Latest news with #NorfolkCityCouncil
Yahoo
09-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Norfolk School Board releases list of proposed school closures ahead of public sessions
NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — Norfolk residents are now getting a better picture of plans for the city's School Board to consolidate and close a number of public schools in the school division. 10 On Your Side first learned of the plans near the end of March. Then, Norfolk City Council gave the school board just five months to develop a list of schools to close and consolidate, with closures expected to begin by August 2026. Norfolk council calls for School Board to close and consolidate 10 schools City Council said they asked School Board members to make the changes in response to declining enrollment in the city, specifically with elementary-aged students. Now, a list of facilities that could be impacted, based on recommendations from school officials, has been released to the public. The preliminary consolidation, renovation and rebuild plan spans from 2026-2033, and includes 10 closures, one renovation, three rebuilds and five repurposes. The preliminary list of schools recommended for closure are: Berkley Campostella Early Childhood Education Center Ghent School Granby Elementary School Lindenwood Elementary School Norfolk Technical Center Norview Elementary School P.B. Young Sr. Elementary School Tarrallton Elementary School The Southeastern Cooperative Educational Programs Center Willoughby Early Childhood Center Norfolk School Board launches committee to help decide which schools to close Five schools — Monroe, Oceanair, St. Helena and Chesterfield elementary schools, along with Lake Taylor High School — would be repurposed as part of the plan to help students who are a part of the closed schools and programs. The consultant also recommended rebuilding Maury High School along with Suburban Park and Jacox elementary schools. The School Board approved an initial design to rebuild Maury earlier this year. Norfolk School Board approves initial design for Maury HS Sewells Point Elementary School would be renovated under the preliminary plan. The full proposal, including the 10 closures and potential timeline, can be found below: Two community engagement sessions, also called the 'right-sizing sessions,' are expected to be held Thursday, when residents will be able to learn more about the plans and provide feedback. Norfolk Public Schools holding community engagement sessions to discuss 'right-sizing' initiative The first meeting will take place from 1 to 3 p.m. Thursday at Booker T. Washington School, followed by a second meeting at Granby High School from 5-7 p.m., also Thursday. More information on the proposal, including background information, survey results and next steps can be read in full below: June_CDDownload The proposal states too many Norfolk classrooms are sitting half-empty, mostly due to declining enrollment since 2015 at the elementary level. According to the proposal, 'declines are projected to continue in the coming years due to city population trend and division enrollment history.' So instead of paying to keep what the proposal labels as unused space open, the plan aims to reinvest that money into newer facilities for students For generations, Lindenwood Elementary has been a pillar for one Norfolk community, and it is one of 10 campuses that Norfolk Public Schools may shut down as part of a sweeping consolidation plan. Under the plan, Lindenwood students would move to Willard Elementary, which has a newer roof and HVAC system – but for many, this is about more than distance—it's about loss. Continue to check for updates. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Maritime festival, a supercharged Harborfest, planned in Norfolk for America's 250th birthday
NORFOLK — Surrounded by tugboats blaring their horns, sprays of water and the tall ship American Rover, Gov. Glenn Youngkin on Friday kicked off a one-year countdown to a massive maritime festival. During a news conference at the Waterside dock, Youngkin and city and state officials announced plans for the Sail250 festival to celebrate the United States' 250th anniversary. Addressing the City Council this week, Karen Scherberger, Sail250 executive director, described the event as a supercharged version of Norfolk's annual Harborfest festival. Scheduled for the Juneteenth weekend in 2026, it will feature more than 60 tall ships and military vessels from at least 20 countries that are expected to dock in Norfolk as the city and country celebrates the United States' sesquicentennial. Youngkin highlighted Virginia's historic role in American independence during his remarks Friday, noting iconic Revolutionary War scenes in Virginia such as Hanover County's Patrick Henry proclaiming, 'Give me liberty, or give me death.' 'America was really founded by Virginians,' Youngkin said. 'This story is one that we have to remind ourselves is not just part of our national narrative, but Virginia's.' Events during the weekend will include a June 19 boat parade, fireworks and ship tours, among others. Scherberger said Tuesday that 22 tall ships confirmed they will be at the event, and another 24 have been invited. Scherberger said the last big maritime celebration of this scope was OpSail 2012, when vessels paraded and docked in Norfolk to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the War of 1812. She said the event could draw more than 3 million visitors to Virginia over a 10-day period in 11 cities, as well as $150 million in visitor spending. Alexandria, Cape Charles, Chesapeake, Hampton, Onancock, Portsmouth, Richmond, Smithfield, Virginia Beach and Yorktown also will be participate. Across the country, Sail250 events also are planned for New Orleans, Baltimore, New York and Boston. On Tuesday, after hearing a presentation from Scherberger, Norfolk City Council members debated the logistics of holding the event along with a Juneteenth celebration. Council member Mamie Johnson, who is co-chairing a city planning committee for a celebration in Town Point Park, said she and co-chair Jeremy McGee were navigating how the events could be celebrated at the same time. However, council member John 'JP' Page said he thought mixing Juneteenth celebrations with the maritime event was a horrible idea. Mayor Kenny Alexander said he was concerned Juneteenth would be lost amid the Sail250 celebrations. He hoped members of the Juneteenth committee would sign off on coordinating with the Sail250 event. Trevor Metcalfe, 757-222-5345,
