[{"_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",5979925,"mediaKeyId","5775576-fa8ab33ba7ecf518344b4d9236a8186e","parentId",5775576,"title","Norfolk school board delays vote on school‑closure and consolidation plan after broad public opposition","audioSeconds",5083,"startMs",1669000,"endMs",6752000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5775576-fa8ab33ba7ecf518344b4d9236a8186e&start=1669&end=6752","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5775576-fa8ab33ba7ecf518344b4d9236a8186e/thumbnail_1669000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/5979925/Virginia/Norfolk-school-board-delays-vote-on-schoolclosure-and-consolidation-plan-after-broad-public-opposition","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5979925-aa78dc607bf0f2f30b51b6993e205ee5/orig.mp4?Expires=1770447522&Signature=C6tNUj-eFtbE75J7NDcbMg~~DSWXv9NGTGPOd67fVsv53ys85incYdcLPYjMaZnZVHLcgXylYWFJu9E2iCTl-eLBzdl9okMjLdEcbb5lbivMcscfwVDaS8tcN1cfEHlpc5oCrUSXRk19cT~-UOBkrDV72Vx94SvcH3owEYCnrh1ERJznnebgfPWwwnVSoE1wAaZ3pCSRGL24M1bu-UGGN5nJ-MFMMAgZ215750sTu-jGMArq5knNTwkA7R-aVPEkEhd~4sYj8Fn2UnY4IzFdTJL2pplwKzI~iKNg95PSTO5QFtgBwYqLzYYp~DAYuXAl~hxKPtud0ai0piB9~Mv5Sg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Norfolk City Public School","date","2025-09-18T00:00:00Z","article","The Norfolk School Board on Tuesday postponed a planned vote on a draft school‑closure and consolidation plan after more than two dozen public commenters urged the board to reconsider an eleventh‑hour proposal known as \"Option 5.\" The board approved a motion to delay the vote and schedule a special meeting for Sept. 29 to continue deliberations.

Why it matters: The draft plan would reshape where students attend and which school buildings remain open in a district that has carried out long‑running facilities studies. Public speakers at the meeting raised concerns about community engagement, timelines, fiscal impacts, and the effects on specialized programs and vulnerable students.

Public comments: About 26 speakers addressed the board during the public‑comment period (the clerk reported 30 had originally signed up). Many concentrated on Option 5, which several speakers described as a late change that moves Madison Alternative Center and Open Campus, proposes closure or repurposing of Easton and Saint Helena schools, and suggests relocating the Ghent program. Speakers representing neighborhood coalitions, PTA groups and parents raised overlapping concerns:
- Charlotte Smith Worley, a member of the Facilities Committee, urged the board to \"return to the other options\" and said Option 5 went beyond the committee’s charge because it proposed moving alternative and open‑campus programs that the committee had not recommended for elementary closure.
- Kathy O’Hara warned the board that city council might respond punitively if the board pursued a plan with ambiguous timelines; she said earlier council direction had indicated \"significant closure delays would no longer be tolerated.\" She also argued Option 5 added a major capital project (a new alternative education center) without apparent discussion with city leaders and noted recent renovations to Madison Alternative Center.
- Multiple speakers from Berkeley and Saint Helena neighborhoods urged the board not to close Saint Helena Elementary, citing its role as a neighborhood hub and concerns about transportation, safety and services for special‑education students.
- Several speakers representing Ghent School families and the Ghent community asked that the program be relocated in a way that preserves the program’s identity and high academic outcomes if a move is necessary.

Board discussion and motion: During board deliberations the chair summarized that the publicly posted draft plan on BoardDocs had dates for closures; she also proposed a potential amendment to include relocation of the Ghent program by 2027 with a final site to be determined by administration after rezoning. Rather than vote on a final plan, Dr. Martin moved to delay the vote and call a special meeting as soon as possible; the motion was seconded and the board then discussed possible dates. After some back‑and‑forth the board agreed to schedule a special call meeting for Monday, Sept. 29 at 5:00 p.m.

Formal vote to delay: The roll call to table the vote on the draft plan returned six ayes and one nay. The board recorded the following votes: Tanya Bassin — Aye; Moore Buffalo — Aye; Alfred Inge — Aye; Dr. Martin — Aye; Colonel Paulson — Nay; Alfreda Thomas — Aye; Chair DeKalajero — Aye. The motion passed; the vote outcome was to postpone/tabled the draft consolidation vote until the special call meeting.

Distinctions between discussion and action: The board’s action was procedural — delaying the vote to allow more time for deliberation and community engagement. No school closures or relocations were adopted at the meeting. The chair said the special meeting would include administration and the board’s facilities consultant (the chair requested administration make the consultant available by video if needed) so members could ask detailed questions and consider alternatives.

