[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6332776,"mediaKeyId","2304961-2a2d79809a892276c0a6e457daba906e","parentId",2304961,"title","Virginia Beach school board approves consent items, personnel actions and middle-school schedule; authorizes outside counsel after closed session","audioSeconds",201,"startMs",6764000,"endMs",6965000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2304961-2a2d79809a892276c0a6e457daba906e&start=6764&end=6965","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2304961-2a2d79809a892276c0a6e457daba906e/thumbnail_6764000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6332776/Virginia/Virginia-Beach-school-board-approves-consent-items-personnel-actions-and-middle-school-schedule-authorizes-outside-counsel-after-closed-session","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6332776-0cb86b2352ec6c4bd3bcc20f608444cf/orig.mp4?Expires=1771174661&Signature=Io~js1G7IHFJahwtX3dVo2kiBcwMWITRVONkZ-HbrCf6cE8ZDzK~I6a--j1giDmaz0uA5Tiwgx~bZVMnRt6Ssm7m-5Ju8unJValPt37bJ1o2MVE8O6JDEt5wsUlxFGu20vW-HYpvzIEjFRo~fWKIbnQ6cdKlIc5eJYJBvwGwNfeoOMlr8paX4uU8nSHUFDnqojsI9dcVT5-fLPtjWK6R~xNemkak5-ApMFpEqG-QsdY-biBJvh2l--w1aJeEI0JTwlIAWLp6l4pJWqSRs-1pjPQlr~rFM4rnWP2ncQy4j5qG2Bf76ubY2YWcw~oWYyMMEYGKMiqLiEixJCSTt0R9tA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","VA Beach City Public School","date","2025-02-13T18:46:02.937Z","article","The Virginia Beach City School Board on Feb. 11 approved multiple routine items, acted on personnel appointments and passed a contested middle-school master schedule change, and authorized outside counsel after a closed session.

Votes at a glance
- Adoption of the meeting agenda: moved by Mr. Cowan, seconded by Miss Rogers; vote recorded as 11–0 to adopt the agenda.
- Approval of the Jan. 28, 2025 meeting minutes: moved by Dr. Green, seconded by Mr. Cummings; vote recorded as 11–0.
- Consent agenda (textbook for licensed practical nursing; Bayside High School HVAC and scratch cooking improvements; Cox High School tennis court replacement; Lynnhorn Park Elementary roof replacement): moved by Mr. Callan, seconded by Mr. Cummings; vote recorded as 10–0 to approve the consent agenda.
- Personnel report and administrative appointments (02/11/2025): moved by Miss Rogers, seconded by Miss Dwyer; vote recorded as 10–0 to approve. Appointments announced in open session included Leticia Bates as assistant principal at Renaissance Academy; Ricky Bettencourt as coordinator of secondary English; Christopher Harriman promoted to assistant director in food services; Lori Taylor to grant manager in budget development; and Gloria Ashley Williams to coordinator of academic support programs K–12.
- Middle-school master schedule modification: moved by Miss Melnick, seconded by Miss Dwyer; vote recorded as 10–1 (one nay) and the motion passed.
- School board committee assignments for term ending 06/30/2025: moved by Miss Melnick, seconded by Miss Rogers; vote recorded as 11–0.

Closed session and legal authorization
The board recessed into closed session under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act exceptions cited on the record (Code of Virginia §§ 2.2-3711(a)(2), (7), (8)). After returning to open session the board certified compliance with the statute by an 11–0 vote on the certification.

Following certification, the board approved a motion — moved by Mr. Culpepper and seconded by Mr. Callan — authorizing the school board attorney to retain and work with outside legal counsel to address a Virginia Employment Commission tax lien. The motion passed by recorded count 10–1; the meeting minutes show one nay.

What this means
Board actions on the consent agenda and personnel report advance routine repairs, facility upgrades and staffing changes the administration recommended. The middle-school master schedule modification passed with a single dissenting vote; the board did not detail the substance of the dissent during the roll call. The authorization to retain outside counsel follows closed-session discussion of pending litigation and administrative claims and directs staff counsel to pursue outside legal assistance on the VEC matter.

Direct quotes and formal attributions
Superintendent Donald Robertson summarized personnel approvals in open session: \"I'm pleased to note that tonight the board has approved our recommendation for Leticia Bates...\" Robertson listed the approved appointments during his remarks.

