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Virginia Beach School Board upholds hearing officer finding in Plaza Middle discrimination appeal
Summary
On Aug. 12, 2025, the Virginia Beach School Board voted to uphold a hearing officer's June 26 findings in a parents'filed discrimination, harassment and retaliation complaint related to a student discipline investigation at Plaza Middle School and ordered the administration to notify the family and place records in the student's file.
The Virginia Beach School Board voted Aug. 12, 2025, to uphold a June 26 hearing officer's conclusions in a discrimination, harassment and retaliation appeal filed by the parents of a Plaza Middle School student and directed school administration to notify the parents and place the decision and supporting documentation in the student's official file.
The complaint was filed March 13, 2025, relating to an October 25, 2024, student-discipline investigation. The division issued an investigative report April 8, 2025, which concluded there was insufficient evidence to find discrimination, harassment or retaliation. The parents appealed; a hearing officer held an appeal hearing June 4, 2025, and issued conclusions and recommendations on June 26, 2025. The board considered the hearing officer's report, the hearing transcript and exhibits at its Aug. 12 administrative workshop.
The board moved and adopted a resolution that the hearing officer's determination be upheld and that the administration provide notice to the parents and place a copy of the decision, supporting materials and any recording of the hearing in the student's official records. The motion was moved by Miss Dwyer and seconded by Vice Chair Weems. The clerk announced the tally as nine ayes and one abstention; Mr. Culpepper recorded an abstention.
The action is limited to the administrative record and the board's certification; the board did not announce additional remedies or policy changes at the meeting. The resolution notes the hearing officer's conclusions and directs the administration to take the recordkeeping and notification steps stated above.
The board certified that the closed-session deliberations concerning the appeal complied with the Virginia Freedom of Information Act provisions the board cited when it recessed into closed session earlier in the meeting.
