[{"_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",6307806,"mediaKeyId","2428091-63ad9fc52de2e0ecd39e682db0add4c6","parentId",2428091,"title","Budget workshop: staff outline possible $16.3M in additional state funding, discuss vacancies, bonuses and program costs","audioSeconds",1501,"startMs",1459000,"endMs",2960000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2428091-63ad9fc52de2e0ecd39e682db0add4c6&start=1459&end=2960","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2428091-63ad9fc52de2e0ecd39e682db0add4c6/thumbnail_1459000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6307806/Virginia/Budget-workshop-staff-outline-possible-163M-in-additional-state-funding-discuss-vacancies-bonuses-and-program-costs","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6307806-e1c03f7b1c6ee70c62a1dfa5ec817248/orig.mp4?Expires=1771140526&Signature=oVZobHEb0I541qRC0dW4rcw0lQJsconvheRc-lossJOtmQcIJYREU8pvPHPAh~w23oWfccAKfJZCEA91JZjdMQ~EGFdRWZu6PwP3nNPe0t9n4Cqwgi8kpF6IY6A488m003fkXDb0XmwLDSH3wk7RALZCAElT3ONT7AR7cIDnuNRTaDApwlUS~7ON1vcuH3GX~Y06zVdw78dmsxADMov7sDOsYCj-FUxWsDA4ov-QzB2MTRQ9ADohn1jukos~kfHmM3Hq4lwdERjei3zNxRzhEt3fODeAQsoZv4VvibPn29PdjP63TqXp3qVLvvakEiO-OJ-Qs4hNDJgkQn146oBZ~Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","VA Beach City Public School","date","2025-02-26T17:08:43Z","article","Crystal Pate presented the division’s second budget workshop to the School Board in February 2025 and described a General Assembly budget package that could provide roughly $16,300,000 in additional state funding for the division pending the governor’s approval.

Pate outlined how that $16.3 million would be allocated in the House and Senate proposals staff reviewed: approximately $10,900,000 to amend the support-position staffing standard, $2,700,000 for technical updates (enrollment and other updates), and $2,700,000 as an add-on for special education funding. The package also includes a $1,000 bonus effective June 1, 2025, for Standards of Quality (SOQ) instructional and support positions; staff said the board can elect how to distribute that $1,000 and cautioned that the governor must still act by March 24.

Dr. J. Robertson (Superintendent) and staff described budget trade-offs the division has already made: debt service and PAYGO totals sit at $50,071,611 and $3,000,000 respectively in the current planning materials, and the division included $25,000,000 in CIP allocations for other projects. To balance the proposed operating budget, staff described an $11,700,000 staffing-based reduction scenario and said they recommend narrowing that vacancy gap to about $5,500,000 to maintain a fill rate in the 75–80% range and limit impacts on teaching and learning.

Board members pressed for details on specific program costs and operational questions during the Q&A. Notable staff clarifications included:

- Student activities: The total student-activities budget listed was $6,170,439; the “biggest cost” slide showed $5,034,477 for the top five expense categories and staff said the remainder covers custodial, insurance, tournaments and similar items.

- Esports: Staff said new school-activity approval is required and estimated recurring costs of about $65,000 per year and an initial investment figure that varies by school; staff also listed recurring internet costs (Cox connection $350/mo per school) and equipment estimates.

- Chromebooks: Staff said about 50% of K–2 device funding comes from grants; replacing 1:1 Chromebooks in K–2 with shared sets of ~15 devices per classroom would save about $235,380 annually, roughly half of which would come from the division’s operating budget.

- McKinney-Vento transportation: Staff confirmed a line item of about $1,700,000 tied to transportation costs (taxis) required under the federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act to transport homeless students to school.

- Green Run Collegiate and transfers: Staff said the division makes transfers from the operating budget to other funds and identified the transfer to Green Run Collegiate at approximately $5,000,000 (annual transfer as presented).

