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Votes at a glance: Petersburg board approves grants, MOU, job description, field trips and proclamation
Summary
The Petersburg City School Board on June 4 approved a package of items including grant applications, a school security grant, a job description for a turnaround principal, textbook adoptions, a food-service contract and several overnight student trips.
The Petersburg City School Board approved a series of action items during its June 4 meeting. Most motions passed by unanimous voice vote. Key outcomes summarized below were recorded from the public meeting and staff presentations.
- Grants (ISAEP, Carl Perkins, Claude Moore): The board approved superintendent-recommended grant applications for ISAEP, Carl Perkins and the Claude Moore grants. The applications will be submitted to the state; some had already been filed where deadlines passed. (Motion carried.)
- School security officer grant: The board approved the district's school security officer grant application, which staff said would fund additional security/officer positions. Chief Ronka presented the proposal earlier; board approved the motion. (Motion carried.)
- Turnaround principal job description: The board approved a new job description for a turnaround principal. Board members requested the salary be published as a range; staff said the job posting will include an appropriate range and will be posted on Frontline. (Motion carried.)
- Textbook adoptions: The board approved ELA/reading for grades 6-12 and mathematics for grades K-12 as recommended by the district (Kiddom for K-5 math, Savvas Envision for 6-12 math, Savvas My Perspectives for 6-12 ELA; Amplify continues at K-5 ELA). (Motion carried.)
- VCU RTR MOU: The board approved a memorandum of understanding renewing a Grow Your Own partnership with Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU RTR). (Motion carried.)
- Food service management contract award: The board approved the food service management contract award to Tahir Inc. for the 2025-26 year at $629,033.35; VDOE approved the award with conditions (see separate coverage). (Motion carried.)
- Polling-place MOU: The board approved an MOU with the Petersburg City Electoral Board to designate Lakemont Elementary (multipurpose space) as the polling place for Ward 1 starting with the November election, citing accessibility and parking concerns at the prior location. (Motion carried.)
- Overnight field trips: The board approved multiple overnight field trips for Petersburg High School students and related camps (Virginia Tech Imagination Camp, James Madison girls's basketball camp, GEAR UP camps at Virginia State University and University of Mary Washington, UMW STEM camp, a boys basketball event in October in Las Vegas, and a Washington, D.C., event for the live basketball event). (Motion carried.)
- Juneteenth proclamation: The board adopted a proclamation recognizing June 19, 2025, as Juneteenth in Petersburg and called for education and reflection about the day's significance. (Motion carried.)
- Consent agenda: The board approved the consent agenda, which included the final personnel agenda dated June 4, 2025, board minutes and division donations. (Motion carried.)
Most motions were moved and carried by voice vote with "Aye" from board members; roll call earlier in the meeting recorded seven board members present. Staff said the full documentation for grants and contracts will be retained and provided to the board as required by state law.
Ending: Board members asked that staff return with implementation details and timelines for several items, including the food service contract, textbook rollout and hiring for the turnaround principal position.
