Suffolk school board approves ordinances and resolutions, directs finance committee to research audits and adopts personnel and payroll items

The Suffolk City School Board approved multiple ordinances, resolutions and administrative items during its Feb. 13 business meeting and recorded roll‑call votes for each action.

Ordinances 24/25‑81 and 24/25‑82 were approved on first reading and adoption by the board. Both measures passed by roll‑call vote after motions and seconds on the dais.

On resolutions and administrative services, the board voted to approve a subscription for policy services from the Virginia School Boards Association (VSBA) (resolution 24/25‑15). The policy‑services motion passed following extended discussion about cost and value; the vote recorded a majority in favor and two board members voting no.

A separate motion to create a new three‑member audit committee failed. The board then voted to direct the existing finance committee to research external auditing firms that could conduct a more thorough financial audit; that motion passed. The finance committee subsequently presented an overview of the district’s audit processes and recommended a public work session to explain audit procedures to the full board and the public.

The board also approved consent agenda items including the personnel report and the bills and payroll report following motions to remove specific items to new business earlier in the meeting. Those motions were recorded by roll call.

A series of legislative committee recommendations were presented and moved for the board’s positions to be sent to state legislators; the board debated multiple procedural options and ultimately voted on supported bills, took one bill (House Bill 18‑24) to a separate vote that resulted in a tie, and approved a separate motion to forward the bills the committee opposed. The board recorded roll‑call tallies for each vote; where timing prevented analysis before the General Assembly, members urged individual outreach to legislators.

Votes at a glance

- Motion to convene closed session under Va. Code § 2.2‑3711(A)(2) (student records): moved by Jenkins, seconded by Vice Chair McGee; motion passed by roll call. - Certification of closed meeting (Va. Code § 2.2‑3712) — motion passed by roll call. - Ordinance 24/25‑81 (special committee created; first reading and adoption): moved by Slinglove, seconded by Vice Chair McGee; vote: unanimous yes; outcome: adopted. - Ordinance 24/25‑82 (superintendent to develop regulations; first reading and adoption): moved by Slinglove, seconded by Vice Chair McGee; vote: unanimous yes; outcome: adopted. - Resolution 24/25‑15 (VSBA policy services subscription): moved by Riddick and seconded by Jenkins; vote: passed (yes: Jenkins, Slinglove, Riddick, Fields, Howell; no: Dr. Brittingham, Vice Chair McGee — recorded in minutes); outcome: approved. - Motion to appoint a 3‑member audit committee (Dr. Brittingham): failed on roll call. - Motion to direct the finance committee to research auditing firms for a deeper/exhaustive audit: passed (yes majority recorded); outcome: finance committee tasked to research and report back. - Personnel report (consent agenda): motion to approve passed by roll call; outcome: approved. - Bills and payroll (consent agenda moved to new business): motion to approve passed by roll call; outcome: approved. - Legislative committee positions: the board debated and then (a) approved an amended motion to forward the committee’s supported bills (excluding House Bill 18‑24) to delegates; (b) took House Bill 18‑24 (substitution of African American history/AP African American studies for the state history credit) as a separate vote that resulted in a tie; and (c) voted to forward the bills the committee opposed to the delegation. Specific bill numbers recommended for support or opposition are listed in the official packet and minutes.

The finance committee recommended a work session to present the division’s audit process and supporting documentation to the full board and the public so stakeholders can review how audits are conducted and how the division’s internal controls operate.