the redistricting proposal at Thursday’s meeting, according to a timeline presented on Sept. 11.

At a 3:30 p.m. work session on Thursday, the school board will receive an update from HCPS staff on the Virginia Department of Education’s new accountability and accreditation system that will go into effect this school year.

The board also will review the Capital Improvement Plan for Fiscal Year 2026-2027, which designates the capital projects HCPS will focus on during the next school year and allocates certain amounts of funding to building and equipment maintenance. The board will vote on the plan at a Nov. 13 meeting.

At a 6:30 p.m. monthly meeting on Thursday, members of the public will have the opportunity to make direct comments to the school board about topics apart from the current redistricting process.

Liana Hardy is the Citizen’s government and education reporter. Support her work and articles like this one by making a contribution to the Citizen.