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Maritime festival, a supercharged Harborfest, planned in Norfolk for America's 250th birthday
NORFOLK — Surrounded by tugboats blaring their horns, sprays of water and the tall ship American Rover, Gov. Glenn Youngkin kicked off a one-year countdown to a massive maritime festival on Friday. Youngkin and city and state officials announced plans for the Sail250 festival to celebrate the United States' 250th anniversary during a news conference at the Waterside dock in downtown Norfolk. Addressing the City Council earlier this week, Karen Scherberger, Sail250 executive director, described the event as a supercharged version of Norfolk's annual Harborfest festival. Held during the Juneteenth weekend in 2026, it will feature more than 60 tall ships and military vessels from at least 20 countries that are expected to dock in Norfolk as the city and country celebrates the United States' sesquicentennial. Youngkin highlighted Virginia's historic role in American independence during his remarks Friday, noting iconic Revolutionary War scenes happened in Virginia like when Hanover County's Patrick Henry proclaimed, 'Give me liberty, or give me death.' 'America was really founded by Virginians,' Youngkin said. 'This story is one that we have to remind ourselves is not just part of our national narrative, but Virginia's.' Events during the weekend will include a June 19 boat parade, fireworks and ship tours, among others. Scherberger said Tuesday that 22 tall ships have confirmed they will be at the event, and another 24 have been invited. Scherberger said the last big maritime celebration of this scope was OpSail 2012, when vessels paraded and docked in Norfolk to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the War of 1812. She said the event could draw more than 3 million visitors to Virginia over a 10-day period in 11 cities, as well as $150 million in visitor spending. In addition to Norfolk, Alexandria, Cape Charles, Chesapeake, Hampton, Onancock, Portsmouth, Richmond, Smithfield, Virginia Beach and Yorktown will be participating in the event regionally. Across the country, Sail250 events are also planned for New Orleans, Baltimore, New York and Boston. On Tuesday, after hearing a presentation from Scherberger, Norfolk City Council members debated the logistics of holding the event along with a Juneteenth celebration. Council member Mamie Johnson, who is co-chairing a city planning committee for a celebration in Town Point Park, said she and co-chair Jeremy McGee were navigating how the events could be celebrated at the same time. However, council member John 'JP' Page said he thought mixing Juneteenth celebrations with the maritime event was a horrible idea. Mayor Kenny Alexander said he was concerned Juneteenth would be lost amid the Sail250 celebrations. He hoped members of the Juneteenth committee would sign off on coordinating with the Sail250 event. Trevor Metcalfe, 757-222-5345,
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Norfolk attorneys in turf war over authority to prosecute shoplifting cases
A feud between Norfolk's city attorney and the city's top prosecutor over whose office should handle misdemeanor shoplifting cases has quickly escalated into a political turf war with both sides claiming chief authority. The Norfolk City Council unanimously approved a code change Tuesday that will let the City Attorney's Office prosecute misdemeanor shoplifting cases after Mayor Kenny Alexander complained Commonwealth's Attorney Ramin Fatehi wasn't bringing charges. Fatehi issued a swift rebuke the next day, saying he would revoke the city attorney's authority to prosecute any misdemeanors in Circuit Court and would implement additional oversight of charges pursued in District Court. He painted the move as power grab by city lawmakers that would disproportionately be used to target poor people. But Norfolk City Attorney Bernard Pishko is now arguing Fatehi lacks the legal power to forbid his office from prosecuting misdemeanor shoplifting cases in Circuit Court. 'You lack the resources to attend to many of the issues our citizens face on a daily basis, and your prosecutors could not replicate the relationship we have with our code enforcement officers,' Pishko wrote in a letter sent Thursday. Under Virginia law, commonwealth's attorneys — elected constitutional officers — must prosecute all felonies in their jurisdictions. But prosecutors have discretion on misdemeanor crimes, and Fatehi says the state does not provide funding for attorneys to handle misdemeanor case loads. Virginia state code says city attorney's offices in the commonwealth can prosecute misdemeanor cases, so long as the city council wants them to and the elected commonwealth's attorney signs off on it. The Code of Virginia section reads: 'City and town attorneys, if so authorized by their local governing bodies, and with the concurrence of the attorney for the commonwealth for the locality, may prosecute criminal cases charging either the violation of city or town ordinances, or the commission of misdemeanors within the city or town.' Fatehi said under that law, his office has the authority to permit the city attorney's office to prosecute state and city misdemeanors. As of 5 p.m. Friday, he said he will revoke the city attorney's permission to prosecute any offenses punishable by jail or fine in Circuit Court. Further, he plans to scrutinize all cases the city attorney's office pursues in District Court, requiring them to provide monthly reports about all criminal cases they staff. However, Pishko said in his letter city code directs the city attorney to prosecute all city code violations, and the Code of Virginia says municipal corporations shall have all powers granted to it by its charter. Thus, Pishko said Fatehi's referenced state code section was superseded by another state code section. The matter could see the two attorneys duke it out in court. In his letter, Pishko asked Fatehi to rescind his decision and said doing so would eliminate the need for a seeking a declaratory judgement. Fatehi said the two parties met in person Thursday but were unable to reach an agreement. 