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Norfolk School Board Delays Vote on School Consolidation Plan

News Summary

The Norfolk School Board has postponed a vote on a controversial school consolidation plan amid significant community opposition. Nearly 30 residents expressed concerns about the proposal, which includes closing nine schools. A special meeting is scheduled for September 29 to revisit the topic. Critics, including board member Ken Paulson, argue that the extension is unnecessary, while supporters have called for clarity on the future of specific schools. As the district faces declining enrollment and urgent infrastructure needs, the pressure mounts on the School Board to address these critical issues.

Norfolk, Virginia – The Norfolk School Board voted 6-1 on September 23 to delay a vote on a contentious school consolidation plan, responding to significant community backlash regarding the proposal. A special meeting to reconsider the vote has been scheduled for September 29 at 5 p.m.

During the recent meeting, over 30 community members voiced their concerns, with more than 20 speakers explicitly opposing the plan, which entails the closure of nine schools in the district. Board member Ken Paulson was the sole dissenting voice against the delay, arguing that extending the timeline was unnecessary.

The consolidation plan, which was introduced on September 10 by board members Tanya Bhasin and Jason Inge, has faced criticism for its last-minute nature. Community members raised various issues, particularly regarding the proposed repurposing of St. Helena Elementary School, which may merge with the Berkley-Campostella Early Childhood Center as part of the plan.

Supporters of Ghent School called for its continued operation while advocates for Maury High School proposed relocating the Ghent program to accommodate larger athletic fields. In addition, there was consideration of replacing Ghent School with a 4,000-seat football stadium; however, a proposal for this project was previously rejected by the Norfolk City Council in August.

The backdrop of this controversy is a notable decline in student enrollment within Norfolk schools, which are facing over $900 million in repair needs. Of this amount, consultants have identified $145 million as urgent. The need for consolidation became more pressing when, in March, the Norfolk City Council directed the School Board to plan for the closure of at least 10 schools.

City Council member and Granby High School principal Tommy Smigiel has emphasized the urgency for the School Board to create a plan that outlines a clear timeline for these closures. The School Board’s previous proposals have only indicated specific closure dates for two of the planned nine school closures.

Smigiel also expressed concerns that the City Council may dictate the allocation of city funding for the school system if a timely and appropriate plan is not established. The consolidation plan originally included specific repurposing initiatives, such as transforming Lake Taylor High School into a full career and technical education center, converting Chesterfield Academy into a SECEP center, and repurposing Lindenwood Elementary into a professional development facility for the school district.

The schedule for school closures indicates that the Willoughby Early Childhood Center and Berkley-Campostella Early Childhood Center are planned for closure at the end of the current school year, with additional closures expected to follow a redistricting process in the 2026-27 school year. The timeline for closing schools such as Tarrallton, Granby, P.B. Young, and Norview is projected to occur between the 2027 and 2031 school years, with the remaining schools anticipated to close before the 2034 school year.

As community members await the upcoming special meeting, the School Board faces mounting pressure to address the critical issues surrounding school enrollment, infrastructure needs, and the potential impact on students and families throughout the Norfolk area.

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Author: STAFF HERE LOS ANGELES WRITER

LOS ANGELES STAFF WRITER The LOS ANGELES STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HERELosAngeles.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, and beyond, specializing in "news you can use" with coverage of product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates, while delivering top reporting on high-value events like the Academy Awards, LA Auto Show, and Los Angeles Marathon, extending coverage to key organizations such as the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce and the Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board, plus leading businesses in entertainment and technology like Warner Bros. and SpaceX, and as part of the broader HERE network including HEREAnaheim.com , HERECostaMesa.com , HEREHuntingtonBeach.com , and HERESantaAna.com , providing comprehensive, credible insights into Southern California's dynamic landscape. HERE Anaheim HERE Beverly Hills HERE Coronado HERE Costa Mesa HERE Hollywood HERE Huntington Beach HERE Long Beach HERE Los Angeles HERE Mission Viejo HERE San Diego HERE Santa Ana