Parents urge changes on testing access, cyberbullying response and K255 internet restrictions

The Chesapeake School Board heard three public-comment speakers raising separate issues: testing and parental access to student work, off-campus cyberbullying targeting a Deep Creek High student, and a call for stricter K255 internet-use rules.

Helen Vanderbilt, a retired Chesapeake public schools teacher and Chesapeake resident, urged changes to high-school testing policies and described a specific case in which parents were denied the ability to view their child's test and then informed the student was removed from a STEM academy because of course performance. Vanderbilt said the parents contacted the superintendent and were told they could present their complaint to the board. She told the board: "Give students the time they need to properly finish their tests." Vanderbilt said parents need access to tests to identify where students struggle.

Lyle Reynolds, a Chesapeake resident, described a discord server used by Deep Creek High students to post threats, hateful slurs and false rumors about his daughter. He said he preserved screenshots and timestamps and that school staff classified the incident as "peer conflict" rather than bullying. Citing Virginia law and district policy, Reynolds urged a comprehensive investigation under Chesapeake Public Schools' bullying and harassment policies, immediate involvement of the school resource officer regarding threats of violence, and the creation of a written safety plan. He told the board the communications caused his daughter significant emotional distress and that he had not been provided a written safety plan.

Rocky Meadows Jones, a Chesapeake parent of multiple district students, urged the board to adopt a K255-specific internet policy that would restrict searching on platforms such as YouTube and limit devices to school-related material only. Jones said the current user-access policy is too broad for elementary students and places the burden of monitoring inappropriate content on teachers. He said he has started a petition and asked the district to work with parents on a school-specific approach for younger students.

Board practice: the board chair reminded speakers that the meeting's practice is to receive public comment, not to engage in dialogue during the session, and said a superintendent's staff member would evaluate concerns and provide a response if appropriate.

No formal actions were taken at this meeting on the matters raised during public comments; staff were expected to follow up where appropriate.