Region 2 recovery school proposal presented; planners say year‑one revenue exceeds costs

Chesapeake School Board members heard an informational proposal on Jan. 14 for Harbor Hope Center, a Region 2 recovery school for students with substance use disorders, including an operating plan, staffing model, funding sources and a timeline that would seek board action at the Jan. 30 meeting.

Director of Student Support Services Paul Wilson said the steering committee — made up of Chesapeake, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Suffolk and Virginia Beach school leaders — envisions Harbor Hope as a voluntary, full‑day center providing daily therapeutic services, academic instruction through a multi‑division online learning platform and family wraparound supports. “The proposal is a culmination of the work of a regional steering committee comprised of leadership from 5 region 2 Tidewater School Divisions,” Wilson said.

Budget and seats: Wilson told the board projected first‑year expenses are $708,406 and projected revenue is $849,326, producing a year‑one surplus of $140,920. The projected day capacity for year 1 is 25 students (staff used 25 as a planning figure), with an estimated increase to 30 seats in year 2. The steering committee identified personnel as the primary cost and said transportation costs would remain the responsibility of each participating city and are not included in the regional budget.

Funding sources: The plan relies on an initial planning grant from the General Assembly, direct opioid‑abatement contributions from participating cities, a potential competitive coordinated partnership grant from the Virginia Opioid Abatement Authority (VOAA), and one‑time funding from the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services. Wilson said four of the five cities committed direct VOAA funds (example figures shown: $20,000 per city this fiscal year and $40,000 for five years from those cities in a worked example), and that Chesapeake Public Schools would serve as host by providing an in‑kind facility contribution estimated at $30,000 annually in a year‑two cost example.

Operations and protections: Harbor Hope would operate on a modified year‑round schedule (daily hours proposed as 9:15 a.m. to 3:45 p.m.) and require voluntary enrollment, family agreement to program rules and random drug screening conducted on site. Wilson emphasized the program is not an alternative placement and noted courts or hearing bodies may refer families but cannot mandate placement.

Next steps: If the five participating boards approve the concept, superintendents will hire a program coordinator, Chesapeake Integrated Behavioral Health (CBIH) will hire clinical staff and the steering committee will submit a VOAA coordinated partnership grant for a larger, multi‑year award; grant decisions are expected in May. Wilson said the action item will be brought to Chesapeake’s board on Jan. 30 for approval.

Ending: Board members asked questions about seat allocation, the funding formula for ongoing operations and transportation responsibilities; staff said the regional approach spreads costs that would be prohibitive for a single division and that more detailed cost‑sharing formulas will be provided if the board moves the item to the action docket.