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Parent tells board enrollment process was 'tedious' and staff agree to review delays
Summary
A Chesapeake parent described difficulty enrolling multiple children in the division; board members asked staff to investigate recent enrollment delays.
A Chesapeake parent told the school board she had repeatedly encountered obstacles while enrolling multiple children in Chesapeake Public Schools and asked the division for help.
Ashley Van Oel, who identified herself as a Chesapeake resident, nonprofit owner and parent of eight children (six currently enrolled in Chesapeake schools), said the enrollment process had been "very tedious" and described repeated requests for documentation and a rejected proof-of-progress submission during summer enrollment for a seventh grader. Van Oel said she had asked school staff whether she could bring a child with anxiety to the building for a non-school-hours visit to ease the transition; she said office staff declined to arrange such a visit and that calls requesting follow-up went unanswered until she visited the office in person.
Board response and follow-up: Board member Dr. Britney Walker thanked Van Oel for speaking and said staff member Dr. Miller had already assisted to address the concern. Walker asked the board to "take a look into what's happening" because she has noticed enrollment delays more often than is typical for this time of year; she noted she had seen similar reports on social media and from residents. The board chair and superintendent said the division receives public comment and, when appropriate, staff will evaluate concerns and follow up with the speaker.
Why it matters: Enrollment processes affect families' access to school services and program placement; the board flagged the issue for staff review ahead of the start of the next school year.
What the speaker said: Van Oel praised Chesapeake teachers as responsive and credited them with being "top notch," but said administrative processes had been an obstacle. She asked the board for assistance and said she was not criticizing teachers but seeking help for families navigating documentation and transitions.
Next steps: Board members requested staff review recent enrollment patterns and follow up with the speaker as appropriate.
