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Alumni, teachers and community members raise safety, facility and workplace concerns during public comments
Summary
During public comments at the March 19 meeting Norfolk residents and school employees urged board attention to conditions and enrollment at Booker T. Washington High School, alleged workplace toxicity, and transparency around a proposed pay increase for board members discussed at a recent retreat.
Several speakers used the March 19 Norfolk Public Schools business meeting public‑comment period to press the board on school facilities, safety and staff workplace climate.
Yvonne Wagner, speaking for the Unified Alumni Group of Booker T. Washington, raised multiple facility and safety concerns at Booker T. Washington High School, including frequent fire-department responses that disrupt instruction; questions about why the media center was recently re-opened; low enrollment and busing patterns, which she said raise equity concerns; ongoing mold and rat problems; and unresolved questions about asbestos remediation. Wagner asked for documentation that mold and asbestos issues have been addressed and for the board to consider those concerns when finalizing the district budget.
Several other alumni and community members echoed the concern that Booker T. Washington’s legacy and program offerings should be preserved and strengthened; Jacqueline L. Scott told the board she and other alumni will continue to advocate for equitable opportunities and the school’s legacy.
Teacher workplace climate and accreditation
Rakita Robinson, a first-grade teacher and member of the National Norfolk Federation of Teachers, told the board that teachers have raised concerns about a “toxic environment” in some schools and said that workplace climate has affected staff morale and the district’s accreditation efforts. Robinson proposed several questions for the board, including what steps teachers can take if they feel targeted, what resources exist for harassment or discrimination complaints, and how communication can be improved among staff.
Compensation and transparency concerns
Citizen Liz Albert told the board she supports higher pay for board members in principle but criticized what she called a lack of transparency when the board discussed raising member compensation at a March 12 retreat. Albert said the retreat included a vote to raise board member pay from $3,000 to $25,000 and the chair’s pay to $27,000, and she argued the change should be reconsidered in a fully public forum; she cited comparative figures for neighboring school districts (Virginia Beach and Chesapeake) and questioned tying board pay to city‑council compensation. The board did not take public action on a compensation change during the March 19 meeting; Albert urged the board to bring any future vote back into a publicly noticed meeting with opportunity for comment.
Other public comments
Retiree Catherine Tyler (Tower) and Diane Bacon of Delta Sigma Theta highlighted district successes and community events: they recognized a local superintendent receiving a regional award and promoted a sneaker donation event at Richard Bowling Elementary, respectively.
What the board said and next steps
Board members accepted the public comments and did not announce immediate policy actions in response during the meeting. Several alumni and community speakers requested documentation (mold/asbestos remediation records, curriculum materials for STEAM, and enrollment/busing maps) and called for those materials to be provided to the public or to the board for review. Board staff agreed to follow up on documentation requests where appropriate and the speakers asked the board to consider facility and equity concerns as it finalizes the budget.
