[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_25":26},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5},"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","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_27":28,"_29":30},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[31,75,87,99,111],{"_32":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":73},"mediaId",6210078,"mediaKeyId","3726737-0cbae531bc51883e2d77c1bfc71fceb4","parentId",3726737,"title","Board votes to reject hearing officer recommendation and reinstate in hearing 042125","audioSeconds",44,"startMs",3681000,"endMs",3725000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3726737-0cbae531bc51883e2d77c1bfc71fceb4&start=3681&end=3725","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3726737-0cbae531bc51883e2d77c1bfc71fceb4/thumbnail_3681000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6210078/Virginia/Board-votes-to-reject-hearing-officer-recommendation-and-reinstate-in-hearing-042125","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6210078-d824ec72af96f091cabd971e0b0da6b2/orig.mp4?Expires=1769954057&Signature=DHZ3wx7u6R59TOqbg-8aueDRSwBtvOIxShcFO0nQrcCdobgpzXlKwkTP2putQJmwjTeHAZ542A1hcxXUrYFcVOTjbIdgqPICb-R9KYcYJlmtzRJeSqDyjerhaybfIU~1P51WtnBP5~uXge4m4Y8JqV7ziHm2eF9~64bTfE4lrHzaa3vT3VRcyhePCK-LDOT4fzOUvSMTTG3ih6a855DsVsC2x8HvC2Su4vdCQP9NKop3~cyU~pA7Y4mZqza1WnvRIWiINLzc-Fv2JNXzWvW3toYps-mRSb7DvzbNnrT2PWWQMP-Y1LgQbCFeGxVDCxTOOUPprtAxKM0jIwVyxMAwEw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Portsmouth City Public School","date","2025-06-09T16:45:33Z","article","The Portsmouth City School Board voted 8–1 on June 5 to reject the hearing officer’s recommendation in hearing number 042125 and to “reinstate,” according to the motion recorded on the consent calendar.

A motion to move the hearing matter from the transaction report to a separate agenda item (5.4) was made and the board then considered a motion to reject the hearing officer’s recommendation and reinstate. The motion was seconded and carried by roll call, with eight board members voting in favor and one opposed.

The agenda identifies the item as hearing number 042125 but the transcript does not publish the hearing officer’s recommended outcome or the precise identity of the person affected. The board’s recorded motion text was limited to rejecting the hearing officer’s recommendation and ordering reinstatement as the board directed.

Board members did not discuss the underlying facts of the hearing on the public record during the open session segment recorded in the transcript. The motion and roll call followed the board’s earlier closed‑session personnel discussion under the Virginia Code citation noted in the agenda (personnel matters permitted under subsection a.1).

What happens next: the board’s action will be reflected in the official minutes and any written order; staff and legal counsel will follow posted policies and state code for notifying the affected employee and for any required administrative steps following reinstatement.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Portsmouth Public Schools | Work Session | 6.5.25","oneSentenceSummary","The Portsmouth City School Board voted 8–1 to reject the hearing officer’s recommendation in matter 042125 and to reinstate, per a motion made during the consent agenda discussion and approved by roll call.","taxTitle","PORTSMOUTH CITY PBLC SCHS, School Districts, Virginia","taxId",14514,"location","Virginia","headline","","shortSummary",{"_32":76,"_34":35,"_36":37,"_38":77,"_40":78,"_42":79,"_44":80,"_46":81,"_48":82,"_50":83,"_52":84,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":85,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":86,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6210083,"Portsmouth board adopts FY2025–26 operating budget; two members oppose cuts to specific programs",97,3723000,3820000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3726737-0cbae531bc51883e2d77c1bfc71fceb4&start=3723&end=3820","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3726737-0cbae531bc51883e2d77c1bfc71fceb4/thumbnail_3723000.jpg","/articles/6210083/Virginia/Portsmouth-board-adopts-FY202526-operating-budget-two-members-oppose-cuts-to-specific-programs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6210083-f0e9b471743eceece84e17372104e3cd/orig.mp4?Expires=1769954057&Signature=KF5zAYqaP5LJ4E4sqLvaPgYblgz4SJImL87ynmMK5wIkUHn~NZL3KaPQX4chFLO98OHCtCZK8H0aeT7vr~NctOZh5kY4oELZlcNi0bSWatea6VSLcDxTdrJdYLGEJtQB8p2i3T48oS521ZO9vAp629sKbwn~CEBRWsUizsoLM47Vn5832gYSLSyNDj~-dIscOJ5dLf9ZNcb9JJQnNom6gGvJgKLmJTNNG0czaOER9o~j~plBSmvStTpCyl8YmoIc4TG2vfJp~seapeW5MyKiBAUaTiWnnjRLmTwP0ftUmLPb5f2cIop-TTUAnD~uCOSfZV6inOebI~YtgD7NL7yVbQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Portsmouth City School Board voted 7–2 on June 5 to approve the fiscal year 2025–26 operating budget, a final vote that board members said included difficult tradeoffs to fund pay and retention priorities while cutting some programs.

