VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) – The Virginia Beach NAACP is hosting an education town hall Monday night with the Virginia Beach superintendent and members of the school board in attendance.
This comes a little less than a week after the chapter president expressed concern for the board’s decision to keep its suspension on diversity, equity, and inclusion.
A Facebook post states the event will be a crucial town hall and an opportunity for you to ask questions, share concerns and advocate for equitable education.
“So this is just a starting point. So we hope that they walk away feeling confident that they can speak to the school board superintendent,” said Georgia F. Allen, first VP of Virginia Beach NAACP.
The VB chapter is hosting the town hall at Poolside Cooking Cafe, located at 3877 Holland Road, because they say it’s a neutral ground for everyone.
“The objective is for the community to have a place where they can feel calm and that they may feel safer than in a government environment, going to school board, going to council, or meeting. They’re in someone else’s environment,” said Allen.
The Virginia Beach superintendent and school board members will get the chance to speak directly with community members during the town hall.
“It’s a local business, and it’s a place where people can feel very comfortable, regardless of what your background is or whether or not you feel that you are a person that can speak before the school board or city council or before the superintendent,” said Allen.
Last Wednesday, the school board voted to move forward with its initial vote to keep the suspension of DEI initiatives; it has continued to divide staffers, students, and parents.
Allen said tonight, anything is on the table, adding that topics could range from SOLs to DEI to even the budget.
“I hope that the questions get answered” Maybe they don’t get all the answers that they want, but they have an open and honest dialog, and they feel confident that this school superintendent is being open and transparent with them,” said Allen.
The VB chapter of the NAACP said it scheduled this town hall more than three weeks ago and wants to make this a regular thing for the community.
The education town hall is tonight at 6 p.m. at Poolside Cooking Cafe off Holland Road in Virginia Beach.