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Board votes to seek joint meeting with City Council after SAO proffer fails

Suffolk City School Board (Suffolk Public Schools) · April 17, 2026

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Summary

Following a City Council denial of a Riverbend rezoning that had included a potential VDOT building for a new school administrative office (SAO), the board discussed two near‑term SAO options and voted to request a joint meeting with the council to pursue solutions and convert liabilities into assets.

Board member Riddick asked the board to address the district’s ongoing SAO (school administrative office) facility problem after a City Council vote rejected a Riverbend rezoning that had included a noncash proffer of a VDOT building the board had hoped could serve as a new SAO.

Superintendent Dr. Gordon outlined two realistic near‑term options given the board’s lease timeline (current lease expires 12/31/2028): reuse of an HR building behind City Hall with prior RRMM design work (~39,000 sq ft), or constructing a roughly 40,000‑sq‑ft two‑story addition attached to the operations center (the operations center currently holds food services, print shop, and communications). He noted typical design and construction durations would run about 33 months combined, putting the district at the deadline for moving before lease expiry.

Board members described the current professional building as overcrowded and in disrepair and cited lease costs of roughly $500,000 per year. Several members suggested exploring repurposing existing city‑owned properties, vacant warehouses, or historic buildings that might be acquired or rehabilitated with alternative financing strategies. Riddick proposed a substantive, full board joint meeting with City Council (not a brief update) focused on a strategic plan to convert liabilities (leases, maintenance centers) into district assets.

The board voted unanimously to request a joint meeting with the Suffolk City Council to discuss the SAO location and a strategic plan to address district liabilities and facilities. Superintendent Gordon and the board indicated the joint session should explore financing options, feasibility, and timelines so the district can meet its lease deadline or secure an interim plan.