Richmond politicians rallied last night around the Patrick Henry School of Science and Arts, a South Richmond project struggling to attain its goal of becoming the state's only charter elementary school.
Between 100 and 150 local residents and leaders -- both current and former -- mingled during a fundraiser at the school with Gov. Bob McDonnell and first lady Maureen McDonnell, who earlier in the evening hosted a soiree at the Executive Mansion for people who pledged at least $1,000 for the school. About 40 people attended that event.
At the fundraiser, the governor, who made increasing the number of public charter schools in Virginia a prominent campaign position, handed school organizers a $25,000 check from his surplus inaugural fund.
In a way, the school, as a simple matter of timing, has become the poster child for McDonnell's charter-schools efforts.
Patrick Henry was scheduled to open last summer, but issues between its founders and the Richmond School Board delayed its opening.
Now, the school is about three months from a scheduled opening, and both sides still are asking questions about everything from a confirmed opening date for students to how much money the school division is going to provide.
And then there's fundraising. To date, the school has raised $62,000 in donations, aside from some grant money last year that primarily has to be used for instructional expenses. The goal, in a capital campaign that started in January, was to raise $300,000 by today.
McDonnell proposed legislation during the General Assembly session to allow the State Board of Education to provide technical assistance to applicants and to give the board the power to overrule local school boards that deny an application.
After a public blasting from associations representing teachers and local school boards, the administration scaled back its proposal, leaving the final say with the local boards but beefing up the advisory role of the state board.
What the legislature passed allows charter-school applicants to receive help from the state board and then return for more assistance on an application if denied by a local school board, which must outline the problems in writing.
Meanwhile, Patrick Henry has become a political football.
Many area lawmakers, including the Republican governor, have supported the school, whose chief executive officer, Antione Green, recently ran in a Democratic primary for a House of Delegates seat in the Richmond area.
Both Democratic and Republican delegates have asked the attorney general for opinions on whether provisions of the school's charter with the Richmond School Board were in violation of state law. One of those requests is pending.
Also attending last night's fundraiser was Del. Joseph D. Morrissey, D-Henrico. At the event, McDonnell gave school organizers a pep talk.
He said the school could be an example of a high-quality charter school with community support and diversity.
"I know that you've had some bumps in the road, you've had a few struggles to try to get all the approvals and making sure the building's ready on time and making sure you're complying with the requirements the local school boards have put on you, and all that, that's just part of the process."
Contact Olympia Meola at (804) 649-6812 or omeola@timesdispatch.com.
Staff writer Holly Prestidge contributed to this report.
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