Henrico has been a leader in technology in the classroom...Quality education and excellence in our school system plays a major part in student preparatory knowledge and advancement. In 1994 the Board of Supervisors was in the forefront of an exciting technological initiative that resulted in the purchase of personal computers for each of the County's elementary school classrooms at a cost of $9.7 million. In 1995, we also launched a four year, $15.4 million County initiative that funded the purchase of computers for our middle and high school classrooms. There is no better investment of local taxpayer dollars than education. To ensure that this money is being well spent, Iregularly visit our schools to maintain open lines of communication with parents, students, and teachers.  I have often spoken to elementary school classrooms at the County Government Center. I was honored to receive an Achievement Award from the National Association of Counties in 1994 for a role play project I developed and used with elementary school students from my district to help them learn more about their local government and its budget.Arby's of Richmond subsequently agreed to underwrite the printing costs associated with the project and donated complimentary food coupons to reward students for theirparticipation.
Since my election to the Board of Supervisors in 1987, I have been enthusiastically involved in the KiwanisClub's annual Student Government Day. This worthwhile program allows high school students to gain first hand knowledge of county government by shadowing County officials and conducting a mock Board meeting. I have immensely enjoyed being paired each year with a bright teenager from Hermitage High School and sharing insights aboutHenrico's "County Student Government Day" has proved to be an invaluable learning experience for me as well as for the student counterparts. The level of talent found in our high schools continues to impress me and I am confident that our county will be in good hands when the next generation assumes the reigns ofgovernment. GLEN ALLEN LIBRARY  Glen Allen Library is one of the more recent additions to our county library system. I was honored to host the opening night ceremonies there on August 7, 1995. This facility developed from a study that was conducted soon after my election to the Board of Supervisors in 1987. The study convinced me that there was a clear need for a community library that would serve the residents of the Glen Allen area. Glen Allen became the first county library to offer citizens public access to personal computers and the Internet.
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