A board member who announced a no vote said the decision was not a rejection of teacher pay increases but an objection to program cuts that she said “set the course apart from other divisions,” naming STARBASE and Dual Language Immersion (DLI) as examples of programs she did not want to eliminate. Another board member also cited program cuts as the reason for a no vote.

Board discussion during the roll call period included how and when the district will notify parents and staff about canceled programs. Division staff said communication would go out to students currently enrolled in affected programs and that, now that the budget is passed, documentation can be distributed divisionwide so families and interested parties know programs are no longer available.

The board’s vote followed public business and prior motions to move consent items and to approve a revised FY 2024–25 general fund budget earlier in the meeting. The FY 2025–26 approval passed after a roll call; board minutes show the final tally as seven in favor and two opposed.

Board members said the division will notify affected families and staff and provide follow‑up information for students currently enrolled in programs slated for cancellation.

What happens next: division staff will prepare communications for families and staff about program cancellations and work to identify supports for students formerly served by the affected programs. The board indicated it may revisit program decisions in future budget cycles.","The Portsmouth City School Board approved the fiscal year 2025–26 operating budget after debate about program reductions. The final vote passed 7–2; dissenting board members said they opposed cuts to Dual Language Immersion and STARBASE programs.",{"_32":88,"_34":35,"_36":37,"_38":89,"_40":90,"_42":91,"_44":92,"_46":93,"_48":94,"_50":95,"_52":96,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":97,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":98,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6210088,"Portsmouth Public Schools adopts 'Igniting Futures 2025–2030' strategic plan after community input and AI-assisted drafting",160,1444000,1604000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3726737-0cbae531bc51883e2d77c1bfc71fceb4&start=1444&end=1604","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3726737-0cbae531bc51883e2d77c1bfc71fceb4/thumbnail_1444000.jpg","/articles/6210088/Virginia/Portsmouth-Public-Schools-adopts-Igniting-Futures-20252030-strategic-plan-after-community-input-and-AI-assisted-drafting","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6210088-76dddd349e6d7a4b9cfd2cb72cfd91e8/orig.mp4?Expires=1769954057&Signature=BYa2XzFVDjyBacOMpZIlZRlxNXWBxnC8R8ffSlCWDAgTUjwqiN47odblO0t0ybwcFtNnIsVJOmIBr1l6spsG~C9NmSjGo4tNejFPcHfrGO~hGPqmSTZSZxua85T2w63RenwboNzkWujO~oR6jkNBOxXatk7IQIZdLsZula2D~TXR-ecIE-T4iUIW8z8xwwk7RXWehSaLbkvJdDgBnkUCGUHEM34QKzVjG-F7K3cLwPliGbZueSWYvVeyTSXiSRIL5TuMdDBPrDdjPuYrtI9vljvxJ40WGxWG9ECneIKhDKU3HHKKz2VGqxLd-3BKfNhqu7ScZC8rNTZKW3g4GBW-ZQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Portsmouth City School Board on June 5 adopted Igniting Futures 2025–2030, a new five‑year strategic plan that officials said was developed with community input and iterative drafting supported by generative AI.

Presenters described a nearly six‑month development process that gathered feedback from parents, staff, students, administrators and community members. The division said it uploaded stakeholder responses into ChatGPT to identify themes and draft language, then revised the outputs with human review. “I think ChatGPT is a friend of all of ours at this point,” one presenter said while also noting the team carefully edited and refined AI outputs.

The plan articulates four goals: increase academic growth and achievement; expand access to innovative pathways and preparedness for employment, enlistment and higher education; improve staff recruitment, retention and professional development; and foster a safe and connected educational environment that supports students, staff and families. Presenters said the plan will be operationalized through yearly “ignition plans” that pick priority action items for each school year with quarterly reporting.

Presenters reported outreach results: about 100 people provided feedback on the draft goals and 82% of respondents said they felt the draft plan would lead to successful outcomes for students, staff and families. The plan’s language was simplified in response to feedback requesting clearer, less technical phrasing.

