Virginia Beach City Public Schools

COMMUNITY DIALOGUE RESULTS REPORT

December 7, 2017

1 Virginia Beach City Public Schools - Community Dialogue #1 Results 1 TOC

3 INTRODUCTION

4 RESULTS 177 DEMOGRAPHICS INTRODUCTION

On November 13 and 14, 2017, two Community Meetings were held to discuss and collect feedback from the community regarding an update to the division’s facility master plan.

Participants were asked to fill out both an individual questionnaire and to participate in groups to fill out a group questionnaire. There were a total of 54 paper questionnaires, and 15 group questionnaires. The questionnaire was also made available for more than 2 weeks online so that community members who could not attend could provide feedback. There were a total of3,663 online questionnaires completed.

Cooperative Strategies would like to thank the students, staff, Board of Education, Facilities Steering Committee, and the community of the Virginia Beach City Public Schools for their commitment and dedication to the planning process.

Virginia Beach City Public School Board Cooperative Strategies

Mrs. Beverly M. Anderson: Chair, At-Large Tracy Richter, President/Partner Matt Sachs, GIS Analyst Mr. Daniel D. Edwards: Vice Chair District 2 - Kempsville

Mrs. Sharon R. Felton: District 6 - Beach HBA Mrs. Dorothy M. Holtz: At-Large Mike Ross, AIA/REFP, Principal Mrs. Victoria C. Manning: At-Large

Mr. Joel A. McDonald: District 3 - Rose Hall

Mrs. Ashley K. McLeod: At-Large

Mrs. Kimberly A. Melnyk: District 7 - Princess Anne

Ms. Trenace B. Riggs: District 1 - Centerville

Mrs. Carolyn T. Rye: District 5 - Lynnhaven

Mrs. Carolyn D. Weems: District 4 - Bayside 3 Virginia Beach City Public Schools - Community Dialogue #1 Results 3 RESULTS Respondents

Which meeting did you attend?

Paper Group Web Monday, November 14, 2017 @ Kellam High School 30 8 54 Tuesday, November 15, 2017 @ Old Donation School 24 7 36 Total 54 15 90

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

Monday, November 14, 2017 @ Kellam High School 30 8 54

Tuesday, November 15, 2017 @ Old Donation School 24 9 36

Paper Group Web

5 Virginia Beach City Public Schools - Community Dialogue #1 Results 5 QUESTION 1

When considering the prioritization of capital projects, what do you believe should be the most important factors: Please select your top 3:

Question 1 Paper Web Web + Paper Group Cost 29 1,139 1,168 7 Building capacity/student enrollment 24 1,736 1,760 6 Building's ability to accomodate school programming needs 32 2,083 2,115 8 Least disruption to the educational experience during construction (ie. Swing space options to temporarily house 26 1,032 1,058 5 students while work is underway) Age or physical condition of facility 51 2,928 2,979 13 No Consensus n/a n/a n/a 3 Total 162 8,918 9,080 42

Question 1 Paper Web Web + Paper Group Cost 17.9% 12.8% 12.9% 16.7% Building capacity/student enrollment 14.8% 19.5% 19.4% 14.3% Building's ability to accomodate school programming needs 19.8% 23.4% 23.3% 19.0% Least disruption to the educational experience during construction (ie. Swing space options to temporarily house 16.0% 11.6% 11.7% 11.9% students while work is underway) Age or physical condition of facility 31.5% 32.8% 32.8% 31.0% No Consensus n/a n/a n/a 7.1% Total 100% 100% 100% 100%

6 Virginia Beach City Public Schools - Community Dialogue #1 Results 6 QUESTION 2

When considering the prioritization of Elementary School capital projects, what do you believe should be the most important factors: Please select your top 3:

Question 2 Paper Web Web + Paper Group Cost 16 1,077 1,093 2 Building capacity/student enrollment 32 1,746 1,778 8 Building's ability to accomodate school programming needs 32 1,994 2,026 8 Least disruption to the educational experience during construction (ie. Swing space options to temporarily house 37 1,478 1,515 11 students while work is underway) Age or physical condition of facility 45 2,759 2,804 13 No Consensus n/a n/a n/a 1 Total 162 9,054 9,216 43

Question 2 Paper Web Web + Paper Group Cost 9.9% 11.9% 11.9% 4.7% Building capacity/student enrollment 19.8% 19.3% 19.3% 18.6% Building's ability to accomodate school programming needs 19.8% 22.0% 22.0% 18.6% Least disruption to the educational experience during construction (ie. Swing space options to temporarily house 22.8% 16.3% 16.4% 25.6% students while work is underway) Age or physical condition of facility 27.8% 30.5% 30.4% 30.2% No Consensus n/a n/a n/a 2.3% Total 100% 100% 100% 100%

7 Virginia Beach City Public Schools - Community Dialogue #1 Results 7 QUESTION 3

When considering the prioritization of Secondary School (middle/high) capital projects, what do you believe should be the most important factors: Please select your top 3:

Question 3 Paper Web Web + Paper Group Cost 26 1,076 1,102 6 Building capacity/student enrollment 24 1,812 1,836 6 Building's ability to accomodate school programming needs 37 2,221 2,258 9 Least disruption to the educational experience during construction (ie. Swing space options to temporarily house 27 1,134 1,161 5 students while work is underway) Age or physical condition of facility 48 2,828 2,876 13 No Consensus n/a n/a n/a 3 Total 162 9,071 9,233 42

Question 3 Paper Web Web + Paper Group Cost 16.0% 11.9% 11.9% 14.3% Building capacity/student enrollment 14.8% 20.0% 19.9% 14.3% Building's ability to accomodate school programming needs 22.8% 24.5% 24.5% 21.4% Least disruption to the educational experience during construction (ie. Swing space options to temporarily house 16.7% 12.5% 12.6% 11.9% students while work is underway) Age or physical condition of facility 29.6% 31.2% 31.1% 31.0% No Consensus n/a n/a n/a 7.1% Total 100% 100% 100% 100%

8 Virginia Beach City Public Schools - Community Dialogue #1 Results 8 QUESTION 4

Which of the following grade level groupings listed below do you think should have a higher priority for renovation or replacement of schools? Please indicate your preference by assigning a TOTAL of 10 points. The higher the number = the more important.

Web

Question 4 - Web 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Average Elementary Schools 69 425 851 899 490 361 130 67 53 1 63 3.2 Middle Schools 59 279 811 1694 294 133 50 17 14 2 28 2.9 High Schools 14 183 417 633 719 758 291 178 121 6 164 4.4 Total 142 887 2,079 3,226 1,503 1,252 471 262 188 9 255

Question 4 - Web 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Elementary Schools 2.0% 12.5% 25.0% 26.4% 14.4% 10.6% 3.8% 2.0% 1.6% 0.0% 1.8% Middle Schools 1.7% 8.3% 24.0% 50.1% 8.7% 3.9% 1.5% 0.5% 0.4% 0.1% 0.8% High Schools 0.4% 5.3% 12.0% 18.2% 20.6% 21.8% 8.4% 5.1% 3.5% 0.2% 4.7%

Paper

Question 4 - Paper 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Average Elementary Schools 1 11 15 16 6 0 2 1 0 0 1 2.7 Middle Schools 2 6 20 21 2 0 1 0 0 0 1 2.5 High Schools 2 1 2 5 8 17 9 8 1 0 0 4.8 Total 5 18 37 42 16 17 12 9 1 0 2

Question 4 - Paper 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Elementary Schools 1.9% 20.8% 28.3% 30.2% 11.3% 0.0% 3.8% 1.9% 0.0% 0.0% 1.9% Middle Schools 3.8% 11.3% 37.7% 39.6% 3.8% 0.0% 1.9% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 1.9% High Schools 3.8% 1.9% 3.8% 9.4% 15.1% 32.1% 17.0% 15.1% 1.9% 0.0% 0.0%

9 Virginia Beach City Public Schools - Community Dialogue #1 Results 9 QUESTION 4

Web + Paper

Question 4 - Web + Paper 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Average Elementary Schools 70 436 866 915 496 361 132 68 53 1 64 3.2 Middle Schools 61 285 831 1715 296 133 51 17 14 2 29 2.8 High Schools 16 184 419 638 727 775 300 186 122 6 164 4.4 Total 147 905 2116 3268 1519 1269 483 271 189 9 257

Question 4 - Web + Paper 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Elementary Schools 2.0% 12.6% 25.0% 26.4% 14.3% 10.4% 3.8% 2.0% 1.5% 0.0% 1.8% Middle Schools 1.8% 8.3% 24.2% 49.9% 8.6% 3.9% 1.5% 0.5% 0.4% 0.1% 0.8% High Schools 0.5% 5.2% 11.8% 18.0% 20.6% 21.9% 8.5% 5.3% 3.4% 0.2% 4.6%

Group

Question 4 - Group 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Avg Elementary Schools 0 1 6 6 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 2.7 Middle Schools 0 1 5 8 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 2.6 High Schools 0 0 1 1 4 5 4 0 0 0 0 4.7 Total 0 2 12 15 5 7 4 0 0 0 0

Question 4 - Group 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Elementary Schools 0.0% 6.7% 40.0% 40.0% 0.0% 13.3% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% Middle Schools 0.0% 6.7% 33.3% 53.3% 6.7% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% High Schools 0.0% 0.0% 6.7% 6.7% 26.7% 33.3% 26.7% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0%

10 Virginia Beach City Public Schools - Community Dialogue #1 Results 10 QUESTION 5

Rate your level of satisfaction with the current pace of facility modernization/replacement across the division.

Question 5 Paper Web Web + Paper Group Strongly Satisfied 5 172 177 0 Satisfied 12 988 1,000 2 Neutral 14 1,345 1,359 3 Dissatisfied 19 866 885 4 Strongly Dissatisfied 2 266 268 1 No Consensus n/a n/a n/a 4 Total 52 3,637 3,689 14

Question 5 Paper Web Web + Paper Group Strongly Satisfied 9.6% 4.7% 4.8% 0.0% Satisfied 23.1% 27.2% 27.1% 14.3% Neutral 26.9% 37.0% 36.8% 21.4% Dissatisfied 36.5% 23.8% 24.0% 28.6% Strongly Dissatisfied 3.8% 7.3% 7.3% 7.1% No Consensus n/a n/a n/a 28.6% Total 100% 100% 100% 100%

11 Virginia Beach City Public Schools - Community Dialogue #1 Results 11 QUESTION 6

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Individual • I am an original resident of Virginia Beach. My father served as • As a student that has attended John B. Dey, Kemps Landing/Old PTA President of Princess Anne HS. I attended both public and Donation School, and Princess Anne High, I am well familiar with private schools In VA Beach. Now my children are current and lesser quality schools. Despite the challenges of a low quality former students of VBCPS. While my student will probable never learning environment and having to move to Kellam (Old) for see his high school renovated, my personal property tax dollars eighth grade. I, along with my peers at the schools, have need to be spent on renovating a NE high school with the greatest demonstrated the ability to excel academically and to become better of urgency. Our high school students need to be supported to meet citizens of Virginia Beach. However, I can only imagine what I the challenges. could have achieved with a better learning environment. • I am here as a parent and a volunteer. I work primarily at • As a teacher at Bayside HS, I see the need for a new building Providence ES and I personally helped with updating the staff everyday. 1:1 devices but no structure for students to charge them. lounge and know that many areas need updating. I do have Hallways overly crowded so much I have to stand in my doorway children who will be attending Kempsville HS. It is desperately in between classes so I don't further congest the halls. Art teachers need of updates. Please consider using the Renaissance Academy having to share one classroom space for all art classes and having to (which is no where near capacity) to help with relocating students be in non-art classes when they cannot get in. A/c units leaking in during construction. This will take some figuring out but can be my class. Besides all the NW planning region has 6 schools done. currently over capacity while others (NE) have zero. The focus • I believe that high schools should take a priority in renovation/ should be where people and students are increasing and causing replacement. High school environments provide an environment capacity to overflow. where students make some final decisions about their career • Can health factors such as air quality and rates of illness that may options. This is why having a modernized high school provides a be associated with the workplace be considered? Severe allergies, healthy environment where students believe that they have the cancer and a decline in live birth rates seems to be an issue at resources they need at various high schools to enter a career that Princess Anne HS. Many strongly believe we work in a sick they want and will feel compelled to do so. building with pest infestation and mold/poor air quality. Looking • I don't think high school renovations/replacements need to cost at the rate of illness, it is alarming. $100 million. Can't we make cheaper schools? I'd rather money go

