001I never got a response. Good afternoon. My name is Kathleen Brown, chair of the Virginia Beach School Board, and I call this informal administrative and workshop session to order at 4:30 p.m. on this 14th day of 2026. Madame Clerk, would you please announce the role? Thank you, Madam Chair. Present in the schoolboard chamber are Chair Brown, Vice Chair Williams, Mr. Ken, Mr. Mr. Co Pepper, Mr. Cummings, Miss Felton, Dr. Green, and Miss Rogers. Thank you. We are now on to the admit school board administrative matters and reports. Do any board members have anything to report? Miss Rogers, I'd like to take the opportunity to acknowledge the following recognitions and celebrations within our community. In the month of April, the community will recognize the following. ArabAmerican Heritage Month, which recognizes the history, culture, and achievements of
002ArabAmericans in the United States. Initiated in 2017, it is marked by events, education programs, and proclamations nationwide. Autism Awareness Month, which it was designated to increase understanding, foster inclusion, and celebrate the strength of autistic individuals. It features light it up blue campaigns, educational initiatives, and fundraising for research and support services. Celebrating diversity month, which it begin began in 2020 2004, honors the world's diverse cultures, backgrounds, and traditions. It encourages differences in I'm sorry, recognizes differences in race, gender, faith, and ability while fostering empathy and inclusion. Initiatives include workplace diversity training, supporting minority owned businesses, and learning from diverse perspectives. Earth month, which is a month-long global effort to raise awareness about environmental issues, promote stability, and take action to pro protect the planet. It features community cleanups, educational cleanups, educational initiatives, and ecofriendly campaigns. National
003Child Abuse Prevention Month, which is dedicated to raising awareness, strengthening families, and preventing child malreatment through community action. And month of the military child, which highlights the crucial role of military youth play in our community. Established in 1986, the observance celebrates the resilience, service, and sacrifice of children in all military branches, including purple updates. Virginia Beach will celebrate their purple update tomorrow. and I am celebrating early. On April 1st, the community began its celebration of Passover, which is a spring festival celebrating the Exodus of the ancient Israelites from slavery in Egypt. On April 2nd, the community recognized World Autism Day, which recognizes the rights, dignity, and contributions of individuals with autism worldwide, focusing on fostering acceptance and supporting neuroinclusive environments. On April 3rd, the community recognized Good Friday, which is a period of reflection and
004recognized through fasting, prayer, services, and processions. It often focuses on the hours between noon and 3 p.m. to designate the time of death of Jesus at Calvary. On April 5th, the community celebrated Easter, which celebrates the resurrection and symbolizes hope and victory. Traditions include egg decorating and hunts, religious services, family feasts, and the ever popular Easter Bunny. And finally, on April 22nd, the community will celebrate Earth Day, which focuses on environmental protections through activities like planting trees, beach cleanups, educational workshops, and recycling initiatives to protect our planet. Right. Thank you. And I don't see any other board members with anything to report right now. So, we are now on to our budget presentation, state budget. And we welcome Crystal Pate, chief financial officer. So, good afternoon, Chairwoman Brown, Vice Chairwoman Wing, schoolboard members, and Dr.
