Delegate Shelly Simons announces $1.5M for Richneck safety as parents and staff press Newport News School Board on security and discipline

Delegate Shelly Simons told the Newport News School Board that she secured $1,500,000 in the state 'caboose' budget for safety and security renovations at Richneck Elementary, saying the funds supplement statewide education appropriations and teacher pay increases. "We recently found out that we got $1,500,000 in the caboose budget," Simons said.

Multiple public commenters used the meeting’s public‑comment periods to press the division on safety and discipline. Parent Crystal Beauvais said a slate of security measures — including clear backpacks, metal detectors, school IDs and new cell‑phone policies — had not reduced violence and made students feel "like prisoners of a system." She described a confusing incident earlier that morning in which her daughter was told there had been a shooting nearby and that callers had difficulty reaching the school or getting consistent information from officials.

Custodian Marilyn Willis told the board staff have been working overtime without consistent overtime pay and asked whether comp time was an adequate substitute. Paul Crawford, who has previously raised plant‑services pay, again urged clearer, more transparent pay scales and highlighted large disparities in insurance premiums between school employees and city employees.

Teacher and union leaders also spoke. Mary Voss, secretary of the Newport News Education Association, said teachers support continued work on student safety but asked the division to find ways to reduce out‑of‑contract work tied to mandatory literacy training under the Virginia Literacy Act and to consider reinstating a sick‑leave bank to help employees with serious health needs.

Other public comments pressed for changes to discipline and access policies. Jane Martin said a family member was blocked from picking up a special‑needs child under a ban she described as unfair and opaque; she criticized an investigative process that she said did not include interviews with the primary student. "Upholding this ban against Emily is a heartless act and in no way fair," Martin said.

Several speakers urged the board to continue focusing on student safety while preserving students’ dignity. Reverend Michael Burnett said there are "no easy solutions," and called for efforts to "disarm hearts" as well as people. Ron Lee recounted personal experience with mass shootings and urged everyone to think about prevention.

Board members responded with expressions of appreciation for the speakers and a vow to keep safety central. One board member noted the division serves more than 24,000 students and said security must remain a top priority.

At the meeting’s outset the board approved its consent agenda, including minutes and financial and personnel reports, by roll call (motion carried 6‑0). The board then received a separate presentation on curriculum streamlining (see separate article).

What’s next: The board heard public comment on multiple topics and did not announce any immediate policy changes during the meeting. Simons’s $1.5 million allocation for Richneck Elementary was presented as new state funding to the board.