12 Virginia Beach City Public Schools - Community Dialogue #1 Results 12 QUESTION 6

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to teachers and in-classroom curricular/learning. takes entirely too long to decide and initiate a plan. There is tons of • I would like to see PAHS be remodeled/rebuilt despite the need to land that is city owned that could be used (like Kellam HS project) move students temporarily while construction occurs. It is the to replace all of these outdated schools. There is also no reason oldest high school and serves not only those zoned but the IB why money should be a major factor. I pay a ton in taxes and I am program as well as the west wing. A building upgrade would sure I am not the only one. benefit several programs as a result. • The construction of a new Princess Anne High School should be a • Modernization of a building fixes plumbing and heating but not priority for the school decision. As the city's (and regions) top systematic problems with the school system. The plumbing might performing high school, based on national and state rankings, it is be fixed but the system is still broken. long overdue. • Please make it a priority to include a Black Box theater in plans for • The cost is questionable but in the end the schools are great and all future high schools - the black box at Old Donation School has beautiful. been such a valuable learning tool not only to theater classes but • The rate of modernization is too slow on the high school level. other classes as as well (4th grade for moon phases, English doing • There is no doubt that Princess Anne High School should be the Shakespeare, art with ability to manipulate quality and direction of first school to be replaced. It has the highest FCI and EAF and has light) - has made such a positive difference for students all over the already been put off several times. It is also the oldest building in school. the city. There have been countless times the power has gone out • Please rebuild PAHS asap. Mold, plumbing, small classrooms, little due to a power surge in the building because the teachers want to group space. incorporate technology but the buildings age limits the use. The • Princess Anne HS is already being considered so now: 1/. First rebuilding of PA has been put off too long and needs to be taken Colonial, 2. Bayside High, 3. Kempsville High, 4. Bayside Middle, 5. care of. Princess Anne ES, 6. Shelton Park ES. • Try to reduce the cost for each school so funds will go further. • Renovation and upgrading furniture is sometimes a viable option. • VBCPS should recycle • Schools that are in dire need of renovation should be put into top • Very concerned with the conditions of high schools. consideration for the student's benefit of the future. • The city of Virginia Beach (and you're not alone in Hampton Roads) 13 Virginia Beach City Public Schools - Community Dialogue #1 Results 13 QUESTION 6

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Group • A good foundation of the structure /building, building is very • Dissatisfied because a lot of high schools have not been done. accessible to get out for students and staff in case any Princess Ann High School needs to be done - out of space. Hard to disaster, ( it needs to be a high-tech to detect a fire and high go through halls. tech to detect an intruder ), A room or space for early students • PA or bust! that parents drop off " I've noticed that kids/students been • Swing space decisions - how are they made? Why aren't outside dealing with the cold and rainy weather and for community meetings like this held to flush out the details? And to there safety too. School facility that have tradition and high- provide freedom to the communities. tech , even though in teaching its need to have a traditional this is one way of balancing the future of the kids. "AS A Web PARENTS WE WANTS A BETTER FUTURE FOR OUR KIDS • 1) The demands of technology can not be used at the older WITHOUT A GOOD FACILITY ,GOOD ENVIRONMENT,A schools. 2) The air-conditioning and heating are always GOOD TEACHING, KIDS CANNOT MAKE IT'...... having problems at the older schools. 3) Class sizes are • A look at various schools shows that many have portable increasing and many of the older schools can't support the classrooms that are quite frankly in disrepair. number of desks needed. 4) Safety concerns. The older • a lot of high school facility needs to change. buildings have too many entrances and exits. This is a serious • A lot of money is spent on ergonomically designed furniture concern due to the nature of world. The location of some to place in a school that is old & in need of renovation. It's like schools such as Princess Anne High School the issue of safety putting the cart before the horse... is more of a concern due to its high visibility. • A lot of money spent on the one Kalam high school when lots • 26 years ago I went to the same Elementary school that my of other schools need updates. Also thery now have way children are attending and the school is still in outstanding better fields andsuch which is unfair to other schools. It's not form. I cannot comment on any secondary schools, because I an even playing ground for sports have not had the opportunity to visit them. • A lot of old buildings- VBCPS needs a capital campaign to get

14 Virginia Beach City Public Schools - Community Dialogue #1 Results 14 QUESTION 6

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more money to update older buildings and build new schools. The Virginia Beach School system needs to take a stand and Our children's elementary school had a fire/ smoke smell and challenge this and future generations to excel and stop couldn't let students in one morning until the fire dept pandering to the lowest common denominator by providing checked it and it was all due to it being an old building. I students with low expectations a pass. think too much money was spent on Brickell and newer • absolutely love the new ODS. it was hard to have my child schools instead of spreading out the money. ride a bus longer than an hour to attend ODC/Kemps Landing • A lot of school are extremely out of date and are desperate for at the old Princess Anne middle school. Result was worth it a renovation yes money can hinder the process but we should but she only got to enjoy the new school for 3 months. Now be able to apply for grants and find other ways to acquire she is in the oldest high school and complains daily about money for our schools how bad the school building is. probably not a fair • A lot of the the high schools are very run down and the comparison after the beautiful ODS! classrooms are small and constricting. Something needs to be • Administrative Buildings and Preschool Assessment Center done need work. • A lot of these buildings are in need of rebuilding. Bayside • Age and condition of the school should be the top priority. high school is one that really needs to be rebuild. Every parent is going to think that their school is the best • A lot of time and effort and funds were devoted to replace a candidate but I think that the needs and safety of the students state of the art building for ODC and Kemps students when along with the population of the current school should be the truthfully they are the smallest population of VA Beach highest priority. students. It's time to resource schools that serve larger • Age of facility is important due to mold and other toxic populations of students unless that elementary school is so substances that may not have been removed. It is hazardous decrepit as to not be worth of a school to "charting the to employees and students. course". • Age of facility, old carpeting, asbestos , allergen related • A new building or renovation only fosters growth marginally. problems, air handlers, equipment are concerns. A welcome

15 Virginia Beach City Public Schools - Community Dialogue #1 Results 15 QUESTION 6

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environment, with modern technology and programming to one in technology. Wondering why these schools have capacity/equipment are considerations. Elementary age are been looked over for years... more susceptible to the allergens and sickness as their • All new facilities that have already been fielded are immune systems are building. High Schools need to phenomenal!! If the same contractor was used for all VB accommodate more people and provide the technological/ Schools new construction projects - recommend continuation facility advancements to manage learning and programming to award then contracts. Having coached basketball and for 21st Century skills for work world and/or college track. visited numerous schools for my daughter's athletic and other Additionally, Va. Beach is growing in population. First extra-curricular events, ALL of the older Elementary School Colonial High School definitely needs updating! The Male Bathrooms wreak of urine. While waiting for new elementary schools that feed into Lynnhaven Middle need construction, recommend doing something about this - it's updating, particularly Kingston, Alanton, and LynnhavenES. absolutely disgusting and most likely a health issue. • Aging institutions such as First Colonial High, seem to be at a • All of the newest building are impressive. technological disadvantage. • All of the schools that my children have attended in Virginia • Aging structures in our high schools provide a limited Beach (elementary, middle, and high) have been more than 40 competitive footing with newer, more modern structures years old. The school I teach in is also over 40 years old. The across the Commonwealth as we prepare our emerging windows are drafty, the ceilings are water stained, the HVAC professionals for their futures. systems are LOUD, and many of the spaces are not well- • Alanton Elementary School is an original building built in the suited for 21st century learners. 1960's. It's about time this school was slated to be • All schools are overcrowded and falling apart. The city needs modernized. Students going to Alanton will never enjoy being to take care of these young people and their education and in a new school building as they feed into Lynnhaven Middle safety rather than throwing money at absurd tourist School and the extremely old First Colonial High School. It attractions, venues and condos. should also be noted that all of these schools are also not one • All the factors listed in questions 2-4 are important and each

16 Virginia Beach City Public Schools - Community Dialogue #1 Results 16 QUESTION 6

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one should be weighed and taken into consideration division determines which schools need renovations and/or appropriately. replacing. • All the high schools needed to be brought up to date as soon • Although many schools look old, or have poor technology, as possible especially schools such as First Colonial, Green some are actually causing repository issues for students and Run and Princess Anne HS staff. Health should truly be a main driving point as to which • All three of Kempsville area schools need to be remodeled. schools should be updated. They are out of date and with the schools moving to a • Any school past 40 years old should be replaced as soon as technology based education then the buildings do not support possible. Very good chance of asbestos material were used that move effectively. All the Kempsville area schools do not during construction. Consolidation of one school into 3 or compare to Landstown's elementary, middle, and High more facilities where feasible. School. They also can't compare to the new Kellam High • Any school that was built with asbestos materials should be re school either. If we want an opportunity for our student's to built ASAP. I did not rate the level groupings because some compete in a technology centered world then we need to schools may not be as ill as others. improve the way our schools look, the access to the internet, • Aquatics could potentially be a big asset and money maker and the accessability to technolgy for all students not just for schools. They could hold practices and meets... water polo focus on the the schools that contain Academies. is a sport offered at most Ivy League Colleges that offer • Although Bayside High has been expanded, it is one of the scholarships. VB is a coastal town, yet water sports are not oldest in the city and has poor capacity to house current and promoted in the schools... swimming, water polo, diving. future programming needs. Make VB schools progressive with this accomodation along • Although equity in the classroom has been emphasized, there with stellar academic options. doesn't seem to be equity when schools are getting new • architectural plans that can be used over several structures to programs, materials and/or building renovations/new reduce cost and speed building so more students are able to buildings. I would like to see more equity applied as the have updated buildings

17 Virginia Beach City Public Schools - Community Dialogue #1 Results 17 QUESTION 6

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• are the LEED projects returning the savings that you were input in “designing” their school building. expecting. • As a current high school student at Bayside High, I think that • As a alumni of the vbcps I am proud of our school system and high school should be the most prioritized project because more importantly the teachers and staff. New facilities are this is the final step of a student's journey before they attend indeed important but we need the roots of the tree which are college, and therefore, the most important. Elementary school our teachers to be nurtured and supported as well comes second because this is the first step of their journey, • As a child that has special needs I am very concerned about and it affects what path they will choose to take in terms of him being in the trailers at hermitage next year. (He is the quality and prioritization of their education currently in K at thortoughgood.) having such a big change • As a current staff member in an elementary school, I am like that is very stressful and hard on kids with Autism. I am concerned about the mold levels within our school. worried it will hinder his learning. Additionally, there is an ongoing rodent problem that has not • As a city, we need to be careful as we update buildings that been addressed after several years. I believe these are issues those new schools are are exceedingly better than the schools relating to the age of the building. that are no Where near to being placed on the renovation list. • As a former student of Princess Anne High School, I would Right now Brickell Academy is excessively better than other strongly advocate for it to be placed at the top of the list for schools and has limited access for all students, Kellam exceeds the next school to be renovated. Although part of the building all high schools and 2 schools that are being constructed, Dey is fairly recent due to the fire in the 1990s, the majority of and PAMS serve a majority of high income, less diverse PAHS is undeniably an aging building. With growing class neighborhoods. Although, my youngest attends Kellam, I sizes, it is unfair for students to be crammed together in small teach at a Title 1 school where my students don’t have access classrooms. Almost every student has at least one class in the to those types of buildings. I realize that the city tries to be infamous "Portable City." There were often rat traps or equitable but it is unfortunate for those students who may dripping ceilings when I was a student, and teachers have never access to these buildings or even opportunity to have confirmed to me that these conditions have not improved.

