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Educators, parents and advocates urge Norfolk to let voters decide on 1% school-construction tax
Summary
Several educators, parent advocates and school‑union leaders told the Norfolk City Council the proposed 1% sales tax would create a dedicated, legally restricted fund for school construction and modernization and urged council to place the question on the ballot.
Speakers representing educators, parents and local advocacy groups told the council that a dedicated funding stream is necessary to modernize aging school facilities and support students.
Vicky Manugo Greco, an NPS graduate and former special educator, said the coalition she helped found has pushed for sustainable school investments for 15 years and urged passage of resolution R‑1 so voters can decide. "How good are the schools?" she asked, saying quality schools attract families and businesses.
James Parker, president of the Education Association of Norfolk, and Patrick Berry, the association's vice president, urged council to let voters decide. Berry emphasized legal limits on use of proceeds: "State law also limits these funds to capital projects. They cannot be used for any other purpose." Several speakers said a sales tax spreads responsibility among residents, workers and visitors rather than relying solely on homeowners.
Philip Hawkins Jr., an assistant principal and 29‑year educator, said he supports letting voters decide but encouraged the council to also consider reinvesting funds from closed schools and other existing streams as alternatives.
The comments represented a coordinated push from educators and school advocates to move the referendum forward to the ballot.
