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Teachers, union leaders urge higher pay and insurance relief at school board meeting
Summary
Multiple public commenters at the Sept. 9 Virginia Beach School Board meeting criticized recent changes to staff insurance premiums and called for raises, saying the superintendent's negotiated salary increase and staff stipend proposals do not address long‑term compensation concerns.
Virginia Beach — Several teachers and union representatives used the Sept. 9 public‑comment period to press the school board for higher pay and changes to employee health insurance, saying recent premium increases and the superintendent’s salary raise have left staff feeling undervalued.
Heather Sipe, president of the Virginia Beach Education Association, told the board that Virginia Beach public school staff remain “dead last” in pay across the seven Hampton Roads cities despite recent test score gains. “Staff should not have to choose a lower premium high‑deductible insurance plan so that it still fits in their budget,” Sipe said. She called a proposed $500 December stipend “unacceptable” because it is taxed and does not count toward Virginia Retirement System (VRS) benefits, and she urged an additional 5% raise effective Jan. 1, 2026.
Public commenters amplified that message. A kindergarten teacher, Mandy (Amanda) Kimball, described pay and benefit stress, said wellness days have been eliminated and that promised scheduling adjustments for teachers were overturned. Melissa Lukeson said the sequence of events — a modest raise for teachers followed by a larger raise for the superintendent and then an announced $20 million shortfall in employee health insurance — left teachers “literally losing money.” She characterized the superintendent’s raise as a reward for political alignment; the board did not discuss political motivations during the meeting.
Board members acknowledged the concerns and said staff will continue budget work during the coming months. Vice Chair Weems noted the budget calendar and department presentations scheduled through January and March, and Superintendent Mark Robertson said staff will present compensation‑priority survey results and budget recommendations during the budget development process. Robertson previously discussed a possible $500 stipend at the Aug. 12 meeting, which public speakers said is insufficient.
No board action on compensation was taken at the meeting; the matter remains part of the division’s FY 2026–27 budget process.