18 Virginia Beach City Public Schools - Community Dialogue #1 Results 18 QUESTION 6

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There are parts of PAHS that are filthy no matter how hard students go? This school is already so large compared to they are scrubbed and cleaned, and many aspects of the neighboring schools. Smaller elementary schools are able to school are unsafe, such as the caulking electrical outlets. do activities & experiences for the students that just aren't Princess Anne is an amazing school with amazing teachers feasible with the number of students that Glenwood has. who teach amazing students, and it is only fair that it has an Glenwood does a fantastic job with the education of their amazing facility in which to operate. students. With new houses being added to their district, • As a high school student, i see the arts are being put on the however, I believe it is time for VBCPS to consider an back burner. The space to do my work in drama is minuscule addition to Glenwood, or the re-drawing of their district lines, at best. we are forced to use power tools in the hallways in order to divide the students up more evenly amongst endangering not only us but other students too.I plead with elementary schools in that area. you to add more space for the drama department at Bayside • As a parent to a child with profound disabilities, I would like high school. to see more technology, resources, and staffing available for • As a military family we have been in many different schools children who are blind, unable to walk/talk, and more in many different school districts. The overall appearance and recreational equipment for children with limited mobility quality of the facilities at Green Run High School is subpar (electric swings, eye gaze software, etc.) and disturbing. It is clear that the school is in dire need of • As a student at First colonial high school I Believe that our upgrades. school should be the next to be rebuilt because their is only a • As a parent of a Glenwood Elementary student, the capacity certain amount that can be done to make a disfunctional of this school concerns me. Due to the current number of building work. I would like to say that our administration has students, the school is currently utilizing all the space that done a wonderful job in making our disfunctional building they have for classrooms. There are 2 housing developments work and keeping it in the best condition possible. How ever under construction now that will eventually add to the know is the time to rebuild, fist colonial cramped, dark and number of students at Glenwood. Where will these future full of roaches. Our building dose not have enough

19 Virginia Beach City Public Schools - Community Dialogue #1 Results 19 QUESTION 6

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classrooms for all the teachers and students, a their are at least PAHS is the next high school to be renovated. As the oldest 5 teachers that are on carts and have to move between classes high school in the city, going back to the time when Princess or have a class in their room during their planing time. Along Anne County and VB were separate, the building is in dire with teachers having to move rooms making it harder for need of a rebuild. students to find their teacher, the entire health department, • As a student of First Colonial, I am not satisfied with the special ed, NJROTC, and a handful of history classes are in prioritization of citywide school projects. My school has a trailers in the parking lot, exposed to the elements, like rain an roach problem, and we have rats and mice in the ceiling, and cold. Also we are in need of new athletic facilities,Like locker black widows have been reported in some rooms across the rooms, gym, athletic training room, and weight room. As a building. Yet, Kellam got a new school, when some people student that participates in after school activities I have who attended there said it was still in good condition. There visited many schools other VB High schools i can say that Fc are probably other problems in similar buildings such as is one of if not the most in terms of athletic facilities and Bayside and Kempsville. Kellam didn't need such an classrooms. To solve this problem Fc should be rebuilt on the extravagant building, as that money could have been spread current Lynhaven campas or behind FC in the park and out across the buildings that need it so renovations could be athletic fields. The new Fc should be a multi story campus done. with different departments on different floors and sections • As a Thoroughgood parent, it has been frustrating over the with top athletic facilities to rival Kellem for this side of the years to watch our old, hazard filled space get bumped from city rebuilding timelines for other, seemingly more notable • As a student at PAHS, and a former student of TES, HES, and schools to be done first. The hazards within some of these old KLMS/ODC, I have had first hand looks at what modern and schools should be taken into account. I realize it is a more run down schools look like and the impact they can complicated process, but feel more communication should be have, both positive and negative, on the educational process. out there as to why projects get moved to or from the front of As a student my take is slightly biased, but I truly hope that the line and as to what constitutes the priorities. Thank you

20 Virginia Beach City Public Schools - Community Dialogue #1 Results 20 QUESTION 6

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for putting out this survey and for trying to reach the amazing • As schools go 1:1 the need for better servers and wifi is families of our district. crucial. • As my children played and still play high school sports, I • As the school division goes to the technology way of learning have been to all the high schools in the area. The older our schools or their ability to use the technology are way schools (Bayside, Kempsville, PA) are in serious need of behind. In certain parts of older schools the internet updates. This is both the school and the support areas. connection is slow and weak. Kempsville's stadium and bleachers should be at least a minor • As we move further into the 21st century will advanced embarrassment to the city. Not to mention how the kids from technology being brought into the class the schools need to these schools feel when the travel to Kellam. I know there is reflect these changes. All schools need to be modernized with demand in the southeast section of the city as the population new classroom technologies, new building technology, and a there continues to grow, but the overall plan must include modern look. When planning the size of a school in an every recapitalization in the areas which are not going to grow changing and growing city, plans need to be made in order to (already full) to ensure all VA Beach children have the same accommodate future student numbers. No student should opportunities moving forward. One item which may be have to leave the school building and walk to a portable considered in the long term capital plan may be the reduction classroom. There should be more than enough space inside in the number of elementary schools in the city. In the long the school itself to easily handle all classes. School design run in may be more cost effective to increase the capacity of should also incorporate as much green technology as possible some schools and then combine so to decrease the overall cost to limit our carbon foot print and set the trend for city of ownership. developments. The use of green garden roofs, solar panels, • As new enrollees enter our district we are definitely in need of geothermal pumps, natural light to illuminate the class room more modernized, high tech large facilities like Kellam HS an and halls, etc. The schools in the city should be a beacon of Ocean Lakes HS so that class sizes don't become increasingly joy and advancement to the public and not seen as a run large and unruly. down, dilapidated building that hasn't been touched in over

21 Virginia Beach City Public Schools - Community Dialogue #1 Results 21 QUESTION 6

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40 years. cluster classes for him. (They are advanced classes, but most • At Lynnhaven middle there is already little space and of his classmates are seniors.) I don’t know if that’s due to a cramped rooms. Why are we allowing the achievable dream personnel or building space shortage. But, it sure does make it academy to be housed at this school? difficult for a socially challenged teen to make connections • At the Elementary school level most of gymnasiums are not when he’s not in classes with his peers. We need to address big enough to house entire grade levels. There can be from 60 overcrowding of our schools in order to adequately service to 120 students in the gym at a time. In Virginia Beach the our growing population. whole grade attends PE at once. If it rains their is only one • B F Williams please help that school please they have a very place to go. The Elementary school gyms also have out dated bad roach problem hard brick floors which are unsafe for so many students in the • Bayside 6th is in great need of a new facility. gym at one time. I love that Virginia Beach has physical • Bayside High needs immediate attention education everyday, but facilities need to be improved so • Bayside High needs to be torn down and rebuilt. quality physical education can be taught. Two or larger • Bayside High School has been open for years and no gymnasiums at each Elementary school, outdoor spaces that noticeable renovations in last 20 years. stay dry after it rains, and health classrooms should be • Bayside High school is a school with entirely too many provided to safely and effectively teach students the skills the students for the space given. Teachers have to result in need to take care of their bodies sharing classrooms with 1-2 other teachers. The hallways are • Attendance in our school system is growing quicker than we too small to walk through, so kids are always late to class can keep up - whether it be facilities or personnel. One of my because of the traffic in the hallways. The hallways are son’s middle school cluster classes had over 30 students in it especially bad if a fight ever occurs, because everyone crowds because there simply wasn’t physical space for another class. around causing a blockage. Kids will be late to class and And now in high school as a freshman, he has been placed in teachers would mark the kids absent for being stuck behind two “regular” ed classes because there wasn’t room in the the crowd, then kids have to go to the tardy window and get a

22 Virginia Beach City Public Schools - Community Dialogue #1 Results 22 QUESTION 6

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pass which affects their time in the classroom which effects recommended their education. The cafeteria is too small to house all the kids • Bayside High School is in desire need of rebuilding. The per lunch block, causing some kids to stand, sit on each other, hallways are constantly jammed due to the lack of space. or share a chair, and then the kids get yelled at for standing Hallway jams often lead to tardies & arguments that because we should be sitting. The bathrooms situations are sometimes escalate to physical altercations. We have horrible. The 900 hall girls bathroom has 2 doors that dont problems with over rowing in the cafeteria. You simply even close so you have to push against it while you pee. Also, cannot get from one class to the next within the five allotted those stalls are about 5 foot tall, so anyone taller than that has minuets to do so. Our school also does not look inviting. no privacy without someone looking over. The other There is still original tiles from 1964. The bathroom facilities bathrooms have poor sinks who were made for a 3 year old, are not appropriate either. The girls restroom in the 900 hall is even the 5 foot girls have to bend over to reach the sink to out of date. The doors probably aren’t much higher than 5 feet wash their hands. The soap dispensers rarely have soap in tall. The are not enough sinks or soap dispensers for the them because there is not enough soap and sinks ratio with amount of people’s using the bathrooms. There is no place the amout of people going to the bathroom. The is no place in within the school that the entire student body can come the whole school to come together and have a pep rally. Other together at one time for assemblies, pep rallies, or the like. schools like tallwood, pa, salem can fit all the kids in their one Our school was not built for the amount of students it holds. gym. We have to have pep rallys outside on the bleachers and There is simply not enough room for the amount of students if the weather is bad we have to cancel the rallies and they in attendance. The gym is too small to hold enough spectators never get rescheduled. that attend basketball games. Our gym is too small. There are • Bayside High school is an incredibly old looking building that not enough classrooms. Teachers have to share rooms & leave feels gross to walk around in everyday. during classes because there are not enough rooms. Our • Bayside high school is highly outdated, hallways are packed school needs to be rebuilt. like sardines and in very bad condition. New school is highly • Bayside High school is in need of a renovation as soon as

23 Virginia Beach City Public Schools - Community Dialogue #1 Results 23 QUESTION 6

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possible. Its dirty, to small and falling apart. The class rooms hard and frustrated to get to class in the 5 minutes that we have to be shared and some classes don't have the things they have to get to class. All of students in the small halls leads to need for the class. fights and pushing in the halls which takes away from • Bayside High School is in need of deep renovation or better learning and makes it hard to go to school every day. Bayside yet start from scratch and have an entirely new building. High school has too many students for the lack of hall space • Bayside High school is literally falling apart as the flooring on that the building has. It is also lacking in lunch room space the 600 hall is pealing up with only a mat to cover it. There due to the fact that most of the school buys lunch and it will are dead rats that stink up the school and my freshman year take up to 15 minutes to get your lunch if you are buying it we had a team building exercise in orchestra where we had to and that only leaves 10 minutes to eat. The other thing at remove everything from the cabinets because they were Bayside that need help is the football/soccer field. It is by far infested with termites. I cant walk down the halls without the worst field in the 757 of all of the high schools. It is not flat seeing at least 3 cockroaches and 2 spiders. It is just repulsive! and it has more dirt then grass. All in all Bayside needs new every thing because the school is too small for the amount of • Bayside High School is not the school it once was, we can no longer accommodate to the needs of our students. The kids that go here. students in the program do not have the resources for their • Bayside High School is very unsatisfactory. There are too studies, and the zoned kids are ignorant and do not have many students for the small hallways, the school frequently respect for the building. The building is overpopulated and has rats and cockroaches, and the quality of the building is crowded, not only with students but with pests too. very old and falling apart. The teachers and students both agree that Bayside High School needs to be rebuilt to a • Bayside High School is old and run down. It is in a lower income area and it looks like the money goes to the higher modern building that is big enough to hold the amount of income school areas and the lower income areas suffer. I feel students that walk through the halls. that Bayside should be a priority for replacement! • Bayside High School needs a new building to help the current students. The Health Sciences Academy doesn't have the kind • Bayside high school is very crowded in halls and it is very

