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Superintendent spotlights cell‑phone ban, absenteeism push, arts and career programs, and nutrition wins
Summary
Superintendent Dr. John B. Gordon III used the Feb. 13 meeting to thank staff for implementing a new bell‑to‑bell cell‑phone ban, urge parents to help reduce chronic absenteeism, and highlight arts, career and nutrition programs across the district.
Suffolk Public Schools Superintendent Dr. John B. Gordon III opened the Feb. 13 meeting with midyear remarks urging parents, students and staff to prepare for the second semester and highlighting several district programs and recognitions.
Gordon thanked staff and students for following the division’s new cell‑phone policy, which he described as “cell phone free bell to bell throughout the school day.” He also urged families to support efforts to reduce chronic absenteeism, noting that the division uses notifications, emails and phone calls when students are absent.
Gordon and division speakers spotlighted Lakeland High School’s Center for Performing and Production Arts (SIPA), describing specialized programs in music, theater, music production and guitar that allow students to remain on the Lakeland campus while taking arts‑focused electives alongside academic requirements. A student voice featured in the meeting said the program “pushes you to be better in that skill” and praised hands‑on opportunities in acting, directing and stage management.
The meeting also recognized career and technical education success: the Ford ACE program was highlighted and staff praised a student named Landon for completing his ACE training. Teachers and family members praised the student’s achievement and described the program as a pathway into mechanics and engineering careers.
In nutrition and extracurricular news, the district’s nutrition services team was selected to join a Virginia Department of Education recipe‑development effort and received a $5,000 award from the nonprofit Share Our Strength; the division also installed a bulk milk machine at Lakeland High School to reduce packaging waste and improve milk service.
Other recognitions included the induction of 42 students into Oakland Elementary’s Junior Beta Club, 64 Suffolk chorus students selected for the 2025 District Choir, and a Lakeland student, Amanda Culpepper, chosen for the Hampton Roads Student Gallery. The superintendent invited families to use the division’s resources, including the bullying hotline at (757) 538‑5483 and the division website spsk12.net for program information and support.