Procedure notes
Board members used the board's electronic voting process for several items; some recorded tallies showed 10–0 or 10–1 results, indicating one member was recorded absent or registered a different vote on certain items. When votes were tallied in open session the clerk announced the counts as shown above.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","School Board Meeting - 02/11/2025","oneSentenceSummary","The school board approved routine consent agenda items and personnel actions, passed the middle-school master schedule by a 10–1 vote, and after a closed session authorized the board attorney to retain outside counsel to address a Virginia Employment Commission tax lien; several votes were unanimous or near-unanimous.","taxTitle","VA BEACH CITY PBLC SCHS, School Districts, Virginia","taxId",14520,"location","Virginia","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6332781,"Board briefed on House budget amendment for Title I early-childcare pilot; would match up to $500,000 in year two",479,2384000,2863000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2304961-2a2d79809a892276c0a6e457daba906e&start=2384&end=2863","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2304961-2a2d79809a892276c0a6e457daba906e/thumbnail_2384000.jpg","/articles/6332781/Virginia/Board-briefed-on-House-budget-amendment-for-Title-I-early-childcare-pilot-would-match-up-to-500000-in-year-two","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6332781-cd8345467a0348f9c2886cff2049bcde/orig.mp4?Expires=1771174661&Signature=lM4VshkKoQFn-vpgF8TQ3W-q6Nl48DcGXf5M-Vsx3ZKTJpwxcl~q70xoYtV4WU615U9lKxD6wTIrAqq1mn9ILs6Ejgxiu12QqRapnY3QVi~7gvYf7KIAkIomC6rWaA2AJM1WmZVZhvNGEgTS6FE1l-~UK0oi~rHzJrF4IUT1nFtWvqS0DIESPW8GB1oyLI3Ls74~k9-t-vqIodj4QK6mOzVvG7fN5lD2qtwc34y2BMruru32wWFN1vlIykMhDfn4vB-H5bwuHnNgdeBLm61-erZPMAIYNUPsiVXK5fXX2LnJtSQy89jW~uNHh9Mvjou6xDmDAFfeiUhtcG9ZmYyJKg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Cheryl Woodhouse, chief of staff for Virginia Beach City Public Schools, briefed the school board on a House budget amendment that would create an early-childcare assistance pilot targeted at Title I schools and, if approved, could provide up to $500,000 in state grant funds.

Woodhouse said the House version would allocate funds \"upwards of $500,000\" that would operate on a one-third, one-third, one-third cost-sharing model in the program's second year: one-third from the grant, one-third from the school division or school-level partner, and one-third from the employee. \"It is right now just the house bill,\" Woodhouse said, and she stressed the pilot would be contingent on the General Assembly and final budget outcome.

Board members pressed for operational detail. Member Callan asked whether any funds were earmarked in the first year; Woodhouse replied the draft language places disbursement in the second year and that the first year would be used for planning, proposals and local surveying of staff interest. Doctor Robertson clarified staff's reading that the referenced \"second year\" funds would be available for use in the next school year if the General Assembly and governor enact the amendment.

Quality standards and partnership options
Board member Kim Rogers, who works in early childhood education, urged the division to prioritize partnering with existing, licensed providers rather than creating entirely new on-site centers. Rogers cited recent state expectations on quality standards (VQB5) and noted local childcare workforce turnover; she said meeting state facility and curriculum requirements for infants and toddlers could be costly if the division built new programs from scratch.

Other board remarks touched on implementation and equity. A member asked whether offering childcare subsidies only to staff at Title I schools could create pay or benefit disparities; members said they expected the legislative committee to track the bill and for staff to return detailed plans if funding is approved.

Timing and next steps
Woodhouse and Dr. Robertson told the board the House language was not in the Senate or governor's budgets at the time of the briefing and that reconciliation could change the proposal. Staff said the General Assembly's budget reconciliation process could narrow or remove the amendment and that a clearer picture would emerge by Feb. 22 and potentially by March 24 when final appropriations are decided. The board asked staff to track the bill closely and to return with a detailed plan if funding becomes available.","Chief of staff Cheryl Woodhouse described a House budget amendment that would provide up to $500,000 for a childcare pilot for Title I school employees, with cost-sharing in thirds among grant funds, schools and employees; members raised questions about timing, standards and equity.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6332785,"Virginia Beach superintendent unveils $994.9 million proposed operating budget and six-year CIP; Prince Anne High replacement prioritized",61,5309000,5370000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2304961-2a2d79809a892276c0a6e457daba906e&start=5309&end=5370","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2304961-2a2d79809a892276c0a6e457daba906e/thumbnail_5309000.jpg","/articles/6332785/Virginia/Virginia-Beach-superintendent-unveils-9949-million-proposed-operating-budget-and-six-year-CIP-Prince-Anne-High-replacement-prioritized","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6332785-d53dd912699ed3ee6434a48eb87b882f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771174661&Signature=jppFE50JANNTWJ9Mb-Dx-Frj5DqeY4~7EfRpREttR34LS-4P1K0RoDJ8LAwOA5SnXBpfrRDShEni2x~mYY7LDXkbjyFVCY~vMxveAXvXzz3vvmM18CCN9MrupYmiy6HFoELexG5~~O-Cbza~hI3lEMxiXlpBdqK~8fYQPU5XsB64VQUc2ydRJx5KF9yyBsV7PeWapcBUpF05cCvYiZWJxnGmZWCEIyYed7tjMcgLoZer9F82Y5jVAv73nWHkTbp3xvWl46cfeY2sV5ruLC7MTQYBMQGQvIRDzIxl2jD5gPu4wMsyROgwCTe3CBUi6YggM5a7UC6zEwJcLcIN57qxjw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Superintendent Donald Robertson presented the school division's proposed operating budget — the superintendent's estimate of needs (SEON) — for fiscal year 2025–26, a $994,914,516 plan that the division said would increase operating revenue by about $30.1 million from the current year.

