School board affirms expulsions, approves administrative appointments after closed session

The Chesapeake School Board returned from a closed session and approved several personnel and student-discipline actions the board had cited when it convened the private meeting.

The board voted unanimously to expel "Student 1 with services as discussed," after Superintendent Dr. J. A. Cotton recommended expulsion. Vice Chair Kim Scott moved the motion and Elijah Colon seconded; the motion passed with all board members voting yes.

Separately, the board considered an appeal of the superintendent’s decision under school board policy 9-21 in the matter of Student 2. Board member Mike Lamonia (motion) moved to support the superintendent’s recommendation; the motion was seconded by Elijah Colon and carried with all members voting yes.

The board also approved multiple administrative appointments that had been presented following the closed session. The appointments approved by vote (motion by Kim Scott, seconded by Norman Poole) included: Christopher H. Vail from director of communications to director of innovation; Ronnell L. Brewer from assistant principal at Salem High to principal at Chesapeake Center for Student Success; Pedro J. Martinez from supervisor of data and reporting to administrator of planning; Sasha N. Buchanan from student engagement and resource counselor to assistant principal at Chesapeake Center for Student Success; Laura J. Labiak from instructional specialist at Indian River Middle to assistant principal at Oscar Smith High; Naomi Ramos Acosta from teacher at Grassfield High to assistant principal at Oscar Smith Middle; Terry A. Reed from teacher at Greenbrier Primary to assistant principal at Norfolk Highlands Primary; Kelly A. Zimborski from school testing coordinator (Suffolk Public Schools) to assistant principal at Rena B. Wright Primary. The board recorded the motion and voted with all members voting yes.

Superintendent Dr. Cotton also announced a slate of administrative specialist appointments for the 2025–26 school year that did not require board action; those announced included Robin Edwards Roberson, Jasmine T. Gunter, Brett H. Heberling, Amanda E. Smith, Sarah V. Parnell, Keisha R. Stevens, Ashley S. Woodley and Kirsten M. Walker. The superintendent characterized those hires as appointments that the administration would carry out without formal board approval.

The closed session itself was convened pursuant to the Code of Virginia, section 2.2-3711 subsections A(1) and A(2), for purposes described by the board: personnel matters including candidates for the vacant school board seat and administrative appointments, and student disciplinary matters. The board also voted in open session to confirm that the only items discussed during closed session were those cited in the motion to convene and those lawfully exempted from statutory meeting requirements.

Board action summary: - Expulsion: Student 1 — motion carried unanimously; outcome: expulsion with services. - Appeal: Student 2 — board supported superintendent recommendation; motion carried unanimously. - Administrative appointments: multiple promotions/transfers — motion carried unanimously. - Administrative specialists: announced by superintendent; report-only (no board action).