24 Virginia Beach City Public Schools - Community Dialogue #1 Results 24 QUESTION 6

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of facility it needs to give its students the best opportunities bro built for all of these schools at the same time, emergency for learning. space utilization plans should be enacted. In the past, old • Bayside High School needs some serious renovations...and and ugly portables helped to minimize the over crowded any other high school from that era. conditions. These were, for the most part, removed. I don't • Bayside High School needs to be replaced. know how other schools have managed this problem of bulldog BFS that were constructed with a much smaller • Bayside high school should be first on the list! enrollment in mind, but immediate solutions need to be put • Bayside High School should be given a higher priority for into place. replacement. • Bayside High School, Kempsville High School, and First • Bayside high school should be redone, almost every other Colonial are all based on similar designs that are not high school has been and it is frustrating not getting to conductive for charting a course for the 21st Century. How experience those same pleasures. can you say we offer equality and equity when parents and • Bayside High School should have been replaced way before students step into Landstown High School, Tallwood, and the Renaissance Academy for the truant and failing kids. Kellam High Schools and then visit the older high schools in Bayside High School is old. I moved here in Virginia Beach in the beach. The staff at BHS, KHS, and FCHS due wonders to January 1983 because of military orders, I was on active duty over come the shortfalls of buldings built when the slide rules at the time, Bayside High School was already there at its and computers that took up entire rooms where high present location. 34 years later this year, Bayside High School technology. is still there and screaming for retirement. • Bayside HS is one of the oldest HS that is in need of a • Bayside High School, First Colonial HS, Princess Anne High complete overhaul School, Kempsville High School are all extremely • Bayside HS must be next. overcrowded. At Bayside hallways are dangerously clogged • frequently. Tempted flair daily. If a fight breaks out, it is Bayside is in Desperate need of modernization difficult for security personnel to act. If new facilities cannot • Bayside is in need of new facilities 25 Virginia Beach City Public Schools - Community Dialogue #1 Results 25 QUESTION 6

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• Bayside middle needs a complete tear down and rebuild. am not saying give us what they have, I am saying Bayside • BAYSIDE MIDDLE SCHOOL IS A DUMP AND OUTDATED. kids feel like their school is broke, and I would like to see that THE SCHOOL SHOULD BE UPDATED ASAP! HE LUNCH change. ROOM IS TOO SMALL FOR THE AMOUNT OF KIDS AT • Bayside needs to be renovated. Our school is old and THE SCHOOL. WITH THE WEATHER GETTING COLD accomidates the health science academy which is one of the THE ROOMS WINDOWS ARE LEAKING COLD AIR INTO biggest academies. Our school does not set extremely high THE CLASSROOMS. repetation and the health science academy deserves better so • Bayside Middle School needs a completely new facility. When please, make bayside high's facility better it rains outside it rains inside the school and students, faculty, • Bayside, Kempsville, First Colonial should be replaced before and staff risk serious safety problems. The custodians go into PA. All three schools should have the same plan. Perhaps if a over time when it rains and has to do even more work during contract was agreed upon for three schools at the same time a their work day. Also, classrooms need to be updated along less expensive price could be the result. with the building furniture in most classes. We need to • Beautiful new and needed construction of ODS. For cost, address this problem ASAP. suboptimal planning for parking/traffic flow and use of • BAYSIDE NEEDS A NEW SCHOOL! WE HAVE ROACHES facilities (unable to darken theater for artistic glass), etc. When AND IT IS NASTY! plan new building projects, consideration for function/city • Bayside needs to be rebuilt. Stop focusing on the places that planning as well as aesthetics need more attention. haven't been doing so poorly, but on the lower income Kempsville High and Middle definitely need attention to schools. You should want everyone to have a nice education facility renovation. and part of that should be to help students environment. I • Because, most of the high school in Virginia Beach were built remember going to Ocean Lakes High School and being in the 60's. astonished to the services provided to students, and I hadn't • Before building another state of the art school, consider even walked in. I was facing them in a soccer match. While I updating/equalizing older schools with the modernization

26 Virginia Beach City Public Schools - Community Dialogue #1 Results 26 QUESTION 6

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tools provided to the newest schools. wet paper towels are often placed on thermostats by teachers • Believe that geography and also the relation of feeder schools to get their heat to turn on. Windows leak when it rains and To upper schools should have a role as well. Some kids will paint is needed in many areas of the building. The teachers spend their entire school experience in substandard schools. i and administrators are working hard to provide the very best have one child at beautiful Old Donation school and her twin instruction for these children in sub-par and depressing at Lynnhaven. Hard to explain why one gets something so surroundings. As a digital anchor school, we have several wonderful and another gets mediocre with nothing to look issues with connectivity that impede on the educational forward to even in HS, since the next step is FC. process. VBCPS could do, and should do so much better for • Bettie F Williams needs to be replaced. That building is in this Title I school, its deserving students and their families. deplorable condition and I am surprised parents have not • Bettie F. Williams is a Title I school with deserving students complained. We, as a city should be embarrassed by the and their families. Our students attend two new buildings condition of that school (Diamond Springs and Newtown) before arriving in our • Bettie F. Williams E.S. is in dire need of renovation. As a building. In arriving at our building, our grounds are only Reading Specialist here in the building, I see this need daily. minimally maintained. Parents participating in drop-off or These children deserve to have a building that is as pick-up have to drive through a parking lot full of potholes modernized as the other two buildings in the Tri-Campus. and maneuver through an area that was never meant to be The overall building is run down and the surrounding used for these purposes, making it difficult for teachers (even grounds are minimally maintained. Parents dropping their when arriving on time) to park and parents to drop off. Even children off in the morning must drive through a parking lot the lines in that section of the parking lot aren't measured with potholes and a shed near the gym with busted windows. quite right, because some are twice the width of a vehicle and At the beginning of the school year, a sofa sat in the parking others are only half. Last spring, a sofa sat in the middle of lot by the dumpster for at least a month before being the parking lot for almost a month before someone finally removed. The building is frequently cold in certain rooms and came and removed it. A shed in the back near the gym has

27 Virginia Beach City Public Schools - Community Dialogue #1 Results 27 QUESTION 6

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had broken windows for the entire four years that I have been with all of our issues as well. A lot of the conditions in our here. Inside the building, the problems continue. The walls building are past the level of being "patched up" though and are in dire need of a paint job, especially in the hallways. In really need replacement. Our students deserve a better the main hallway, a single bathroom (that is easily accessible environment. by children should they choose to enter, but not encouraged • Betty F Williams Elementary needs to be torn down and for their use) holds a hot water heater in plain view. The rebuilt from the ground up. It is old and outdated. entire building has temperature control issues, often making it • Birdneck Elementary's roof and duct system needs to be excessively cold or so humid that you're sweating while replaced and/or completely overhaulled. trying to teach small group. Chunks of countertops are falling • both PA and Bayside need to be replaced, even if they don't off in classrooms with sinks and many rooms have built in have rich parents to lobby the school board like the parents at wooden "closets" where the door has long-since broken off Kellam and Cox but never been replaced. Careful consideration has to be • Brandon Middle school is filled with mold and dust and taken in where to house materials, because a considerable outdated everything. Science rooms aren’t functional. Middle number of windows in the building leak EVERY TIME it schools always get looked over. It’s time to renovate and rains, regardless of the amount of caulk that is added. Two rebuild. years ago, an entire class had to change rooms for several • Brandon Middle School is in desperate need of updating! We days because an ant infestation in the ceiling had become so are over capacity, special education teachers are teaching bad that ants were falling on the students. I realize that every three subjects in the same classroom, specialist are sharing a school and public building probably has bug issues, but the classroom, when trying to accommodate small group testing size of some of the roaches that I have encountered in this teachers have to arrange with higher grade levels to use their building is astonishing. Our custodians work extra hard to classrooms in order to have a free space. We are very happy make our building look the best it possibly can under these to have a building full of wonderful, caring staff members but circumstances. We are very fortunate to have so many skilled we are in need of an update desperately. maintenance workers from downtown come to support us 28 Virginia Beach City Public Schools - Community Dialogue #1 Results 28 QUESTION 6

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• Brandon Middle School is old and moldy. The students here students, teaches, and office staff. However, from a need a new building. maintenance perspective, the modernized equipment and • Build new high schools, move middle schools up to old high even architectural design can be a bit too much and the schools after they have been repaired and updated, update/ maintenance side is not considered. Many times a certain repair elementary schools. You shouldn't put students in new design may look nice to the eyes of people but requires elementary or middle schools and then send them to out maintenance very often. In those cases, it tends to constantly dated high schools. High schools are the last stop before have us to pour out money to fix the issues. college, military, or the work force. This is where we need to • Building the state of the art buildings is not necessary. Build make sure students have access to the most up to date the buildings to accommodate the students needs and a place technology. For example, rebuilding PAMS seems like such a for meeting faculty/ teacher needs. waste when the old Kellam could have been updated and the • Buildings across the city are aging and the age is apparent in students would have even had their own football stadium, the condition of HVAC SYSTEMS and general function of baseball fields, etc. PAE should have moved to the old PAMS doors, windows etc. after it was updated and repaired. • Buildings are aging and looking very run down. We should • Build schools that are practical, are visually welcoming. and not be hiding their age by just painting. We want our students not intimidating because of their size. Having academic to have a quality education and provide them with the best resources and technology that is current (and in good resources available so let's provide them and the staff better working order) would benefit the students more than having accommodations in which to learn. a school with a grand entrance way. • Buildings continue to have air quality issues that create sinus, • Building 100 million dollar schools are not the answer. allergy and health problems for students and staff. Schools should be functional and safe. Get rid of the frills. • Buildings need to be free of rodents. Technology capability is • Building new facilities are great. I truly believe that newer important especially in middle and high schools. schools can determine a certain moral that's carried by the • Buildings that are 50 years old or older like Holland

29 Virginia Beach City Public Schools - Community Dialogue #1 Results 29 QUESTION 6

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Elementary and Bayside High need to be modernized or school conditions and programs accepted. At the brand new replaced. facility on the 'privilege' side of town (Kellam and princess • Buying new technology every year to replace technology that Anne middle school area), I never worried about cleanliness was purchased a year or two before is a waste of money. or lack of supplies. Yet at Bayside High, every time I walk into • By looking at the data, Princess Anne HS should be at the top the bathroom and the lights flicker on, I have to watch my feet of the list for a rebuild. for scattering roaches? And for your own safety, when you go to the bathroom on the 700 hall, don't go past 12:30 if you • Centerville needs to be on the list. have nice shoes on, because they will be permanently stained • Certain Elementary schools need to be replaced due to the with leaking toilet water. And not a day passes that I don't condition of the school. Black mold, mildew and various pests over hear students denouncing their future in education as are found. Teachers and students have complained of health unimportant because of the side of town they are from. I problems due to these conditions. That should be a priority mean, if Dr. Spencer can't pay for the predominately Black beyond all others. side of town to get a better school to progress our education, • Certain locations in the kempsville area are falling behind. then why should I care to pursue a better education? Each Brandon middle school and centerville turnpike ES time I open my dusty locker, the teachers stand outside their • Children of all ages need room to learn, be innovative, and doors and complain about how their students that don't want adjust the learning environment to best meet their education, to learn. So how can they teach? And never in my life, have I social, and emotional needs. and to be able to use available ever been told my an educator, a role model, to not pursue to room in a variety of ways. Small classrooms, crowded and become a teacher, until I cam to Bayside. Countless times I noisy hallways, and restricted available space inhibit the type have heard students mock, "Welcome to Bayside, home of the of learning most beneficial to students. Also, buildings of the roaches." Not to mention the, "Hosa flu" that went around last 1960's are not wired to handle today's technological needs. year at our school because it was so unclean. So I ask, what • Coming from Kellam to Bayside High school, I have crossed has Dr. Spencer been doing besides spending, what, $90,000 the lines of ethnic diversity and legal segregation based on on an office make over? Not fixing the Black side of town 30 Virginia Beach City Public Schools - Community Dialogue #1 Results 30 QUESTION 6

