After hours of discussion that spanned several meetings, the Virginia Beach School Board decided it wants to use excess funding on division needs rather than helping the city design and build a cross-country trail.
The debate hinged on whether allocating the $3 million to the trail would help build goodwill with the City Council, which approves the division’s budget, or if it should focus on a long list of one-time expenses.
It voted 9-1 at its Tuesday meeting to use the money on several of those projects instead. Vice Chair Carolyn Weems was not at the meeting. Member Michael Callan voted against it.
The board allocated $1.8 million for installing an HVAC system in a school cafeteria, $250,000 for accessible playground equipment, $300,000 for new buses and $650,000 for a staff wellness day.
“It's kind of awkward for me to think that I would be dishonorable to any city council member by choosing these recommendations over track and field,” said member Rose Dwyer. “I'm going to go with, with what I feel and what I'm convicted by, and these needs to me are more important.”
The money is part of $5.8 million that was added to the “school reserve special revenue fund” in the 2024-2025 fiscal year. Every year, the board creates a budget that the city council approves. As part of the revenue-sharing formula between the two, excess or deficit in revenue is “shored up” at the end of the fiscal year.
The board originally wanted to use the money to beef up its health insurance fund. That request was denied unless that fund is depleted, Superintendent Donald Robertson previously told the board.
Instead, staff recommended at the Sept. 22 board meeting to use $2.8 million for a new human resources system. The remaining – at the request of Virginia Beach City Manager Patrick Duhaney – could be used for the cross-country trail within the city’s Interfacility Traffic Area, or ITA.
Several board members were hesitant to agree, citing the division’s needs. During public comment, a few teachers also questioned spending the money on the city’s project.
“We need that money in our school district,” teacher Riley Goldsmith said. “Let's show the voters what they want to see and demonstrate that we have a spine, that we're willing to say no, and make sure that our students' needs are met before City Council.”
Robertson told the board he understood both sides of the argument but felt “it’s likely in our benefit to play ball” with City Council.
“I would not want to win a battle to lose a war,” he said.
In addition to the 2024-2025 funding, the board voted unanimously to use more than $45 million in excess funding from last fiscal year. Staff proposed using about $27.2 million for the Princess Anne High replacement, $16 million for next year’s capital improvement plan and another $2 million for the new payroll system.
The decisions head to City Council on Nov. 24, with a public hearing on Dec. 1. Council votes on Dec. 8.
Virginia Beach City Public Schools is a member of the Hampton Roads Educational Telecommunications Association, which holds WHRO’s license.
