Former teacher challenges Newport News school on student safety after pencil stabbing incident

Concerns over school safety took center stage at the Newport News City Council meeting on January 28, 2025, as a former teacher raised alarming issues regarding a recent incident at Passage Middle School. The speaker recounted a troubling event where a fifth-grade student stabbed a teacher with a pencil, highlighting the lack of communication and transparency from school officials regarding the incident.

The former teacher expressed frustration over losing their job after informing parents about the incident, emphasizing that they felt a moral obligation to alert families about potential dangers in the school. "I violated the Newport News policy and procedures manual, but didn't violate my conscience," they stated, underscoring the tension between adherence to policy and the safety of students.

The speaker also criticized the school's administration, particularly Principal Chris Smith, for not notifying parents about the incident. They shared that a concerned parent had decided to transfer her child to another school due to safety fears, further illustrating the impact of the situation on the community.

Additionally, the speaker pointed out that state law requires school officials to report assaults to local authorities, suggesting that this protocol may not have been followed. They called for a review of the policies surrounding the student's placement in the school, advocating for a more secure environment for all students.

In a shift to new business, the city manager acknowledged the collaborative efforts of various city departments in implementing an electronic voting process for the council, marking a step towards modernization in local governance.

The meeting highlighted pressing issues surrounding school safety and the importance of communication between schools and families, as well as the city's commitment to improving its administrative processes.