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that's for sure. -Carsyn L. and materials for the classrooms seems to be an issue at times. • Concerned regarding air quality and mold etc in older But, we can remodel schools at the drop of a dime. I just think buildings...and differences in temperatures of rooms and that all areas that are absolutely needed get triple checked for offices in different areas of the building...difficult also with pricing and priority to stay within a budget so no one is left only 1 bathroom in high school clinic... on the back burner and going without. Minimalism has • Concerned with the temporary arrangement for students become a lifestyle for many people these days. So when it during 2 year construction comes to the children's safety of the building a heath within, no I do not think its wise to skimp on those areas. But def to • Conditions at Princess Anne HS are deplorable. Students are at a learning disadvantage by attending this school. find better alternatives within the classroom for teaching methods and funding the money to do so would be • Consider investing money at Bayside High School. The somewhere to start. So that in the long run when issues or school offers one of the best academy programs in the VA concerns like this wouldn't be so much of a problem. Beach area yet the school when compare to Tallwood, • Lansdstown, Ocean Lakes, lacks the upgrades and nice Cox High School needs a facelift and better equipment. appearance. You have great students and teachers at that • Cox High School needs to be renovated, updated, and cleaned school. up too. The building is old. There are lots of roaches and rats in the building. There are squirrels that live in the walls. • Consideration of older buildings needs to be a priority. Health of students and staff as it relates to mold, poor air circulation, There are leaks throughout the building, and the mold needs to be removed. School district put all their money in the crumbling corners of floors, poorly working doors and brand new ODC/Kemps Landing building. It's really sad to windows, etc. We spend so much time in these buildings, we should ensure that we are in a healthy and safe environment. see this brand new building, while Cox High School doesn't have anything done. It's not fair that the nice side of town has • Cost should always be the main factor considering that to send their children to an old building that truly needs work teaching children, in general, can be a costly act. Meaning, the done. people in charge of making sure their is funding for events

31 Virginia Beach City Public Schools - Community Dialogue #1 Results 31 QUESTION 6

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• Current educational trends call for classrooms that are students due to the lack of community space - i.e. scholas, flexible, spaces for collaboration, and an electrical supply that presentation rooms, etc. When we need a larger space, it handles current and future technology. In addition, schools often will close the library, auditorium, etc. We are not 1/1 for in lower income areas appear to be the ones that are not being technology, and with two computer labs, they are usually updated which schools in whiter, wealthier portions of the booked for some type of testing. We have many portable city are getting new schools. It appears that the most needy classrooms that do not have access to laptop carts. Also, the keep getting left further behind. simple logistics of the inadequacy of the restrooms leads to • Current investment/level of improvement is roughly 15-20% more classroom disruptions (not enough time to use the higher PER FACILITY than it should be regardless of how it is restrooms between classes since there are so few) currently rationalized. During the course of a student's public • Currently, I work in two high schools, Princess Anne and education life they could go through all three grade level Landstown . There is a vast difference in the facilities. groupings without being in a modern facility while others Landstown has ample room for all of the programs held in could experience an exponentially greater experience from the that building. In contrast, at Princess Ann High School, staff facility -quality standpoint. Spread that extra 15-20% being and students are located in every nook and cranny in the spent per facility now across the school replacement/ building. Space is at a premium. There should not be such modernization program comprehensively to have a greater, disparity among the schools. broader impact. • Design decisions are poor. If teachers had input on the design, • Currently have a sophmore attending Princess Anne High it would not only save money, but it would make spaces School. My oldest child graduated from PAHS in 2006. safer. For example, my current school has lots of small built in While it could use to be remodeled, I d cabinets that make the flow of the classroom hard to navigate • Currently teach in a high school built in the 60's. Has been with our increasing class sizes. maintained wonderfully for the age of the building. However • Do not spend money on trendy technological items that will we have to pass of many programs and opportunities for our not be used for several years...let's try to be smarter than the

32 Virginia Beach City Public Schools - Community Dialogue #1 Results 32 QUESTION 6

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curve rather than ahead of the curve. because the overarching list being used to dictate the • Doesn't matter what the school level is Elementary, Middle or replacement schedule is flawed. Furthermore, while socio- High School. If the building is old, replace it to accommodate economics is not a popular topic to discuss when on the the growing needs of programs and student enrollment and subject of school replacement, it seems that the replacement of technology. BOTH Great Neck MS and John B. Dey ES -- who • Due to the vast size of the city of Virginia Beach proper, and coincidentally are next to each other and exist in one of the the diverse density of differing parts of the city, there seems to weathiest sections of the city -- were replaced within a few be extraneous and excessive demands on the Virginia Beach years of each other while other schools in less affluent sections City Public Schools requirements to provide students and of the city continue to deteriorate. Please explain how the data teachers of the city with current, modern, and satisfactory provided from the previous study adequately and properly facilities in which to learn. As per the brief provided on the met the city's student-teacher requirements for a satisfactory current state of schools, while on the surface it appears that a learning environment? Lastly, while I do appreciate the time proper study was conducted in order to achieve a basic and consideration being put into this study and it outcomes algorithm to provide a stratefied list of schools that mandate that will affect us all, and our families for years to come, has replacement immediately, this list is flawed on many levels there been any thought put into the future? Specifically, was and for all school levels (ES, MS, HS). How is it possible that any information with regard to the faster growing parts of the Birdneck ES, built in 1988 and possessing TWICE the square city inputted into the study/algorithm to better determine a footage of any other ES in the city can rank #10 on the list of plan for schools that MAY face higher capacity requirements ES's to replace? If the school is so unsatisfactory, then that is a in the future? The city continues to grow, but primarily to the statement to the job the School Administration is doing (or South where land is more plentiful, and schools will be not doing) with regard to project capitilization and required to meet the demand signal of these new homes and sustainment. There are several other ES's on the master list their families. Please do not take the above as criticism; we all who require replacement immediately, but will be sacrificed want the same thing, but on a fair and equitable basis.

33 Virginia Beach City Public Schools - Community Dialogue #1 Results 33 QUESTION 6

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• Each school should be evaluated to ensure that every child is faster start to learning in an atmosphere conducive to them learning effectively. • Elementary schools are where it all begins, should be given Every child should have a good learning environment where priority. The renovations of middle schools and high schools there are not distracted by the fact the school is falling apart. are definitely needed but there are more fluctuating schedules • Education is more important than focusing on the design of already in high school that accommodate. Depending on the SOL. I know it is not the topic, but I know I have location of swing schools, the temporary commute for 2 or 3 someone's attention to review that area. years can be grueling! That needs to be considered, for all • Electrical issues in older buildings much be addressed. The ages. With the amazing new schools that are being replaced, it electricity cannot cope with the loads in many of the older is also disheartening to hear vandalism occurs frequently with buildings causing outages which impact instruction. With the no appreciation of the new school, furniture etc. Believe it push for 1:1 in classrooms, the need for electrical upgrades is happens more frequently at the middle school and high even bigger. Even if we expect students to charge devices at school level. home, there will still be a need to charge some during the day • Elementary schools in lower real estate tax generated causing another load on the strained electrical capacity. communities tend to lack the priority in renovation/updates • Electronic capabilities (computers, modems, routers, etc.) than the higher taxed areas of VA Beach. should be up to date and not outmoded. If upgrading is • Elementary schools that are the oldest including Fairfield done, then get equipment that will last and not be outdated in elmentary should be top priority. Many other elementary a few years. schools have been updated and I have had a child in an old • Elementary middle or high school’s need to be made of a that and a newer school and you can definitely tell the difference this is the future of our universe these kids need clean safe in school excitement amongst both teachers but especially facility for the education amongst students who attend the newer schools. • Elementary school improvement may have the most • Enlight of recent events (school shootings) plans should be significant impact as the first learning experience and gives a made to renovate school with proactive preventive measures

34 Virginia Beach City Public Schools - Community Dialogue #1 Results 34 QUESTION 6

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to decrease the risks for our kids. For example, locked doors play until a certain year and their is a grandfather clause. The from the outside and cameras. safety of our students should be a priority in the event of a • Environmental factors should be a huge factor when fire. determining modernization/ replacement. • Every 'portable' I have seen at VB public schools are simply • Equity is a big concern. Funding so much to go to one school aweful. They would be aweful when new and they are for the gifted when neighboring schools have students in certainly more terrible in their dilapidated state. Mr. Spence poverty while kids at the other school get home cooked meals and the school board should be ashamed. Prison facilities "scratch" and real world systems to learn from while others look better and more accommodating then our portables. already without as much access are not given these learning When you think about it, portables could easily be beautiful tools or opportunities bothers my neighbors. and created with sustainable features off site and simply • Even though the division has many schools to consider, I trailered into place. Reference the 'tiny house' movement. don't think enough is being done to keep a total renovation at I've always thought that portables would be the easiest and bay. For example, schools that might not be eligible for lowest cost classrooms to improve upon. Please ditch the old renovation should be receiving more funds for fresh paint and trailer park model and find a new, modern version to house new furniture than newer schools. If these schools were given our students. more money for newer furniture and smaller projects, they • Every school is overcrowded and when we build it new wouldn't feel such a disparity between the newer schools. there're still not enough room for all the assign students I • Every elementary school should have fire sprinkler systems in think we need to think ahead not based on current data we the buildings and they don't. Water leaks, weak heating/ need to remodel or build our schools for future not for present cooling systems, poor plumbing, etc...are inexcusable in any • Facilities should be able to provide wide ranges of of our buildings. Our students should be comfortable when accommodations for differing abilities without school learning and not subjected to moldy environments, and safety transfer. Facilities shouls also be free of dangerous allergians concerns. I don't care if sprinkler systems did not come into such as mold and fungus.

35 Virginia Beach City Public Schools - Community Dialogue #1 Results 35 QUESTION 6

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• Facilities take too long to be built. We are behind on our of their own, let alone a collaborative work space. The master plan. infrastructure can't support the technology. The school has • Fairfield Elementary and Kempsville middle are in need of several administrators currently dealing with cancer. renovation. I understand that KEmpsville high school Numerous previous long term employees have also battled underwent renovations back in 1990s which has eliminated cancer. The asbestos in the building HAS to be a contributing KhS from renovation funding currently. I feel the entire factor. school needs a renovation to keep pace with academy’s in • FCHS should be rebuilt on the property behind Lynnhaven VIRGINIA beach. Middle School and then tear down Lynnhaven for athletic • Fairfield Elementary is in dire need of improvemts and more fields. Lynnhaven could then be rebuilt on the old FC space. The concrete walkways around the school are property. Your welcome! crumbling and the school is very outdated. Teachers and • Feel money sometimes unwisely spent. Classromm size still students deserve a better facility. too small while some bells and whistles not always needed. • Fairfield Elementary, Kempsville Middle, and Kempsville • First Colonial has had little to no capitol improvements in High School are in desperate need of rebuilding!! years yet the Great Neck schools around the corner have all • FC and Bayside HS should be next, the facilities are not very been rebuilt or are under construction. We spend millions on conducive to a great learning environment. The Tech Center a new school for the gifted students who are a very small could use modernization. Also, it is pretty sad, you missed 2 percentage of the total population yet FC students are in schools. The ATC and the Tech Center are vital components villages of portables. At the very least, paint and make of our school system and should have been on the list. improvements to the exterior of these three portable villages • fc is old and needs to be redone. so you are not seeing the insulation handing down underneath and rust. Create an inviting "garden" area within • FCHS and Lynn Middle are in dire need of upgrades! these villages and secure them with attactive fencing...they are • FCHS has outgrown the space and the facility is overrun with easily accessible to anyone who may want to do harm to the rats and cockroaches. Teachers don't even have a workspace 36 Virginia Beach City Public Schools - Community Dialogue #1 Results 36 QUESTION 6