The proposal, presented at the Virginia Beach City Public Schools board meeting on Feb. 11, 2025, includes a six-year capital improvement program (CIP) that moves the replacement of Princess Anne High School up the priority list and outlines a plan to raise annual debt service from about $50 million to roughly $80 million over six years by adding approximately $6 million in debt service per year.

The SEON allocates revenue sources as follows: federal revenues of $14.7 million, state revenues of $481.8 million, and a revenue-sharing contribution from the City of Virginia Beach of $493.9 million, producing the $994.9 million total. \"This document reflects months of collaborative discussions among staff and presentations focused on our shared priorities as a school division,\" Robertson said during the presentation.

Why this matters: the division said the budget emphasizes competitive compensation and maintaining aging facilities. Division leaders told the board rising health-care claims, inflation and deferred maintenance require additional funding steps now to avoid larger costs later.

Key operating and personnel items
- Compensation: the draft includes $15.2 million for teacher pay scale adjustments (2% starting salary and 1.5% step) and $10.7 million for unified pay-scale adjustments (3% entry pay and step increases by years of service). The SEON stresses compensation as a top priority to recruit and retain staff.
- Employer health insurance: staff proposed increasing the employer contribution by $8.0 million to address higher claims, plan migrations and rising pharmacy and high-cost claimant expenses.
- Staffing additions: the proposed operating budget includes funding for 19.8 English-as-a-second-language teachers ($1.925 million), 12 special-education teacher assistant positions ($529,702), and staffing for newly expanded CTE pathways including one welding instructor for Renaissance Academy ($107,793).
- Other items: $750,000 to restore school bus replacement funding, $683,760 for hiring 15 security assistants for remaining elementary schools, and $117,478 for a multimedia communications technician in light of city TV service changes.

Capital program highlights
- Prince Anne High School: staff presented an illustrative estimate of about $306 million for a replacement project and said appropriations to date would rise to roughly $177 million in the proposed CIP as the project moves earlier in the schedule. Jack Freeman, chief operating officer, said the earliest bid date shown in the draft is 2027 but called that date tentative.
- Tri Campus modifications: the plan preserves $27.7 million in appropriations for possible additions (\"wings\") at two tri-campus schools to move students out of Betty F. Williams Elementary if needed.
- Debt-service plan: to fund maintenance and the Prince Anne project over time, the proposed CIP would hold year one debt service near current levels and add about $6 million per year, reaching an approximate $80 million annual debt-service level by year six.
- Maintenance emphasis: the CIP increases annual allocations for HVAC, roofing and other deferred maintenance and funds upgrades such as stop-arm cameras on buses and ADA athletic-site improvements.

Board members asked for more detail and for regular updates. CFO Crystal Pate urged the public and board to note that personnel and fringe benefits account for about 86.1% of the operating budget, leaving limited discretionary funds. Freeman cautioned that the $6 million-per-year debt-service increase is a multi-year path that will be updated annually based on revenues and city decisions.

Next steps: the division said the board will hold budget workshops Feb. 18, Feb. 25 (public hearing) and March 4, with anticipated board approval on March 11. Budget documents are planned to be posted online and tentatively presented to city council in April; the city council and the school division expect final city approval by May 15.","Superintendent Donald Robertson presented a $994,914,516 superintendent's estimate of needs (SEON) and a proposed capital improvement program that prioritizes a Prince Anne High School replacement and a staged debt-service increase to fund maintenance and new construction.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Virginia Beach school board approves consent items, personnel actions and middle-school schedule; authorizes outside counsel after closed session

Board briefed on House budget amendment for Title I early-childcare pilot; would match up to $500,000 in year two

Virginia Beach superintendent unveils $994.9 million proposed operating budget and six-year CIP; Prince Anne High replacement prioritized