Several residents and educators used the public-comment period to press the Norfolk City Council to prioritize teacher pay and student wraparound services as the council moved to appropriate an additional $9,699,214 in state education funds.
Keenan Baskerville thanked the council for appropriating state funds and said the money “should go towards teacher salaries and bonuses,” including for non–attendance‑taking staff and EELC programs. Monet Johnson, speaking as a former kindergarten teacher, said she has seen “what not getting those wraparound services looks like” and urged investment in services that would reduce restraints and behavioral crises. Tiara Glassford asked the council to ensure veteran teachers get step increases so long‑time staff earn more than new hires, and she urged funding for before‑ and after‑school care at Jaycox Elementary. Alton Robinson also offered support for school projects in the city.
City staff and the city manager clarified how the money should be treated. The city manager said, “This was an additional allocation by the General Assembly. It's only for the current fiscal year,” and advised that the funds should not be counted on as recurring revenue. Council member Smigiel noted that some of the supplemental state dollars were being distributed as bonuses and that previous one‑time bonuses have varied in size. The council later adopted ordinance 14 — an amendment to the FY 2026 appropriations — to accept and appropriate $9,699,214 from the Commonwealth of Virginia Department of Education for Norfolk Public Schools’ basic aid, special education, preschool, at‑risk programs and state-funded bonuses.
Public commenters specifically requested that the council or school board dedicate portions of the funds to teacher salary increases, EELC and wraparound supports, before/aftercare at Jaycox Elementary and additional pay for bus drivers to aid retention. The transcript records the council adopting the ordinance as part of the consent agenda; the manager and staff remarks in the meeting make clear the increase is an allocation for the current fiscal year only.