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students or teachers in them. Very unbalanced! improvement is a joke!!!!! IB kids get more I guess!!! • First Colonial High looks very outdated compared to most of • First Colonial high school has needed replacement since the the other Virginia Beach Schools. 90s • First Colonial High School • First Colonial High School in our district appears neglected • First Colonial High school and Independence middle school and like one of the last schools to receive renovations or need desperate help. IMS has the largest population for that updates despite the population density, the strong academics style building. They are still being held responsible for and athletics coming out of the school, and the high tax base implementing the same New curriculums as new modern supporting it in Little Neck, Great Neck and at the Beach. I schools. For example Blended HPE. Yet IMS does not have think it needs some attention. the space as say GN middle and has more PE teachers. • First Colonial High School is and has been in desperate need • First Colonial High School and Princess Anne Middle School Of renovation for sometime now, it is in very poor need to be a priority!!! substandard conditions. It is infested w/ rats & roaches, still • First Colonial High School as rats and roaches so bad that the uses old chaulkboards, & they are using a lot of portable students are sick of it. City council want to build a new city classrooms. My sons are 3rd generation FC students in my hall bldg. and our kids go to school with asbestos around family. It is time for a new building! The parking lot situation them for year and years. There is so much wasted damn is also a huge problem! There are very limited parking spaces money in this city!!!! If our kids really mattered they would for students, in which causes a lot of stress in the early am for have better conditions in the schools! IT IS A JOKE! IM students trying to find a place to park nearby often causes DOWN TO MONTHS LEFT IN SCHOOL AND I THANK tardiness, ( I suffered the same issue when i was an fc student) GOD EVERYDAY MY CHILD IS ALMOST DONE WITH VB and the traffic due to the limited parking is just a PUBLIC SCHOOLS!!!!!!! I'm a native of Virginia Beach and NIGHTMARE!! Please consider reviewing FCHS for much these schools are a JOKE!!!! PA where I attended is just as needed changes & updating. Thank You, Heather Lachman nasty as before. FC is in such bad shape and they cant get any (Concerned parent)

37 Virginia Beach City Public Schools - Community Dialogue #1 Results 37 QUESTION 6

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• First Colonial High School is definitely in need of students are preparing for college, and I believe having a modernization ...it looks almost exactly the same as when I pleasant place to do so would only enhance their ability to do graduated from there in 1988! so. • First Colonial High School is highly outdated. The kids have • First Colonial High School is in serious need of renovation to park on the street down the street and walk to campus. It's due to the physical condition, building capacity and ability to dangerous! accommodate school needs. • First Colonial High School is in desperate need of • First Colonial High School is in tremendous need of modernization. Replacement or renovation needs to be a top renovation and modernization. Well out of proportion with priority. other district High Schools • First Colonial High School is in desperate need of • First Colonial High School is old, there are all kinds of replacement. There is also a disconnect between the animals and critters everywhere, holes in the structure, and if modernization. Students may go to new elementary or middle there was a severe storm, the building would likely collapse. that feeds into outdated high schools that don’t have the • First Colonial High School is very overcrowded for the actual technology available. building itself. I think that when a school needs any portables • First Colonial High School is in desperate need to be updated. at all, it should be on the priority list. Portables are not a It is very small for the students. suitable classroom and it makes the security of the portables • First Colonial High School is in dire need of a renovation in and the school a real issues. When students are in the order to be brought up to the standards of a 21st century building, we can lock the doors and maintain their safety, but school. with the portables, there are door passes that students have to • First Colonial High School is in need of modernization. It is carry to get in from the portables during class changes, and important to have modern high school so it is an easier the doors must be unlocked at certain times of the day for transition to a ever evolving technology driven world. students to change classes - again leaving the security an issue. For some reason, on the study it does not address • First Colonial High School is in poor condition, at best. These 38 Virginia Beach City Public Schools - Community Dialogue #1 Results 38 QUESTION 6

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portables in terms of overcrowding, when that is exactly what are so tight in this area on Lynnhaven land. Additionally, a portable is. We are housed in a building that is not large there are not designated spaces for science rooms. The enough, and our classes are being retrofit to meet a need, but building is overcrowded when a science classroom has to be not very well in all cases. First Colonial High School scheduled all 4 blocks daily as there are no other free rooms. celebrated its 50th Anniversary in the same building without Science classrooms have special equipment, and teachers need any modernization to the full building. There were classes to be able to use the rooms to set up labs, and to get out added for the Legal Studies Academy, but that does not equipment during their planning, but this is not possible, if benefit the entire school, but just those few classes. We have they do not have access to the space during their planning - been putting lipstick on a pig for years now, and what we not to mention the proper set up with lab space separate from really need is a new building. In addition, the classes are not instructional space so labs stations can be prepped ahead of able to be located together. Math classes are on the English time. It is a shame when you have a building like Great Neck hallway, science classrooms do not even all have built in that does not even use all the space, and a high school like FC cabinetry to hold the lab resources needed in those that we can't find any more space. We should be planning for classrooms, nor do they have demonstration stations, or the future of our students. We need to add on to our allocated lab set areas separate from the instructional space. curriculum room for ROTC, more science classrooms and Oceanography classes are in a former art room with no dedicated science labs, with a TA to prep the lab space like the science stations, counters, or any of the other needed do in colleges. We need to really put the science department equipment. There is at least one science room that does not and the math department together. We need more STEAM have a prep room as well, making it difficult to set up and classes that cross over curriculum, but at the moment, there is break down labs. FC could be built on the Lynnhaven field no where to even house these courses. The reason we are not for more space, then Lynnhaven can be moved to the FC competing internationally in these fields is that we are not building while they build the new Lynnhaven building - emphasizing the value of the courses. If we were to create a similar to how the Great Neck renovation was handled. wing of our school devoted to STEAM classes and Making FC a 2 story building would help with space as we curriculum, you would be able to energize the community to 39 Virginia Beach City Public Schools - Community Dialogue #1 Results 39 QUESTION 6

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the value and the importance of the instruction. In order to Lynnhaven MS & FCHS, these building are in worse shape make our school relevant to the 21st century, we need to be then the old PAMS building. PAMS and Lynnhaven MS designed for the 21st century! buildings were built around the same time. There are many • First Colonial High School needs to be rebuilt. aging HS buildings that need addressing. Even the old • First Colonial High School needs to be rebuilt. One of my Kellam is being used but nothing is being done for FC, child's classes, for 2 years in a row and still, did not have heat Bayside or Kempsville HS. and he had to make sure he dressed warmly on days he had • First Colonial needs a new building. The Theater is not up to this class. No child should be in any classroom with those par. conditions. From my own experience with students I know • First Colonial needs a new building. We were overlooked they are so distracted by an environment not conducive to when other schools our age received more classrooms with learning and student focus is negatively impacted. additions. First Colonial doesn't have the needed space for • First Colonial High School needs to be replaced. fields and parking. First Colonial infrastructure is falling • First Colonial HS is in desperate need of updating but I really apart. What can be done? Send the 700 or so Lynnhaven believe the facility needs to be replaced. Middle School Students to Great Neck, VB, and Plaza Middle Schools. Build A new two story design on the Lynnhaven • First Colonial is in desperate need of a new building and property. Take the trailer park on 17th street. space with ample parking The Large gym could be kept and a new gym built that would be more like Kellam or the "new • First Colonial is one of the oldest schools around. It is in Cox that was built in 1983". Design a new public facility at desperate need of renovation! the old school grounds that would include a turf field for field • First Colonial is very old and extremely crowded and it is not hockey, etc. A new stadium and practice fields, tennis courts slated for improvements or replacement. The old Princess and parking. This facility could be used for not just the school Anne MS building was just torn down. My son was there for but for other activities as well. A pool could also be added 2+ years while new ODS was being built. The old Princess that would aid students in this area since the Great Neck pool Anne MS was not that bad. My other kids have attended 40 Virginia Beach City Public Schools - Community Dialogue #1 Results 40 QUESTION 6

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is used so much and the Seatack one is so small. What are the huge factor in equality. positives for this- Some of the middle schools would then be • Follow Norfolk’s lead. Build several nice buildings at a time at capacity It wouldn't hurt the students who are currently for less than you spend on one glamorous building or attending FC because the new building would go up on renovations. Lynnhaven property. There could be enough field space for • For the planning of classrooms for level 2 and 3 sped students one year or maybe the destruction of the old school and the large bathrooms with grab bars and enough space around fields could be improved in the summer? toilet for staff to assist sinks where WC can pull up to the sink • First Colonial Needs a new facility asap for hand washing and space for changing areas. More than • First Colonial needs help. The students are always one . Also ventilation in these rooms must go out through the complaining of Roaches. roof or wall to vent just into ceiling space does not clear the • First Colonial needs to be replaced air when changing diapers vents need to be above designated • First Colonial needs to be replaced or refurbished. It is one of changing areas ALSO all windows need to be able to be open the oldest high schools and needs attention. just a little for fresh air intake stagnant air in a problem • First colonial needs to be updated. • For those schools that are awaiting modernization or replacement, there needs to be avenues in place to ensure they • First Colonial students have been with insufficient space, portables and the same dark, dingy bathrooms since the 80's. have the proper materials(ie. working Smart boards or The school neddd a major renovation. Promethean Boards since those are starting to break down), no water leaks and HVAC system working properly to • fIX bayside prevent mold. • Fix Princess Anne High. It's disgraceful how bad that school • For YEARS Princess Anne High School has been pieced appears especially when comparing it to Kellam High. Do together with used equipment from other schools being what is right and stop concentrating & applying money modernized and has waited for modernization only to see toward the richest areas in Virginia Beach. All the kids have a other schools in the division (especially those in affluent right to equal quality education and the school building is a 41 Virginia Beach City Public Schools - Community Dialogue #1 Results 41 QUESTION 6

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neighborhoods) be pushed ahead in the cycle although the technology. Schools are not using current evidence that system was forecasting dates for modernization. We have address better learning environments or how students learn believed that, if patient, finally we would be modernized and today. we would not have to continue to be pieced together because • Green Run and Bayside really need to be upgraded. parts are no longer available to repair things or endure the • Green Run Collegiate needs their own building. It's a day to day rats, leaks, water pipe ruptures, technology hindrance sharing the same school with Green Run. The inadequacies, just to mention a few things. school building is too small to support both schools. • Functionality and efficiency physical layout (ability to easily • Green Run elementary and High school both need to be navigate a building) should take priority over visual renovated aesthetics. For example, the new Kellam looks very cool but is • Green Run Elementary School has been on the list several very spread out and feels like the ability to have a proper times and taken off every time. It is an old school and needs room for growth was sacrificed over the visual design. to be replaced. The Teacher's lounge is old and the faculty • Funding for these updates should have been planned for bathrooms are pitiful. many years ago along with academies- such as Math Sacience • Green Run High needs to be rebuilt before any other school Academy for elementary ( loss of Linkhorn Park) and the • Hallways are too small to walk through. Cockroaches and MYP issues at Plaza. rats. there isn't a single place where the whole school can met • Get rid of the 70's schools and build schools that will grow up except for outside. with the community • hallways could be bigger and lockers could be bigger. • Glenwood Elementary has entirely too many students and is Cafeteria should be more up to date and the musical in need of an upgrade on all levels. classrooms should be a lot bigger and the band and orchestra • Great schools and pace of replacement and or remodeling is should have a separate storage room to store supplies. great. • Happens too slow The need is apparent for years before • Greater emphasis needs to be made with leveraging something is acted upon 42 Virginia Beach City Public Schools - Community Dialogue #1 Results 42 QUESTION 6

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• have worked at all three levels, the high schools are a • Having taught all grade levels in Va. Beach, I am hoping that complete mess. ele is always a work in progress, middle is we can be forward thinking as a system and work toward trying to keep up. if a school is more than 30 years old It is out increasing multi-use spaces for the public. Our school of date! facilities should be a part of the community and used by the • Having been a product of VB school system (Woodstock, community to perpetuate life long learning. Our schools, as KJHS, & KHS) I bought a house 20 years ago back in the same designed now, are institutions that become vacant when class school zone that I grew up in, because I wanted to raise my and sports activities end each day and on the weekends. kids here. While I have watched the impressive replacements Wouldn't it be great to be able to accommodate other go up to replace outdated buildings around the city, I would community activities,, sports clubs etc.? Instead, we build hope that there are some ways to keep the other schools facilities like the sportsplex that go unused and are difficult to (much lower on the priority list, but old by most standards) program. up to date w.r.t. furnishings and outfitting-- to include the • Having worked in Norfolk Public Schools for 20 years, 10 of athletic facilities. Kempsville High is supposed to get a new those as a principal in older buildings, I can say I wing built for its academy, but I would hope the city takes the authentically appreciate VBPCS facilities. time to look at the rest of the outdated facility @ KHS to see if • Hermitage Elementary school is in need of a facelift. The there are opportunities to modernize the remainder of the classroom spaces are small, drafty, and not conducive to the school. Without some improvements to the existing facility curriculum they are using. For instance the 4th grade classes there will be a sense of "haves" and "have nots". New are using stations but the work in each area is disruptive to furniture and systems that facilitate collaboration in the the other stations. The cafeteria doubles as an auditorium. the modern era seem like they would be an easy "add" to the gym is small and on days of inclement weather the students pending contract as to do repairs/modernization at another do not have much room to be active when all are inside. The time would cost at a minimum an extra mobilization/demob music and art rooms are cramped as well. It would be nice to fee. Thanks for listening! Rex Fitch, III "Trip"... KHS 1987. have more computer time available to the students.