'I remain ready to have a serious discussion on how to avoid the criminalization of poverty, but until I see a meaningful change in the position of the City Attorney or his employer, my letter stands,' Fatehi said in an email. Norfolk prosecutor revokes city attorney authority on shoplifting charges following council vote Norfolk to vote on allowing city attorney to prosecute misdemeanor shoplifting Norfolk commonwealth's attorney faces challenge from former federal prosecutor Amanda Howie, administrator for the Virginia Association of Commonwealth's Attorneys, said she could not recall a top prosecutor in another Virginia locality ever attempting to forbid a city or county attorney from prosecuting cases. She did not know whether Fatehi's moves were legal. The feud kicked off when Alexander announced a plan for the City Attorney's Office to begin prosecuting misdemeanor shoplifting cases at his annual State of the City event. Fatehi said he lacked the state or city funding to staff the prosecution of misdemeanor shoplifting cases, and the city has ignored requests for more funding. He also called the move politically motivated — Fatehi is facing a June 17 Democratic primary challenge by John Butler, a former federal prosecutor. Butler has been endorsed by Alexander and City Council members Jeremy McGee, Tommy Smigiel and Courtney Doyle. Most prosecutor's offices in Hampton Roads take at least on some misdemeanor cases, such as DUIs, some domestic assaults and cases involving violence in schools. For many other misdemeanors, police officers organize the case against the defendants, just as they do with traffic cases. Though the officers are considered witnesses rather than prosecutors, they must essentially prosecute their own cases without a lawyer. It's a common practice when prosecutors are not available for whatever reason, said Rob Poggenklass, the executive director of Justice Forward Virginia, a state criminal justice reform group. In Norfolk, for example, the Norfolk Police Department can — and does — still make arrests in misdemeanor shoplifting cases, but must handle the cases on its own. When prosecutors in Hampton and Newport News backed away from handling misdemeanor marijuana possession cases in 2012, police began handling the cases on their own. But because drug possession could be difficult to prosecute, police were having difficulties handling such cases. The Hampton City Council in 2014 created a position within the City Attorney's Office to take on the marijuana cases, the Daily Press reported at the time. In 2016, the Newport News City Council granted their Commonwealth's Attorney two new positions in return for agreeing to prosecute the misdemeanor marijuana cases once again. Several Norfolk residents who spoke at the council's Tuesday meeting expressed concern the move to pursue more misdemeanor shoplifting charges would harm the city's most vulnerable people. Poggenklass said more prosecutions would only hurt marginalized Norfolk residents and would not deter the act of stealing. He said city officials should instead be investigating why residents are stealing and providing structural supports to eliminate the need for the crime. Trevor Metcalfe, 757-222-5345, Peter Dujardin, 757-897-2062, pdujardin@
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Norfolk council adopts $1.6 billion budget, includes 2-hour free parking
Norfolk City Council members unanimously voted to adopt a $1.6 billion operating budget for the fiscal year 2026 on Tuesday, which includes two hours of free parking in city decks, a 2.5% raise for city employees and a new compensation plan. Council members approved the $1.6 billion operating budget, a $260 million capital improvement plan, a $6.7 million annual plan for U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development block grants and a $141 million annual grants plan. Council members voted to unanimously approve the capital improvement plan. 'I know that this is not a perfect plan, and everybody didn't get everything, but I do believe that we're moving in the right direction,' said council member Carlos Clanton during the meeting. The budget keeps all city tax rates the same. The current real estate tax is $1.23 per $100 of assessed value and the personal property tax for vehicles is $4.33 per $100 of assessed value. However, the budget includes a $5-a-month increase in the garbage collection fee to offset recycling program cost increases and beach collection costs. What to expect from Norfolk's proposed $1.6 billion operating budget Norfolk to vote on allowing city attorney to prosecute misdemeanor shoplifting Norfolk mayor creates city commission to study affordable housing shortage The budget reconciliation process added about $1 million in additional expenditures, including additional fire department positions, downtown holiday lighting and additional funding to Norfolk Public Schools to reflect additional revenue under a revenue-sharing formula. Additional revenue to balance the budget comes from revised revenue estimates and federal and state sources. The reconciliation process also expanded plans for a free parking pilot program in all downtown Norfolk parking decks from the first hour to the first two hours. The city plans to pay for the initiative by increasing the costs of downtown parking meters by 50 cents each quarter of an hour for a $2 hourly increase. Current meter rates vary by location. The capital improvement plan includes $44 million for the city's flood wall project, called the Coastal Storm Risk Management Project, in addition to other projects like beach re-nourishment, community park improvements and a new playground at Crossroads School, among other initiatives. Trevor Metcalfe, 757-222-5345,