005Robertson. This presentation is intended to provide an update on the status of the state budget and outline potential uses for any additional state funding. This afternoon's agenda is outlined on the slide. We'll begin with a general assembly update. Next, I will share administration's recommendations regarding the potential use of additional state funds. From there, we will review other considerations, discuss next steps, and conclude by opening the floor for questions. At this time, the state budget has not yet been finalized, while preliminary proposals include funding for K through2 priorities such as compensation, literacy initiatives, and support for atrisisk students. Final allocations remain uncertain pending action by the general assembly. For now, we are planning based on estimates with the understanding that changes may occur once the budget is adopted. April 13th marked the deadline for the governor
006to act on legislation from the regular session. The general assembly is scheduled to reconvene for a special sum a special session on April 23rd where we remain optimistic that a budget will be adopted. And while many education policy bills were passed during the regular session, funding for these bills remains uncertain and is contingent upon the pending state budget. A key point of contention is the issue of tax credits for data centers. The Senate has proposed ending or accelerating the phase out of these tax exemptions to help fund budget priorities, including public education, potentially generating up to a billion dollars in revenue. In contrast, the House supports honor honoring the original agreement and continuing the tax exemptions through the initial period. In the absence of Yeah. In the absence of a finalized state budget, the administration
007is representing several recommendations for the void's consideration. PIGO continuation of services currently funded by the all-in grant which expires June 30th, 2026. These funds support the Virginia Literacy Act, tutoring initiatives, and efforts to address chronic absenteeism, human resources priorities, including increasing employee professional development reimbursement, updating part-time pay rates, and aligning educational allowances with neighboring divisions and additional contributions to the health fund balance to strengthen financial reserve. This slide outlines these priorities along with their proposed allocation of additional funds and their alignment with the SEO. To provide additional context on the all-in grant funding for fiscal year 2026, the budget for chronic absenteeism initiatives is approximately $700,000. For high impact tutoring, it is approximately $5 million. And for the Virginia Literacy Act, the budget is approximately $1.2 million. This slide highlights human resources priorities in order
008of importance. Number one is to increase employee professional development reimbursement at a cost of 214,000. Number two is to update part-time employee rates at a cost of approximately 3.3 million. And number three is a line of educational allowances with neighboring divisions at a cost of approximately 1.9 million. And number four is to increase additional duty supplements at a cost of $300,000 of approximately 300,000. The top priority is increasing the annual professional development reimbursement from $1,000 to $2,000 per employee. This adjustment reflects rising higher education cost and supports lensure renewal, advanced certifications, and ongoing professional growth. It also serves as a valuable retention tool. Part-time employee pay rates have not been updated since the 2021 2022 school year. This recommendation proposes a 10% increase across all part-time categories to restore competitiveness. It also addresses substitute pay
009rates which currently lag behind neighboring divisions. Updating these rates will improve the division's ability to fill staffing gaps and maintain classroom coverage. The third priority focuses on increasing educational allowances based on advancement degree attainment. Current educational allowances are below those offered by NOFK and Chesapeake. Enhancing these initiatives supports recruitment and retention particularly as 90.5% of recipients are teachers who hold advanced degrees. The final human resources priority is a proposed 10% increase in additional duty supplements. These supplements compensate for roles such as department chairs and non-athletic sponsors including academic clubs, student activities, and academic competitions. Additional considerations for the board include the continued alignment of steps 1 through 14 on the unified pay scale, increasing teacher entry level starting pay to remain competitive as some neighboring divisions currently offer higher entry-level pay and may also dedicate
010additional state funding to their teacher pay scale. monitoring potential shifts of grant-f funed positions to the operating budget as rising cost and relatively flat federal funding have reduced purchasing power increasing reliance on the operating budget. As we approach the conclusion of the budget process, the following next steps are anticipated. Again, April 23rd, the general assembly reconvenes for a special session and then May 12th, the city council is scheduled to approve the budget which inclusive of our budget. Depending on state budget developments, a future budget workshop may be necessary. Additionally, the board may need to take formal action to amend the budget based on new funding allocations. So, thank you for your time this evening. This concludes the presentation. I'll be happy to answer any questions. Miss Rogers. Hi. Yes. Um um I have a quick