43 Virginia Beach City Public Schools - Community Dialogue #1 Results 43 QUESTION 6

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• High school are very important to our future career minded • High schools are important to the overall district with older students. But at the same time, the elementary school seems to buildings. I only have elementary children so I pay attention get ignored and honestly these schools are the base for our to their school as a good building lends to a positive learning students. environment and experience. • High school capacity in conjunction with the size of the • High schools are in a sad shape in VBCPS. The schools that facility should be prioritized. In general, I am deeply are more than 30 years old are in dire need of updating. concerned with the overall condition of the high schools in Technology and the building use has changed so much over Virginia Beach. the years, the rooms are not designed to function in the • High school students are WAAAY beyond what our facilities manner they are being used, from computer lab in old math are capable of: technology, spacial accommodations, desks rooms, to math in English rooms, and science in old art rooms instead of flexible seating, library/media centers (not without any science cabinetry or counters to perform technologically updated), cafeterias don't even hold enough experiments. All science rooms should be set up to house a students for lunches to the point where they can't even get lab section and a classroom section and the class size should lunch, no computer labs and not one to one schools yet.... The be limited just as the other classes are like culinary, tech ed, list goes on and on....our high school students are being and other lab type courses. With a cap on class size, the space shafted and they are expected to be prepared for college??? would be more reasonable and students could move Kids at Kellam and ODC are at an unfair advantage b/c the throughout the room without bumping into tables. facility they attend has so far surpassed other VBCPS schools. • High schools face the greatest needs due to a variety of • High school students need updated, modern technology filled programs in academic and sports. It’s a complex and well learning environments. Teenagers need every reason to stay diverse environment that should support the needs of in school. And if that means the nicest, safest place in their students who are getting prepared to go into the real world. lives is high school, the draw will definitely be there to stay in • High schools in the city should drive modernization costs for school. the time being. First, economic success is driven by property

44 Virginia Beach City Public Schools - Community Dialogue #1 Results 44 QUESTION 6

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values and nothing speaks to greater property values than schools should be addressed intermittently. Let's complete high schools with modern educational programming, the high schools first, then spend the next 50 years working requiring modern resources and facilities. Businesses, on the lower schools. families, and community all increase in value due to school • High schools need to be more modernized with new success. Impressions on the outside and quality on the inside technology for the kids to reach there full potential drive local buying decisions. Second, school resources are a • High Schools should absolutely be prioritized over middle major driver of student decisions for academic programming and elementary schools for the following reasons: 1. We need selection. The high school level provides the highest degree to equip our high school students with the latest technology of personalized learning, but every school should have and give them the best learning atmosphere possible to better common facilities to allow for each school to contend for prepare them for college and the work force. 2. Students student choice. Public schools compete with other school coming from updated elementary and middle schools will be alternatives, including non-brick and mortar (online) options. unprepared for how outdated some our high schools are will Having upgraded school facilities at the high school level see high school as 'downgrading' from their previous keeps our public school system competitive amongst several experience. 3. The majority of high school students have been new streams of educational platforms. Finally, I acknowledge in the VA Beach School system since elementary (with the high schools are the most costly to transform or rebuild, but in benefit of their parents tax dollars) and should have seniority/ order to develop all communities across Virginia Beach, all priority over younger students. communities must have similar resources dedicated to the • High schools should be better, not bigger. expansion of our communities. Last year, we were in the top • High schools should be prioritized as all students funnel to 10 cities to raise a family. That only happens because all them. Upgrades can be made to lower level facilities to keep communities in our city are tended to, not just a few. Keeping them movong forward. the high schools up to par with economic, societal, and • High schools should take priority as they are where students innovation demands will keep us in the top 10. Not forgetting must be ready to either go into the work place or to college. about the little's in our community, middle and elementary 45 Virginia Beach City Public Schools - Community Dialogue #1 Results 45 QUESTION 6

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Middle school should not have a 1 to 1 ratio before high school is in disrepair, we have rats, roaches, and dilapidated school. We need real world training for students not going to classrooms. We are over capacity and even have a "portable college ASAP and the building should be designed now to be city" to deal with the influx of students that the current ready for trade classes. building cannot deal with. • Holland Elementry School is an old school. The lighting needs • I am a student who attends Bayside high school. A 50+ year a major upgrade as well as the functionality of the facility old school that isn't due for a renovation for a long time. This needs more help. In comparison to other Elementry schools in building specifically built for learning is now currently Virginia Beach, this school is over due for some attention! infested with pest such as cockroaches and mice, asbestos, • How can we create 21st century citizens to join the workforce, and is just all around filthy. when they are being housed in buildings that are more than • I am amazed at the buildings that have been totally rebuilt 50 years old? We should start with the high schools and work with state of the art facilities (ex: Kellam), while buildings like backwards on renovations. The high schools are were First Colonial are in serious need of improvement, and yet the students are most likely going to need the best technology funding does not seem to be available. access and it is terrible when a student goes from a new • I am appreciative of the efforts that have been made in building to an old building with less technology. For modernizing/replacing old buildings, however, I feel that the instance, my daughter is at Great Neck, but will be at FC next pace of these projects isn't keeping up with the decline of the year and that building is old and needs replacing. facilities. There are a number of schools, like Kempsville HS, • How much regard is put into the safety of students while in First Colonial HS, and Bayside HS, that are, to put it simply, school? While all of the selections for prioritization are fine, I quite run down. I feel students who attend those high schools was just curious if student safety in and around the school are disadvantaged because their facilities lack the modern facilities was accounted for or if it was a consideration amenities afforded to students who attend Kellam, Cox HS, included in the “cost” selection? Landstown, and even the 24-year-old building of Ocean Lakes • I am a current Princess Anne High School student and the HS I feel high schools should be of highest priority, because

46 Virginia Beach City Public Schools - Community Dialogue #1 Results 46 QUESTION 6

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they house the largest number of students, and require many • I am currently a teacher at PAHS. Although our custodial specialty classes, labs. Middle school is next in order of staff is wonderful, they cannot fix the run down conditions of priority, because they have larger populations than our school. In my classroom alone, we often find mold elementary, and they also have the need to be up-to-date in growing in the ceiling, vents, walls and furniture. Twice this terms of the building capabilities. Elementary school should school year, our meeting room was unavailable due to mold be of lowest priority. The students typically stay in one growing on the walls. What are we breathing?? We have classroom, leaving only to attend music, art, PE, etc. The constant ant infestations that crawl up our walls and ceilings, classroom needs are few, as long as the technology is kept up- and often fall on the tables and desks of teachers and students to-date (Promethean boards, laptops, etc). due to the volume of ants. We also have to have rat and • I am concerned over the apparent lack of planning for mouse traps visible in our rooms, because the rodents (very adequate school facilities related to the amount of new home large) have been known to die in the ceilings leaving an awful construction. The city continues to allow new housing to be stench in the room-- not to mention we cannot often find the built at a far greater pace that schools are being built. rodent, so we are left with the lingering scent of something • I am concerned with the equity issue. Sure the new ODS rotting in our room. Finally, our room is either very hot, or building is beautiful, but do we spend that on every school extremely cold. During the winter months, my students and and every student? Seems like the gifted get the good gifts... myself have to keep our coats on. ALL of these factors effect the learning of my students, and frankly, is most likely a • I am currently a senior in high school at Bayside. I must say health concern. The conditions are awful. I love teaching my that going to one of the poorest school is difficult. The bathroom stall doors don't stay shut, there's a high capacity of students, and working with my colleagues and students in the classroom, and overall the building structure administration, but the physical conditions are deplorable. is prehistoric. My friend saw something behind one of the • I am currently in a school that was built in 2010 that is window sill shades (she though it was a butterfly) and pulled considered a green school. While, it is nice I have noticed the shade back, only to reveal a rat! A freaking rat! issues that could be improved. Better regulation of

47 Virginia Beach City Public Schools - Community Dialogue #1 Results 47 QUESTION 6

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temperature in classrooms and offices, bathroom issues, walls and Cox High. I do, however, volunteer at schools. & ceilings should have more insulation or sound barriers due • I am specifically concerned for the Thoroughgood/Hermitage to the hearing of noises downstairs from the upstairs' classes neighborhoods with the upcoming transition of housing and the constant flushing of commodes and hand dryers, and everyone on the Hermitage grounds. Traffic on Pleasure to have sufficient parking for the students and staff. House Road in front of Hermitage is already high in volume. • I am glad that Virginia Beach is so proactive in maintaining Adding cars making left hand turns out of the Thoroughgood and improving the schools, as compared to sister cities. It is neighborhood or darting across traffic to get the Hermitage also great to see the school system in the forefront in LEED campus is going to cause accidents, in addition to increased construction. Thank you for all you do to make this happen. bus traffic. What about students who walk to school in there • I am impressed with the creativity and sustainability of Thoroughgood neighborhood? I’m just wondering if there is a schools recently built (Great Neck Middle, Kellam High, and better option. ODS), but I feel like all of those schools serve more affluent • I am the President of the Kings Grant Rec League. As a non- student populations of Virginia Beach. I would like to see profit, we would like to make donations to improve gym and student needs (specifically students of poverty) factoring into field conditions at area schools. If we had a proposal for an renovation or replacement of schools. improvement, could we get matching funds from the school • I am neutral because my children attend Salem HS. However I to complete. For example, if installing in-ground volleyball have heard from friends whose children attend Bay Side Hs nets costs $6k, could we pay $3k and the school pay $3k. I that it is a hot mess . My vote would to demolish current think lots of local companies and organizations would building and rebuild. Also Kempsville HS bleachers are in contribute to local schools if such an option existed. Please need of some love. feel free to contact me at(703) 201-7277 or • I am not currently associated with any school in Virginia [email protected] Beach. I am a retired employee and my children attended • I am trying to understand the concept of Thoroughgood Hermitage Elementary, Great Middle, Independence Middle Elementary school having a "village" at the Hermitage

48 Virginia Beach City Public Schools - Community Dialogue #1 Results 48 QUESTION 6

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Location. I am very concerned about children being subjected education in this school system. to Trailers for years. It seems to me it would be much better • I am zoned for Brookwood Elementary, Plaza Middle, and to distribute these children among other surrounding schools Green Run High School. Both Green Run and Plaza are ( or at least give parents the option ) john b dey...... disturbingly outdated. I feel as though because we are hermitage.....ODC...... Trailers do not seem safe. Trailers can located in a economically disadvanted area our buildings be unhealthy. Trailers for more than 6 months are not come last. temporary. Formaldehyde? Consider Modular classrooms • I attended Bayside High School for a summer school course in and Portable school buildings. Trailers are not a quick fix. WE 2015, and I have traveled to various other high schools for can do better. we should have a better long term plan for sports competitions. From what I have seen, there is a great these capital projects. disparity betwee the quality of facilities lile Kellam and • I am very dissatisfied with the school system having to use Bayside. According to the table on slide 18 of the "FACILITY portables/trailers for classes. MASTER PLAN COMMUNITY DIALOGUE #1" powerpoint, • I am very focused on elementary level children. I think that Princess Anne and Bayside are the most outdated facilities. It the more they are provided with, the better the foundation appears that Bayside just is not a priority. When students feel they have for middle and high school. We also do NOT need that they are not seen as a priority, and that "The System" all of these facilities for students who do not appreciate and does not value them, they do not value the system. acclimate to the regular schools. I think that it is important to • I believe all the schools should be equally renovated as put the most money and the best facilities for our "everyday, needed as well as provided the technology and funding for average" students. the program is necessary to create the best learning • I am very pleased that the new projects have been built as environment for the next generation. sustainable buildings. The long term operational cost • I believe high school is a priority due to the specialized reductions far outweigh short term construction costs. programs and academies. • I am very pleased with the VBPS system. My kids got a great • I believe high schools should be the priority, because an order

