In the version of this newsletter we sent to you this morning, we made a mistake in the back-to-school dates and calendars — they have been corrected below. Please accept our apologies. We wish you all the best in your family's return to school!

 

Friends,

As the summer comes to a close and the school year begins in earnest, I hope you and your families are cherishing this quality time together.

In this week’s newsletter, I’ll highlight a few events I have attended recently, and then share information about the start of the school year, unemployment insurance, and ARPA priorities for the Special Session.

Recent Events in District 10
On Saturday, July 24, I attended the Metro Richmond Area Young Democrats’ Midsummer event. The event focused on civic engagement, the opportunities available to be a part of our democratic processes, and community building. It is encouraging to see high school and college students, as well as young professionals, invested in public service and volunteer efforts. As one speaker that evening stated, young people must be involved and engaged across the spectrum because decisions are being made that have a direct impact on their lives.

Photo Credit: Metro Richmond Area Young Democrats

On Sunday, July 25, I was able to stop by the Arlington Democrats Fourth Annual Interfaith Eid Al-Adha Celebration. I appreciate the Arlington Dems for hosting such a wonderful event.

On Tuesday, July 27, I toured Richmond’s first medical marijuana dispensary, Green Leaf Medical of Virginia (gLeaf). Green Leaf’s 82,000-square-foot production facility hosts the full cycle of medical cannabis production, from plant cultivation to harvesting to product development and packaging. The tour was very beneficial, providing a strong overview of the science behind medical cannabis, the quality assurances built into every stage of the process, and the dispensary procedures that are under the care of pharmacists.

Back to School
The start of a new school year is upon us! After the complications of this last year, I’m sure that the students in our area families are looking forward to being in classrooms again. A special thanks, as always, to the teachers, administrators, and staff members who work year-round to make our schools safe, welcoming spaces for learning.

Below are details not only about academic calendars, but about how the school districts in Senate District 10 plan to reopen.

• Chesterfield County Public Schools:
  • August 23 is the first day of school for grades 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 9
  • August 24 is the first day of school for grades 7, 8, 10, 11, and 12
  • 2021 - 2022 academic calendar
  • Preparing for Back to School
     
• Powhatan County Public Schools:
  • August 23 is the first day of school
  • 2021 - 2022 academic calendar
     
• Richmond City Public Schools:
  • Virtual Academy for grades 6-12 begins August 24
  • K-12 in-person school begins September 8
  • 2021 - 2022 academic calendar
  • Reopen with Love 2.0

VEC Requirements
As Virginia continues to reopen and many of our friends and neighbors return to work, we know that for so many more, the ability to make a living has been severely altered by the crisis of COVID-19. For general questions about unemployment insurance, please review the VEC’s Frequently Asked Questions. For COVID-19 related questions about unemployment insurance, please review the VEC’s Link to Resources. Please share this information widely, so that all Virginians have the opportunity to get back to work.

Special Session - ARPA Priorities
The General Assembly meets again for a Special Session, beginning Monday, August 2. We anticipate that the Session will last 1 - 2 weeks, with a focus on budgetary decisions resulting from the federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds and on judicial appointments to the newly-expanded Court of Appeals. Central priorities for ARPA funds will include infrastructure, education, mental health concerns, support for localities as our businesses recover from COVID, environmental issues, and a host of other targeted priorities. Once we have the proposed budget in hand, I will be able to share more details.

I continue to have one-on-one meetings with constituents and organizations, both by Zoom and (now) in person. If you want to schedule a meeting, please don’t hesitate to reach out to my office. As a reminder, email is the best way to contact us. We can be reached at [email protected]. You can also schedule a meeting through our easy scheduling app.

— Ghazala