Board members also raised workforce development and staffing questions. Vice Chair Weems and others asked staff to produce a clear accounting of how much of the budget supports workforce and career-technical programs. Dr. Robertson said workforce development and Perkins-grant-supported career and technical education are included in the budget and that additional course expansions have been approved; staff said they would supply a line-item breakdown and comparative documentation against peer divisions.

On compensation, staff discussed several possible uses of additional state funds: reducing the staffing vacancy gap, paying the $1,000 SOQ bonus for eligible positions, distributing a prorated bonus to all employees, or enhancing step increases and starting-salary adjustments. Dr. Robertson warned that excluding employees from any bonus could harm morale.

No formal board vote on budget allocations occurred during the workshop. Staff reminded the board that the school division’s operating budget and CIP are scheduled for a board vote on March 11, and any state funds approved after that date would require a post-approval amendment if the governor acts later.

Next steps: staff will provide requested breakdowns (workforce development totals, senior-staff and department staffing counts, travel policies, specific cost estimates for esports and technology scenarios) and return to the board with recommended budget amendments if new state revenue is approved.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","School Board Workshop - 02/25/2025","oneSentenceSummary","Crystal Pate presented the division’s second budget workshop in February 2025 and described a General Assembly budget package staff estimate could provide about $16.3 million to Virginia Beach City Public Schools, pending gubernatorial approval.","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},6307811,"Staff recommend converting Tri campus from three schools to two; board asked for direction",459,240000,699000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2428091-63ad9fc52de2e0ecd39e682db0add4c6&start=240&end=699","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2428091-63ad9fc52de2e0ecd39e682db0add4c6/thumbnail_240000.jpg","/articles/6307811/Virginia/Staff-recommend-converting-Tri-campus-from-three-schools-to-two-board-asked-for-direction","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6307811-3b5b53176f435e33ad2c1e624639eb6c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771133540&Signature=NuNhINPk7XCCTTCya8bRu-SeiH4-ciBIJNU-EquVTnQiC-MIsWgazM-J7HP4MgGT7~YOc8cH7AGoLq8TLmQpJIJmPiNj1oZhWLXZOtYa9XLok6HnTNlMpLcvK3yCcLt14VybZsu1u2ktqbdbZqoimO6HUr0MJCXCT-LdsgE5ZtcZ1cx0VU8ro5fAHrxM-yQK-vtq6h57cPvNahyOSSBCZw7o0tNQOBkLYbsPH7-rEgtm30pzMLNFhAWVa8gZOAw-iSC-wWIA7P1ltNwBqCo5zWfR3OTLwddzETI4wJUo~SBpSNa71BXHKRF5GEyl9f9MEqFqTKNGHig9f0H9J6yUPQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","School Board Chair Kathleen Brown convened an administrative workshop in February 2025 where staff recommended reconfiguring the Tri campus from three schools into two and asked the School Board for direction.

Dr. Melanie Hamblin, senior executive director of elementary schools, told the board the division’s interdepartmental team overwhelmingly recommended creating two pre-K–5 campuses to promote stability, reduce student transitions and allow teachers to provide sustained, individualized support. “Using the pre-K–5 model, our most preferred recommendation allows students to stay in one school, providing stability that supports social and emotional development,” Dr. Hamblin said.

The recommendation is framed by an existing capital allocation: $25,000,000 is currently set aside in the division’s capital improvement plan (CIP) for the Tri campus project, staff said. Staff also presented a second option: a pre-K–1 campus paired with a 2–5 campus, which they described as an alternative that concentrates early-childhood practices while grouping older elementary grades for a stronger academic focus.

The board’s questions focused on implementation details the staff said they will need to return with. Staff identified several next steps before a final decision: an analysis of construction additions and alterations at Diamond Springs and Newtown elementary schools, attendance-zone recommendations from the building utilization committee, and a plan to preserve and honor the legacy of Betty F. Williams. “Mister Freeman and his team will need to do an analysis of the cost of building additions and alterations to both Diamond Springs and Newtown,” Dr. Hamblin said. She added decisions are required on how to capture the Betty F. Williams legacy.