Remaining questions: Speakers and board members repeatedly asked for clearer timelines, more detailed transportation plans, explicit fiscal coordination with city council, and assurances that programs serving special‑education and ESL students would transfer services without gaps. Several public commenters asked that Easton, Saint Helena and Madison not be closed or repurposed; others urged that Maury High School’s rebuild include athletics facilities and a natatorium funded in part from any realized savings.

Ending: The board did not act on any specific school closure; instead it postponed the decision and set a special call meeting for Sept. 29 to continue the work after further review and community input.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","LIVE School Board Meeting: 9-17-25 (4:00 p.m.)","oneSentenceSummary","After two hours of public comment focused on a late‑filed \"Option 5,\" the Norfolk School Board voted to delay a decision on the draft school‑closure and consolidation plan and set a special meeting for September 29 to continue deliberations.","taxTitle","NORFOLK CITY PBLC SCHS, School Districts, Virginia","taxId",14513,"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},5979930,"Norfolk officials outline steps to raise advanced-studies diploma rates; counselors and pre‑AP additions highlighted",620,1101000,1721000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5775576-fa8ab33ba7ecf518344b4d9236a8186e&start=1101&end=1721","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5775576-fa8ab33ba7ecf518344b4d9236a8186e/thumbnail_1101000.jpg","/articles/5979930/Virginia/Norfolk-officials-outline-steps-to-raise-advanced-studies-diploma-rates-counselors-and-preAP-additions-highlighted","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5979930-281691ebdffdf9c261a041353c07ce95/orig.mp4?Expires=1770447522&Signature=Yq89Fp8~CN7p-hWAmspMK3VrTv~w8n8W4Mvs1os3dZpN2kBGIeQKfl5jdHqlp4FCgRpwbe6EJAEdEHgwvtVeN0WOX9xmGaZ5kd8pVOE1Rte3eecfwNPTjfEhFcOdteyIY3GIL~38lv-RYlhMSB41EwQ-sMMb5qwD9SN0bL6GOSDjIeojZEQU5IpLkbjEiH-bW8j06gbSBvoYynDSL9LMDw08b4yS8pcqljI2rxEVy0SnbneWIVKVcBmO7RLh2at7ZAc2JRk8A~cjZC73~X~YPevJ-wtdLb4hSbRN55Gxg264WWd2h6BFnbjnyCEAY0TcJk~MjgbHCoI~4-~OBqyTHg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Norfolk Public Schools staff on Tuesday reviewed progress toward school board Goal 5 — increasing the share of graduates who earn an advanced studies diploma — and described interventions intended to move several cohorts closer to the division’s long‑term target. The presenter said counselors’ transcript reviews and course sequencing changes put more students \"in better position to earn an advanced diploma\" at the start of the current year.

Why it matters: Advanced studies diplomas are an indicator used in the district’s strategic plan. Achieving the stated goal would change graduation outcomes for cohorts and affect course offerings and counseling priorities across middle and high schools.

Summary of evidence and steps: Staff said the district is tracking cohorts backward to the class of 2027 and that preliminary internal data — not yet matched to official state rates — show more students beginning the school year in coursework that positions them to reach the advanced diploma. The presenter said, \"we do believe it is, a heavy lift, but we think it's a doable lift,\" describing a plan that combines transcript reviews, expanded pre‑AP and honors offerings in core subjects, and improved sequencing in science.

District staff described several specific actions already in place or under way: introducing pre‑AP training and identifying honors courses aligned as pre‑AP in the four core areas; offering high‑quality instructional materials and evidence‑based interventions; creating four‑year social studies sequencing across the five high schools; training teachers to use artificial‑intelligence tools for lesson planning and feedback (the presenter said 81% of teachers are active AI users in some form); and introducing two tutoring platforms, one for after‑hours (tutor.com) and another for on‑demand, in‑school support.

Staff also reported targeted counselor actions. The presenter said counselors reviewed transcripts and identified that 195 current juniors were off track for the advanced studies diploma solely because of a world‑language requirement; the division is exploring ways to fit \"three semesters\" of world language into the students’ remaining schedule using the 4‑by‑4 model. The district said it will continue to monitor SOL results, credit attainment, attendance trends and structured feedback from teachers and students.

Uncertainties and next steps: Officials cautioned that official state comparison data were not yet available. The district said more acceleration is required to meet the district’s 2027 cohort benchmark and that continued counselor review and flexible scheduling options will be central to its strategy. No new policy or staffing decisions were adopted during the meeting.