011question on other considerations and maybe this is not sure who this is for Dr. Robertson or for you, Miss Pate. the increasing teacher entry level starting pay, how will that affect our um pay scales? Like I my concern is that we are going to then bring up in you know um entry level teachers to or further than some of our step two step 3es. Yeah. So if we increase entry level fee entry level pay would roll through the entire um Okay. That's what I wanted to make sure because this just says entry level and I want to make sure we're not just increasing that but we would roll it through. Yes. Okay. Perfect. Thank you. So I think this is kind of all depending on what happens with the state but I do think um
012the employee professional development reimbursement looks very attainable. Um and I I understand the list of priorities, but you know, one of those is the the one and number two is significantly more cost. So, um I would love to hear from HR, you know, either now or at some point. Um you know, whether or not if funds were to only allow for one and three, whether or not that would be something you would be open to. uh considering the the answer for the community that's listening was yes. Okay, please. Um yes, thank you. On the um high impact tutoring, can you or maybe it's somewhere over here. Um, can you just let us know exactly what that is, who it's for, how it's done, just kind of we're really accelerating high impact tutoring coming in the
013next few weeks is where you're heading into the testing season. It's typically for our students that are struggling either variety of core content areas in elementary school, particularly math and English or or reading. Um, you'll hear a little more tonight when I talk about uh the presentation on all student achievement data and how we're going to finish the year strong. We utilize a lot of that money for before and after school tutoring. Um, we do have staff that can get paid for that tutoring as well if they do it after hours. Um, it's designed for our students that need gaps are showing they need the greatest level of assistance. Um, I hope that answers your question. I'll give you a little more details in terms of time, but yeah. Um, do you know how many
014tutors that we I mean that we have ballpark figure? I don't have ballpark. I will share with you. We do have an all-in Virginia update coming in and I'll get that information prior to but we're going to give a deep dive into where we are with our tutoring money in the next I think it's May 12th's presentation the board but I'll get that information to you earlier than that to your question. Uh, this is really the time we accelerated post spring break. So that number would have looked a little bit different maybe pre-sp spring break we've really started looking at how we're allocating those funds uh as well. So I'll get you that information. Okay. Thank you. Okay. I don't see any further questions at this time. Thank you. Um Vice Chair Williams, will you
015read us into close session? I move that the school board recess into close session in accordance with exceptions to open meetings law set forth in code of Virginia 2.2-3711 part A paragraphs 3 7 and 8 as amended to deliberate on the following matters. Three, discussion or consideration of the acquisition of real property for a public purpose or of the disposition of publicly held real property where discussion in an open meeting would adversely affect the bargaining position or negotiating strategy of the public body. Seven, consultation with legal counsel on briefings by staff members or consultants pertaining to actual or probable litigation where such consultation or briefing at open meetings would adversely affect the negotiating or litigating posture of the public body. For the purposes of this subdivision, probable litigation means litigation has been specifically threatened or
016on which the public body or its legal council has a reasonable basis to believe will be commenced by or against a known party. Nothing in this subdivision should be construed to permit the closure of a meeting merely because an attorney representing the public body is in attendance or is consulted on a matter. Eight. Consultation with legal council employee or retained by a public body regarding specific legal matters requiring the vid provision of legal advice by such counsel. Nothing in this subdivision shall be construed to permit the closure of meeting of a meeting merely because an attorney representing the public body or in is in attendance or is consulted on a matter namely to discuss a status of pending litigation or administrative cases. B Jericho road property term sheet discussion C consultation with legal counsel regarding
017probable litigation and pending litigation matters. Okay. Motion made by vice chains, seconded by Miss Wire. Any discussion? Okay, hang on. We can't vote right now. Okay. Right. That I call for the vote to go into close session. So, Madam Chair, we have eight eyes. the motion to pass to go into close session. Thank you. Whereas the school board of the city, Virginia Beach has convened a closed meeting on this date pursuant to an affirmative recorded vote and in accordance with the provisions of the Virginia Freedom of Information Act. And whereas section 2.2-3712D 2-3712D of the code of Virginia requires a certification by the school board that such closed meeting was conducted in conformity with Virginia law. Now therefore, be it resolved that the school board of the city of Virginia Beach hereby hereby certifies that
018to the best of each member's knowledge only public business matters lawfully exempted from open meeting requirements by Virginia law were discussed in the closed meeting to which the certification applies and only such public business matters as were identified in the motion by which the closed meeting was convened were heard, discussed or considered. Okay. Is there a motion to certify close session? Motion made by Mr. Cummings, seconded by Miss Rogers. Any discussion? Seeing none, I call for the vote to certify close session. So, Madam Chair, we have nine eyes. The motion did pass for certification of close session. Thank you. So, it is 5:31 p.m. And we are going to recess and return at 6