Board approves meeting cancellations, moves fee schedule and appoints grievance hearing officers

The Hampton City School Board on March 18 moved several deliberation items into action and approved a block of action items covering meeting cancellations, the proposed student fee schedule and new hearing officers.

Board member Ms. Afonja moved that Items 6.01 (cancellation of the April 15 meeting), 6.03 (the superintendent's recommended budget) and 6.04 (proposed student fee schedule) be moved from deliberation to action; a friendly amendment to include the fee schedule was accepted and the motion carried on a roll-call voice vote with ayes recorded from all present. Ms. Penny called the roll for the vote.

Separately, the board moved Item 6.07 (naming of two grievance hearing officers) to action after Director of Resources (identified in the transcript as Ms. Robins Ruth) introduced two candidates: Edward L. Joans, a retired educator who served in Virginia Beach Schools, and Dr. Victor Shorthandor, described as a recently retired superintendent for York County Public Schools. The board approved Items 7.02'7.05 as a block (minutes of March 11, meeting cancellations, the proposed FY2026-27 student fee schedule and appointment of new grievance hearing officers) by roll call; ayes were recorded from all members present.

Why it matters: The votes set the board's immediate schedule, advanced the budget and fee schedule for formal action, and filled hearing-officer roles that the division expects to use for grievance proceedings or appeals. The items were approved without recorded dissent.