Board members asked how the plan will expand community partnerships, how organizations can apply to work with schools and how the division will balance partnership requests with instructional priorities. Presenters said the division has centralized partnership requests to the office led by Dr. Flowers (community partnerships) and is moving away from principal‑level ad hoc approvals so the district can better coordinate partners and keep instructional time intact. Presenters also said staff will post application information on the district website and operate a community‑partnership intake through the appropriate office.

Members also pressed for clarity on resources and professional development needed to implement the plan. Presenters said resource needs will be detailed in yearly ignition plans and could include personnel, materials and programs; they noted expanding professional development days or adjusting the school calendar would require balancing instructional hours and overall calendar structure.

The board voted unanimously to adopt the plan. Staff said the division will publish the plan online and use ignition plans and quarterly reports to track implementation.

What happens next: school and division staff will develop annual ignition plans with prioritized action items and resource lists; the division will post partner application information and continue community outreach during implementation.","The Portsmouth City School Board unanimously adopted a new five‑year strategic plan, Igniting Futures 2025–2030, after a six‑month development process that included stakeholder feedback and use of generative AI to synthesize input.",{"_32":100,"_34":35,"_36":37,"_38":101,"_40":102,"_42":103,"_44":104,"_46":105,"_48":106,"_50":107,"_52":108,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":109,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":110,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6210093,"Portsmouth board adopts Savvas series for K–12 math, approves Mathspace for select electives",361,1015000,1376000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3726737-0cbae531bc51883e2d77c1bfc71fceb4&start=1015&end=1376","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3726737-0cbae531bc51883e2d77c1bfc71fceb4/thumbnail_1015000.jpg","/articles/6210093/Virginia/Portsmouth-board-adopts-Savvas-series-for-K12-math-approves-Mathspace-for-select-electives","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6210093-9482cf1cd1a329b43fbb53774a814c04/orig.mp4?Expires=1769954057&Signature=LUgztggYVi3YhjhnDSlKDhvlk0KzO89~Pobc47fh5leb2YbXqHubU-zdziOLLsjzpKh8dSF59EN1fyWL7BaKZymHpxyYp9IaKsHrvXcMcZ8xzSgV-57D3zdoaEas-Gd9awjFAMGMhoGXn-AsxtoOAibYM8SYAxO3ugwLWHsasv9VjqjkVpAoRrgCbqhDVjcATm8Z6x4saTp3E50TlENheEliGPF5tEO-2-oRvMFXn6luOB~~kHkThk~9CgfxqAaVF1JVmoHSChEtxa4GTajV60MQfhkl8h3VzywT4-0bw1faLzd5Zx8q-v5URM52NZ8aP1pUPAx1hlIpgbgNfIex5g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Portsmouth City School Board unanimously approved a K–12 mathematics textbook adoption June 5, endorsing the Savvas series for elementary and most secondary courses and recommending Mathspace for some elective and adaptive secondary offerings.

India Hatcher, secondary mathematics coordinator, and Dr. Wanda Calhoun, elementary mathematics coordinator, told the board that a committee of teachers, coaches and specialists followed the Virginia Department of Education’s HQMI evaluation process and opened books for a 30‑day public review. Hatcher said the adoption committee received one public comment and one teacher comment, both positive, and that the final vote was to approve the adoption pending any additional public comments during the remaining week of the comment period.

For elementary grades the committee compared Savvas, Eureka and Kiddom; the recommendation favored Savvas for a more student‑friendly and thorough print and digital layout. Hatcher said Savvas’s digital tools allow teachers to assign playlists and access materials across grade bands where topics are distributed differently.

For secondary courses, the committee piloted Mathspace at the middle school level and reviewed Savvas and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (HMH). Committee reviewers found stronger alignment and fewer weaknesses overall in Savvas for core secondary courses. For elective high school courses — algebra, functions and data analysis (AFDA) and math analysis/trigonometry — Mathspace scored highest because of adaptive tasks, an AI tutor, and built‑in Spanish translation.

“Once they approved in March, we had committees. They started meeting in person and virtually and making recommendations,” Hatcher said, describing the evaluation timeline and materials posted for public review.

The board moved to approve the recommendation with a motion to adopt pending the close of the public comment window. The roll call vote was unanimous.

