NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — The Norfolk School Board has its hands full after City Council called for a plan within the next five months to close 10 schools.
Board members gathered for a work session Wednesday night, and it was business as usual.
The board heard presentations on topics such as test scores, textbook recommendations and more.
Norfolk Public Schools officials say more about the school closings and consolidations will come later, and community members are eager to learn more.
“My initial reaction was definitely surprised, because that seems like a lot of building closures and consolidations, especially given the timeline that they are looking at,” said retired Hampton Roads teacher Paige Stanley.
Council gave the board an Aug. 1 deadline to have a list of schools in the school division to be closed. The reason? Money — that combined with the need to cut costs. Members were briefed on recommendations such as buying new textbooks, but even that purchase came with a lot of discussion.
“I see a disconnect between what goes on in the classroom and the money that we’re spending on textbooks,” said Norfolk Public School Board Chairwoman Sarah DiCalogero.
With the more than $200 million Maury High School project, city officials believe spending has to be cut somewhere. Norfolk residents and parents, just wish it didn’t involve possibly shuttering schools.
“It’s a very quick and an aggressive timeline, so I hope that they can come to a happy medium so that everybody gets what they need,” said Norfolk resident Mark Luck.
The board hopes to have much more insight at its April 23 school board meeting.
“It’s gonna be disruptive for the teachers as well because they’re going to have to change buildings, learn the new building, learn the new admins,” Stanley said, “and maybe some teachers won’t have positions either if they are consolidating that much.”