Several board members voiced support but deferred to staff expertise. School Board Member Miss Melnick said she was “ill equipped to answer” which model to choose and asked staff to recommend the best option. “I want the professionals to let me know and why,” Melnick said. Board Member Matt Cummings asked for projected head counts and the staffing impacts given current vacancies; Mr. Cummings also asked about timing for implementation. Matthew Delaney, chief schools officer, said the earliest feasible start would be the 2027 school year if the board gives quick direction, and he cautioned the timeline would be “extremely challenging” to meet.

Dr. Green, who represents District 4, urged that the community’s history be respected and asked that a committee including community members be formed to guide how the Betty F. Williams name and legacy would be preserved. “My request would be, once we know what direction, if we can get some type of committee together that would include community members, to decide how to best honor and preserve Mrs. Williams,” Green said.

No formal vote was taken at the workshop. Staff said they will return to the board with more detailed cost estimates, attendance-zone proposals and an implementation plan and that reconfiguration will come back as an information or action item once the board provides direction.

Next steps: staff will work with the Dawson team (facilities consultants) and central-office departments to develop cost estimates and attendance-zone recommendations and will schedule follow-up presentations for the board.","At a February 2025 school board workshop, staff recommended reconfiguring the Tri campus from three schools into two, preferring two pre-K–5 elementary schools. Staff said $25 million is set aside in the CIP and asked the board to give direction; no formal vote was taken.",{"_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},6307801,"School Board votes to enter closed session and certifies meeting; both motions pass unanimously",202,4330000,4532000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2428091-63ad9fc52de2e0ecd39e682db0add4c6&start=4330&end=4532","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2428091-63ad9fc52de2e0ecd39e682db0add4c6/thumbnail_4330000.jpg","/articles/6307801/Virginia/School-Board-votes-to-enter-closed-session-and-certifies-meeting-both-motions-pass-unanimously","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6307801-a90975507018d6023a4188cdf66617e1/orig.mp4?Expires=1771140526&Signature=i4bs5BPBiAe6iYo6td6iRlQqZCyaYJuhJdss~rM8W94KYHvILlgb8W4Ny8mffQGrfHyztu8gxdyHu025A09ZorMZ2sxec4v~sBOzggl6n~PLyENffhdF18WJN-UWxiFywNsCtXVsaG-KXjyki9DJMZ05wH6RrshmPRRTnY8SnOkLmhWbQPQ-rr08a4PjpzC75ESrQ6SpeGWqOFVrnOtIxebl0cd0~4Eo0gL0-O2FhLSqQmeCAilUk8URivA7QC~qjDvKERX1LlmSlXW7izgrykbFS6jJMkCWmeNYr~dKpmJqstpI5w7a9oyHnv03vEsDGQDlBfNKJiOo8BoqgcH9rw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At the conclusion of the workshop, the School Board voted to recess into closed session and later certified the closed meeting.

Vice Chair Weems moved that the board recess into closed session under the Code of Virginia exemptions cited in the motion (Code of Virginia §2.2-3711 A(2), A(7), A(8)) to discuss student records, litigation and related legal matters; the motion was seconded by Matt Cummings and passed on a recorded vote of 10–0.

After the closed session, the board adopted the statutorily required certification resolution that only exempted matters were discussed. The certification motion was moved by Mister Callan, seconded by Matt Cummings, and passed on a 10–0 recorded vote.

Both votes and the statutory citations were read into the record during the meeting and recorded by the clerk.","On Feb. 2025, the Virginia Beach School Board voted 10–0 to go into a closed session under Code of Virginia exemptions and later unanimously certified that the closed meeting complied with state law.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Budget workshop: staff outline possible $16.3M in additional state funding, discuss vacancies, bonuses and program costs

Staff recommend converting Tri campus from three schools to two; board asked for direction

School Board votes to enter closed session and certifies meeting; both motions pass unanimously