What happens next: staff will finalize procurement quotes and move forward with instructional rollout and professional development for the selected materials, subject to any comments received during the remaining public comment period.","After review and a public comment period, the Portsmouth School Board unanimously approved a K–12 mathematics textbook adoption recommending Savvas for most grades and Mathspace for several elective and adaptive secondary courses.",{"_32":112,"_34":35,"_36":37,"_38":113,"_40":114,"_42":115,"_44":116,"_46":117,"_48":118,"_50":119,"_52":120,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":121,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":122,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6210097,"Portsmouth board approves Title I–IV federal grant applications as allocations remain preliminary",455,210000,665000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3726737-0cbae531bc51883e2d77c1bfc71fceb4&start=210&end=665","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3726737-0cbae531bc51883e2d77c1bfc71fceb4/thumbnail_210000.jpg","/articles/6210097/Virginia/Portsmouth-board-approves-Title-IIV-federal-grant-applications-as-allocations-remain-preliminary","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6210097-545cc5fcf141795d182643b5673a8287/orig.mp4?Expires=1769954057&Signature=GfXcrgo6I2UQXqZavBP8iP-Lp5OWFZF5pyUHKgB9EW-dQMGgwSapjrj8bqwJUYSn4pdl6yOVaDMG2fanrseuXKHUT-YZDIeLgFgtv5E2yl2gsER8P5iKxvxmcZJ9AMfixlTjfxFEYmRtaC1LlQ~5xXEFSz0-~G2382x9TWekLksqdLpbMMzmBQJYMq3xWRK21c4aF2S-qGfWRUZ99auQC8YFrTCBw2CAu29hJYnmB8--v6zOZOnkPOIocaq2eT-lpIceKQjVklUJZPq1mmU8kh1UuG6uSiGJh9ERyR-P-s7g1sTBSXZRe-OKuWCrUrqd4dNJ7FS65GuCIpIipNJnDA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Portsmouth City School Board on June 5 approved applications for five federal grants under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act for the July 2025–September 2027 grant cycle, while staff cautioned the school division has only preliminary allocations and that some applications may be held by the state.

The board voted, by roll call, to approve the Title I Part A, Title I Part D, Title II Part A, Title III Part A and Title IV Part A applications as presented. The vote was unanimous.

The approvals matter because the grants fund people and programs used “to supplement, not supplant” the division’s general fund, staff said. “These allocations are subject to change,” the Office of Federal Programs presenter said when outlining the preliminary numbers, adding the grant cycle runs from July 1, 2025, through September 2027.

Miss Hills, presenting for the Office of Federal Programs, listed the division’s preliminary allocations and program uses: Title I Part A (improving achievement for disadvantaged students) at about $6,990,000 to pay for instructional supplies, technology, tutoring, stipends, family engagement and services for McKinney‑Vento students; Title I Part D at about $188,000 to support Harbor Point Behavioral Healthcare with behavioral and instructional resources; Title II Part A at roughly $800,000 for teacher and principal training, mentoring and recruitment; Title III Part A at about $21,000 for language and literacy supports for English learners; and Title IV Part A at about $541,000 for student support and academic enrichment, counselors and behavior interventionists.

Hills told the board that VDOE monitoring this spring left the division with a situation in which “only Title I may be the only approvable application upon submission” and that other titles “may be on hold with no timeline for approval.” When a board member asked what would happen if titles II, III or IV were withheld, Hills said positions funded by those grants “are subject to elimination” because those jobs are contingent on final funding and the division could not guarantee absorbing all positions into the general fund: “I couldn’t say we could absorb 100%.”

Board members asked for clarification about services to private school students in Title I attendance zones, a change from prior practice. Hills said Portsmouth had been part of a multi-division bypass that provided services through a shared vendor; under the new approach the division will use a vendor (Catapult Learning) to provide tutoring and instructional materials directly to eligible private‑school students who live in Title I attendance areas.

The board approved the applications after staff introduced the teams who developed the submissions and answered members’ questions about contingencies, private‑school equitable services and the timetable for VDOE action. The division noted that final allocations are expected later in the summer and “are subject to change.”

The board did not adopt any programmatic changes as part of the motion; the action was to submit the federal grant applications to the Virginia Department of Education on or before July, as required by state guidance.

Board members and staff said they will notify affected staff and families if grant approvals or final allocations change in ways that affect positions or services.

What happens next: the division will submit the applications to VDOE, await final allocations (expected late summer), and monitor which applications are approved. Staff said grant-funded salaries and positions remain contingent on finalized pay scales and final allocations.","The Portsmouth City School Board voted unanimously June 5 to approve Title I, II, III and IV federal grant applications for the 2025–27 cycle while officials warned final allocations and approvals from the Virginia Department of Education are still pending.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board votes to reject hearing officer recommendation and reinstate in hearing 042125

Portsmouth board adopts FY2025–26 operating budget; two members oppose cuts to specific programs

Portsmouth Public Schools adopts 'Igniting Futures 2025–2030' strategic plan after community input and AI-assisted drafting

Portsmouth board adopts Savvas series for K–12 math, approves Mathspace for select electives

Portsmouth board approves Title I–IV federal grant applications as allocations remain preliminary