Ending: Staff asked the board to continue oversight as the district refines course sequencing and counselor practices; they plan to return with updated, state‑validated data when available.","District staff told the school board that early transcript reviews, expanded pre‑AP and honors sequences, tutoring platforms and counselor scheduling are improving the starting position of the 2027 cohort for earning advanced diplomas, but officials said additional acceleration will be needed to meet the long‑term target.",{"_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},5979935,"Norfolk Public Schools reports mixed results after first year of 4-by-4 hybrid block schedule",509,283000,792000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5775576-fa8ab33ba7ecf518344b4d9236a8186e&start=283&end=792","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5775576-fa8ab33ba7ecf518344b4d9236a8186e/thumbnail_283000.jpg","/articles/5979935/Virginia/Norfolk-Public-Schools-reports-mixed-results-after-first-year-of-4-by-4-hybrid-block-schedule","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5979935-b6ed5d4e303c24817f7f17ebc9e395e1/orig.mp4?Expires=1770447522&Signature=dHcbaTYNjcFckKS4jmccLsoNd9Xza5NgZHQJxNHEvFqqgcd~NpnpITUfU-sUDvKkXzL-u8o-rKto-KjtCpvj6tNcPNg~ShCJ6FuzLSVSC9smttqjsIMzfXMFuTHA4h1jRExO76-cZrsZPRrTKwbhtIh64veVma~fBRbL283GUkB3hFkeIoPO8VELGY6~YNhCq8TZgTifcGAM70sFgBKvYt2aQj2uVgdgBjG3slJq~zDdjZPJSw4y8qKsjAS-m5v89oDtqo6fEbA0Q4HHVqdIBNM8tpCYLOzzavE7htvpQdE8XBf87EyPwaOnC48awmA3ag~faOcnQErFtkbb5PTV-g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Norfolk Public Schools on Tuesday presented a year-one review of its 4-by-4 hybrid block schedule for high schools, saying the schedule ensured most students had full schedules on day one but created instructional and workload challenges that the district is working to address. \"One of our biggest successes was student scheduling,\" a staff member presenting the update told the board, noting that students who completed spring registration received schedules on the first day of school.

Why it matters: The schedule changes how students take classes and affects counseling, grading, and teacher planning. District officials said the model aims to reduce student stress and better align with college pacing while preserving pathways to advanced diplomas.

District staff described several early wins. On the first day of classes, \"every student who had completed a spring registration form had a schedule and the remaining students were scheduled very quickly,\" the presenter said. Staff said counselors and schedulers reviewed transcripts over the summer to make sure course sequences met graduation requirements. Teachers reported that focusing on four classes instead of seven or eight helped students retain learning and strengthened student–teacher relationships.

But the presenter and the division’s staff survey also detailed substantive challenges. Teachers reported difficulties fitting year-long courses into the hybrid model, greater consequences when students miss class, and added planning and grading burdens associated with 90-minute blocks. \"The fast pace made reteaching difficult, absences had a greater impact and the workload involved in planning and grading for 90 minute blocks was heavy,\" the presenter said. The survey showed 146 respondents across the high schools; the presenter reported \"two thirds of the staff gave positive ratings, 32% somewhat positive and 34% very positive,\" and said classroom teachers made up 71% of respondents.

To respond to concerns, the district said it took several steps during the school year and over the summer: sharing strategies across high schools, providing pacing guides, offering professional development focused on teaching in longer blocks, adding study halls or recovery periods at some schools, and introducing training in how to use artificial-intelligence tools for planning and grading. The presenter said summer and August professional development introduced AI strategies and pacing training and that curriculum staff provided teachers with pacing guides tailored for 4-by-4 instruction.

Staff also emphasized communication and equity steps. The presenter said the division hosted senior nights, improved family communications, and planned one-on-one scheduling reviews to reduce mismatches and improve access to year-long or specialized courses.

What’s next: The district said principals are committed to refining scheduling practices for year two with an emphasis on equity, credit attainment, monitoring SOL results, and continuing structured feedback from teachers and students.

Limitations and open questions: The presenter acknowledged that the hybrid model complicates enrollment for year-long specialized courses and that some teachers recommended moving to a single model rather than a hybrid. The district also said it will monitor outcomes and make iterative changes; no board vote was requested or taken on schedule policy during the meeting.

Ending: Officials said they will continue to collect data, monitor credits and attendance, and provide targeted professional development before the second year of implementation.","Norfolk Public Schools officials told the school board that the new 4-by-4 hybrid block schedule produced faster student scheduling and positive staff survey responses but also created instructional and workload challenges that the division plans to address before year two.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Norfolk school board delays vote on school‑closure and consolidation plan after broad public opposition

Norfolk officials outline steps to raise advanced-studies diploma rates; counselors and pre‑AP additions highlighted

Norfolk Public Schools reports mixed results after first year of 4-by-4 hybrid block schedule