Elect Norfolk school board? Oh, yeah!

Local, Norfolk, Politics 1 Minute

I have a friend who serves on Virginia Beach’s school board. Whenever I have the chance to introduce her to Norfolk officials, I always do so by mentioning the fact that she is a member of Virginia Beach’s elected school board. It is a pet peeve of mine that Norfolk continues to have an appointed school board while so many other cities have gone to elected ones.

Monday’s Virginian Pilot featured a letter to the editor from Maurice R. Berube, who, according to the Pilot, is “eminent scholar emeritus of education at ODU and author of 12 books on educational policy.” In other words, an education expert. He says:

NORFOLK IS THE LAST MAJOR CITY in the United States that has school boards appointed by city government. This situation does not speak well for Norfolk’s governing elite. One suspects that the city’s reluctance to move to elected school boards is part racial and part class discrimination.

Talk about hitting the nail on the head! It has been a long time since the citizens of Norfolk mounted a failed petition drive to elect its school board. At the time, back in 1995, the Pilot editorial board weighed in on the matter, advocating a continuance of the current policy, but saying this:

Some critics of the status quo think the appointive process hasn’t been public enough. But it ought to be easy enough to make potential appointees available for public scrutiny before a final decision is made – at community forums or town meetings, for instance.

Hmm – well, that hasn’t happened.

It’s been a long time since other localities in the region have adopted elected school boards. We have the evidence that in doing so, the fears in the Pilot’s opinion have not been realized. Norfolk citizens deserve the opportunity to weigh in directly on the school board.

Published

3 thoughts on “Elect Norfolk school board? Oh, yeah!”

  1. Maybe this year city council race might be different when some candidates talk about real issues for real people, as they say for a Change.

  2. Vivian,

    Hope all is well. I probably should not respond to this issue but I want to speak up because I think it’s needed. First I will say that our civic organizations need folks, who elected or appointed, desire to serve! They serve a greater cause and greater community not just their own desires or even always exactly the desires of those that may have appointed or voted them in! I would be fervently be against anyone, elected or appointed, that would serve on our school board for some political or personal gain. We don’t have time for that! I know elected boards in other states that are no more effective than we are in their collective efforts. As an appointed Board member, I still believe that the citizens of Norfolk have the same opportunity to weigh in our what happens in our schools. My cellphone number and personal email are published on the schools website. I spoke last night at the Lindenwood/Baraud Park civic league. Other board members have done the same with other civic organizations.I’ve been cornered by frustrated parents and even teachers….sincerely, it’s all good because that’s what I get $100 per month for a a board member. Bottomline to me is that it may not make much difference, elected or appointed. Servant leadership is the key! As I was told by one of my many “mothers” in community, “serve and serve well.”

    I wish folks would take the time to come out and see some of the discussions and advocacy that we do for all of our kids. We do not operate in some self selected vacuum. I believe we are responsive to those that choose to interact with us. We fervently seek to hold ourselves, our administration, teachers and students accountable.(This is where the solutions to our complex issues lie – in all of us) Every school system in our country is challenged with similar challenges today. So I probably said enough and could go on. I wish folks seek to interact more with the organizations that they are most concerned with vice standing afar and throwing rocks (thoug they have a right to do so). Thats why I don’t mind getting the numerous emails or calls from parents at night because elected, appointed or whatever, we are public and servant leaders. Thanks for the opportunity to comment here. Take care.

    Billy Cook
    589-4650 :0)

    Billy Cook

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