The School Board of the City of Norfolk on May 21 adopted the hearing officer’s findings and recommendations in employee grievance No. 2025-01, then moved to separate and vote on personnel items after debate over portions of the personnel docket.

The board adopted the hearing officer’s April 22, 2025 findings, written after a March 24 hearing, and resolved that the clerk would place the report and supporting documentation in the employee’s personnel file. The motion to adopt was moved and seconded during the board’s business meeting and carried on a roll-call vote.

Board members said the motion implements the hearing officer’s recommendations and places the record in the employee’s file. Doctor Martin and another member expressed concern about the scope of reinstatement authority during discussion; Martin said she objected to language that she believed left reinstatement decisions to the board rather than to the superintendent, but said she would vote in support.

Later in the meeting the board considered the personnel docket. An initial vote on the full personnel docket failed. The board then amended the motion to remove the supplemental personnel docket and voted separately: the main personnel docket passed on a roll-call vote; the supplemental personnel docket failed in a subsequent roll-call vote, meaning actions listed only in the supplement will not take effect.

The board’s discussion included requests from board members for clarification about the consequences of the failed supplemental vote and about which personnel actions (for example, resignations or hire notices) were captured on which list. Clerk and staff members confirmed that items on the supplemental docket would not be approved because the supplemental motion did not carry.

The board certified that its closed meeting earlier in the day complied with the Virginia Freedom of Information Act before resuming open session and taking the public votes.

Board members and staff indicated follow-up actions the clerk and human resources would take to distribute the resolution and to notify affected parties where appropriate. The meeting record shows the board placed the hearing officer’s report in the employee’s personnel file and left unresolved items in the supplemental personnel docket because that separate motion did not pass.

The board’s votes and discussion were recorded on the public meeting transcript and rolled-call results were read aloud at the meeting.

Officials said they will provide additional information to board members and staff about the three supplemental personnel actions that failed to pass, at a time deemed appropriate by the clerk and human-resources staff.