Residents urge bipartisan advisory appointments; teacher thanks board for raises and urges further pay progress

During the public‑comment portion of the School Board meeting, two residents addressed the board. Vic Nichols of Chesapeake urged the district to appoint advisory‑board members on a bipartisan basis and to base advisory decisions on facts, saying a friend felt attacked for a viewpoint and later proved correct. "The city council has recently been a lot better about making more bipartisan appointments, and I'm hoping that the school board would do the same in the names of the children," Nichols said.

Dr. Charlotte Whirley, a Chesapeake resident and teacher with Chesapeake Public Schools, spoke as both an employee and citizen. She thanked the board for approving Superintendent Cotton's recommendation for the most recent raise and for ensuring a bonus was paid regardless of Standards of Quality (SOQ) positions. She said regular meetings between district leaders and Chesapeake Education Association leadership have built "a shared understanding and trust" and urged continued work on compensation: she noted Virginia ranks 26th in teacher compensation according to a U.S. News item dated 05/01/2025 and said "we have a mile or 2 to go."

The board received the comments as information; the transcript records that the superintendent's office will evaluate concerns and provide a response if appropriate.