But we also know that we cannot address the needs of schools in isolation from those of the larger community, where 40 percent of our kids live in poverty. I am committed to establishing and working to fund a robust out-of-school time initiative that ensures that all students K-12 have access to a quality after-school program that provides enrichment activities while reinforcing academic goals. We also must continue our efforts to reduce poverty outright by moving parents into full-time employment and providing work training opportunities for our older youth.

I will not lie to you and suggest that this can be accomplished overnight, as much as we would like it to happen. The fact is, our aging facilities, depleted staffing and at-risk student population issues have developed over decades, and they will take years to fix. But my promise to you is that we will begin the fix. And this upcoming budget cycle must be the year that policymakers in Richmond step up to the plate to start writing a new story for Richmond’s schools.

Showing we are serious in working together to meet our long-standing needs will also help attract additional needed support and investment from the General Assembly as well as our business and philanthropic partners. My challenge to the broader community is to support the city in these difficult initial steps.