Suffolk school board upholds two long-term student suspensions following closed session
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Summary
After a closed-session review, the Suffolk City School Board voted Nov. 13 to uphold recommendations in two student-discipline appeals involving a Macbenn Junior Elementary student and a Lakeland High School student. One board member abstained on each vote.
The Suffolk City School Board on Nov. 13 voted to uphold recommendations from a closed session in two long-term student-discipline appeals.
Board Member Bradenham moved to uphold student appeal 2025/26-3SA; Board Member Jenkins seconded. During roll call, all voting members recorded yes except for Board Member Riddick, who abstained; the motion passed. The board later heard a second motion to uphold student appeal 2025/26-4SA; that motion also passed with an abstention recorded for Riddick.
The motions followed the board's decision earlier in the meeting to enter a closed session specifically to consider these matters under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act exceptions for student scholastic records. The board certified the closed meeting after reconvening, with a recorded resolution stating that only lawfully exempted matters identified in the motion were discussed.
Board records provided at the meeting listed the matters by appeal number but did not disclose the disciplinary details in open session because the discussion involved confidential scholastic records as allowed by state law. The board chair read the statutory certification language before taking the public votes.
The board did not provide additional public comment or detail about the underlying incidents during the open meeting. No further appeals or next steps were announced during the session; the board's actions were recorded in the official minutes.