Several Hampton Roads divisions will close schools to students for the April 21 special election because some schools are also polling stations.
It’s normal for students to be out on Election Days but the redistricting referendum put a wrinkle in school calendars this spring.
Divisions are taking different approaches to how – or whether – instruction happens that day.
The Chesapeake School Board unanimously approved an asynchronous remote learning day.
Superintendent Jared Cotton requested it, noting that 17 schools are polling locations and concerns about student safety. Election Days are normally teacher work days without students on campus.
“And given the number of impacted sites and the heightened safety considerations, a similar approach is warranted in this case,” Cotton said during a board meeting last week.
April 21 is a virtual asynchronous learning day for students in Newport News, which announced the decision late last week.
Williamsburg-James City County schools staff will be on-site, but students will have an asynchronous remote learning day, according to Kara Wall, a division spokesperson.
Thirteen of 16 schools in the division serve as polling locations.
Norfolk will close schools to students and not have a virtual day, according to Tiffany Whitfield, a division spokesperson.
“In today’s broader national climate and given the unique role our region plays, we believe this is a thoughtful and proactive step to minimize potential disruptions while maintaining a stable and supportive school environment,” Norfolk schools said in a statement.
Virginia Beach, where 58 schools are voting locations, will also close schools, with no remote teaching.
Thomas Shattuck, the division’s director of security and emergency management, told the School Board last week that police, emergency management and elections officials agree there are safety concerns with so many locations.
The board backed a recommendation to add 10 minutes at the end of the day from April 13 through June 8 to make up for lost learning time.
On March 31, Hampton schools announced April 21 will be a student holiday using the division's final banked instructional day and students will not report to school. The city has 23 schools that serve as polling locations.
On April 1, Portsmouth and Suffolk schools announced schedule changes because of the special election.
April 21 will be a teacher workday in Portsmouth with no school for students.
Suffolk will have a staff and student holiday that day, pending approval by the School Board.
School divisions in this story are members of the Hampton Roads Educational Telecommunications Association, which holds WHRO’s license.