49 Virginia Beach City Public Schools - Community Dialogue #1 Results 49 QUESTION 6

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facility will seem even more run down if kids are used to whatever color is agreed upon by the board without pagen shiny and new. Little kids don’t know what to expect, and are items being displayed all over the school. I went to satisfied with less. Kempsvlle Elem in the 60's, my children in the 90's and now • I believe it is a difficult process and that VBCPS does a very my grandson goes there, so I am very familiar with the good job. There are many schools in need of repair/ history of the Braves and Chiefs. But those tolem poles and replacement that are close in age, thus making it difficult to that dreamcatcher at Kempsville Elm should be remove. They decide which to work on first. are quite honestly creepy to the children, affensive to me as a • I believe it’s important for the district to modernize and follower of Jesus Christ, and they do not look like something provide the optimal facilities for its students. that a Elem school age child would enjoy. I private funds are used they should not be use for pagan artwork on the • I believe less money should be spent on unneeded items such as the to totom poles and painted dream catcher at building but put toward a school art programs. Kempsville Elem. If private funds are use that is another • I believe not all schools have had a chance to be assess by the matter. However it really bothers me that Jesus & the Bible standard of students' environment in which they learn like can not be protrayed, used or mention in our schools, but take Bayside High School as an example they have rats falling pagan items are all over the building. I do beleive history from the ceilings on to students. should be taught, and the history books may protray this type • I believe one school particularly Green Run High has been artwork, should the children decide they want to do this type around for decades and still remains the same and deserves to of artwork that it should be displayed as the students receive newly renovation for a better learning environment artwork. Or at Kempsville High School I agree with the for the students and for the surrounding neighborhoods. seniors painting keeping the tradition each year of desisgning • I believe PA needs to be remolded and expanded. It is a a new Chief at is displayed on the out side of the building, struggle to find classrooms to test SPED children in small again as student artwork. But when it comes to the buidings, group because all classrooms are generally occupied. stick to plainly painted buidlings, the school colors or • I believe Princess Anne Elementary should be near the top of

50 Virginia Beach City Public Schools - Community Dialogue #1 Results 50 QUESTION 6

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the list for replaced. It is one of the oldest schools and has • I believe Princess Anne HS should have the highest priority of alot of SPED children that would benefit from an updated capital projects due to its age. facility. • I believe renovations should beginning at the top and work • I believe Princess Anne High School must be the next school they’re way down. By doing this, students will not move to be rebuilt due to pest infestation problems, classrooms too from a school that is able to accommodate school programs to small to accommodate growing class sizes, asbestos and one that is not. unsafe building materials, and the overall impact on student • I believe students who are academically excelling in the MYP performance that the facility has. Students suffer from and other programs, should have better facilities than those extreme cold or heat in classrooms (and even wrote an kicked out of school and sent to the renaissance school editorial about this problem in the latest newspaper). They • I believe that high schools should have priority in also fear to leave backpacks or lunchboxes on the floors renovations. Also, age, hygiene, should all be issues that because of roach, ant, or rat infestations. The building is such should come into effect. a hodge-podge of colors, ceiling height, light brightness, • I believe that lynnhaven middle is in desperate need of classroom sizes, and safety levels that students suffer as a renovation. result. Furthermore, the school board saw fit to create a plan • I believe that Plaza Middle School is in horrible physical to rebuild PA in 2007, and made us believe we would be next condition. The portable classrooms are horrendous with on the list; however, that promise fell through. I believe that mold and roof leaks. It's an embarrassment to the district. our school's location is historic and culturally significant. • I believe that schools should consider the safety of kids. Please Generations of students have graduated from this school and budeget to be able to enhance security at entrances. sent their own children here. It's now in the heart of Town • I believe that some of the schools that have been reconstructed Center, which is an attractive and growing area, so it is time or replaced were needed; however some of the districts oldest for the building to be rebuilt to suit the current needs of the schools still have yet to be updated or replaced. I understand community. that the nicer areas have prority because more tax money is 51 Virginia Beach City Public Schools - Community Dialogue #1 Results 51 QUESTION 6

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drawn from that community due to the homes costs, but you regardless of age, should drive priority. That said, the other have schools such as Point O View, Bayside Elem through factors are part of the complex balancing act that division High, Green Run that also have needs. Letting these older leaders must work. If a crappy building does not get replaced schools slip is probably contributing to their poorer test for an extra year to allow for better swing space options, then scores, and lack of community support. VBPS has one of the that may be the best plan. best school districts in this area, but I believe that helping the • I believe there are a lot of old schools in the district. My schools mentioned with upgrades/replaced facilities would daughter attends holland elementary school and they do not not only help inspire more community support, but make it have a designated cafeteria and auditorium, the gym is very the best school district in this area. small and they have an outdated play ground. I believe there • I believe that the city is doing a fair job with modernization/ are many older facilities out there. But I believe there are replacement of schools given that a number of schools were priorities that need to be made. built around the same time and consequently are reaching • I believe there are at least 4 high schools that need to be on the their expiration dates around the same time. However, some top of the list. (Princess Anne, Kempsville, Bayside, FC) With old schools such as First Colonial High School are in the direction that we are moving in our compass to learning, desperate need of replacement. these facilities need to be upgraded for our students. • I believe the age/condition of a school is very important when • I believe we can build our schools for far less money if we get considering projects but capital improvement costs for the rid of the frills. latest new schools are costing tax payers too much. • I believe we should rebuild middle and high schools (first • I believe the physical condition of the facility is directly tied to colonial) because they are old and in poor condition and we student growth and achievement. If the building leaks, is would learn way easier with a nice school. never comfortable, has insect and/or vermin infestation, has • I believe your decisions have been racially motivated. I mold, then the children in that building cannot grow to their believe that schools like Princess Anne High School, and potential. Age is not the sole determining factor; condition, Bayside High School should of been replaced way before

52 Virginia Beach City Public Schools - Community Dialogue #1 Results 52 QUESTION 6

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Kellam High School. Which leads me to wonder if it had feel ill. I am very concerned over the decision to house anything to do with the racial make up of that school. Thoroughgood in portables at Hermitage for two years. I feel • I can’t say how I feel about the whole region because I’m not like there were other options, as Hermitage had when they familiar with all the schools. I do know that North Lansing were built, students had options to go to other schools. Elementary is way overdue for at least some cosmetic Hermitage as it is does not have enough parking, how will upgrades and modernization, particularly the cafeteria and they accommodate 600+ more families? I am glad, it seems library/technology areas. My children are in grades 7, 10 and like the model for Thoroughgood seems like it is one story, 12 - but 2 of them atttended NLES and it is an amazing school not massive for the neighborhood. as far as staff and education - but the building needs help! • I currently attend First Colonial, just as my father did in the Landstown Middle is almost as bad. It’s old, too hot in 80s. When he visits the school he says that it is the exact same summe and too cold in winter, and th acoustics are wayyyy as when he went here, if not more disgusting. That should say too noisy. Kellam is fantastic. that the school is in desperate need of an upgrade- as if the • I certainly value and appreciate the value of early education constant cockroaches in the hallway and classrooms weren't and elementary school. However, I do see that many times enough. new initiatives and programs begin at the elementary level • I currently teach in a building where roaches and wasps are with delays in roll-out to those students that are most quickly daily visitors in the building and a rat ate the front of my making their way into career and college pathways. Many of grade book one night. our high schools are not equipped to meet the growing • I currently work in a school building that is in need of technology, service learning, and flexible classroom goals modernizing...it's hard to sit and watch huge, extravagant being set by our school leadership. schools being built while other schools are left to the wayside. • I checked the boxes above siting age and physical condition as I can't help but think that the division could be more being very important as the older schools tend to have mold, cognizant of their spending on one individual school and try mildew, leaks, animals and generally things that make people to spread out the wealth a bit more. OR...use the money

53 Virginia Beach City Public Schools - Community Dialogue #1 Results 53 QUESTION 6

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towards teacher pay raises...wouldn't that be nice. listening to teacher needs and concerns. They make the best • I currently working at Independence Middle School after of what we have, but I tell my friends and family that I left the working at a much newer VB middle school for two decades Ritz Carlton to work at the Super 8, and that is a pretty prior. The switch has really made me realize how a lack of accurate comparison. space and the overall layout of a school in general can affect • I did not like question #5. I think the priority should be based learning. The lack of an auditorium or any kind of on the age/condition of the buildings versus the type of conference or meeting room at Independence Middle means school. Providing a safe learning environment for all ages is inadequate, makeshift meeting spaces and presentation important! spaces are constantly being put together - disrupting plans • I disagree with the way money is spent across the division. I and displacing groups. The classrooms at IMS are very small feel that money is often spent on frivolous things (i.e. in comparison to other schools and students are so tightly branding a marketing a new logo for VBCPS every couple of packed in, it is amazing that a student can think when the years, or buying new paper towel dispensers for the entire only possible class arrangement in some of the rooms is for division with the new logo on it, or redecorating the the students to be squished amongst peers with body parts superintendent's office with expensive furnishings instead of touching or practically touching on all sides. The well cost effective basic furnishings.) The focus of the division's intentioned security locks that require an electronic pass to spending should be on maintaining and upgrading facilities open MAY create a minor obstacle to a would-be intruder, but ensuring students and staff are comfortable in their unfortunately they create many disruptions in a school that is environment and have the facilities they need to learn at their not housed in a single building. The size of the gym is hardly best. I would even place these needs over technology needs - inviting to parents and the community and the condition of although that comes in a close 2nd. However, even with the one of the gyms literally made my jaw drop when I first saw newest, shiniest technology, if students feel like their school is it. The administration at IMS is fabulous. They run a tight old and run-down and falling apart in places, their focus ship and they are great at communicating policies and won't be where it needs to be.

54 Virginia Beach City Public Schools - Community Dialogue #1 Results 54 QUESTION 6

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• I distributed the priority rankings almost evenly. When I modernizing facilities for students who have been suspended filled out this survey, I hope that the wording "school such as the Renaissance Academy. programming need" applies to the overall programs and not • I do not think it is necessary to replace smart boards or technology. I've not been inside of Great Neck Middle, but promethean boards at this time. It seems we are upgrading what a fantastic looking facility, especially when compared to things that do not need upgrading. Cox High School (which looks like a prison). A school should • I do realize that we cannot update all schools at the same have lots of windows, lots of green space and places for time. What I do expect is more priority given to the waiting children to gather in social groups. As I address the priorities, schools to better their environment until it is time for their that first comes to mind. Socialization and healthy school upgrade to come up on the list. Lynnhaven Middle environments is what is really needed for today's children School is full of asbestos, mold and roaches that leave behind who are often too involved in technology. I was only given allergens. Every year children are sick in the masses during one choice above, but obviously the age or physical condition the time when the heat is turned on. The ventilation system of a school needs to be addressed, for many of the same needs to be cleaned more often and filters changed in this reasons as above. Virginia Beach does a pretty good job with school every 3-4 weeks to help control the air quality. buildings and could do a better job with the education of our Spraying the halls down with toxic chemicals is not going to children by addressing their health and social needs as well. prevent illness. Cleaning the air will. Air quality can be • I do believe that some of the modernization/replacement that improved and as a plus to that there would be less absences has taken place on some schools already seem to be excessive due to illness. At First Colonial HS there is no parking and or “over the top”. too many trailers are used as substitute classrooms. These • I do not feel qualified to answer these questions because I containers are being used for long term use and they are fire have no idea what shape the school buildings across the city hazards, crowding the outside space and they smell which are in. tells me there is air quality issues with them. Brighton on the • I do not feel we should be spending our money and Bay took up needed space for this schools parking

55 Virginia Beach City Public Schools - Community Dialogue #1 Results 55 QUESTION 6

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availability. Is there not some way to find a solution for these that it seems that schools in more affluent neighborhoods students to get rid of trailers and improve parking? For seem to receive priority in general, not just with schools that have to wait their turn, the wait would not feel so modernization efforts, but with special programs as well. I long if they could get some Band-Aid improvements. would like to see a more even allocation of resources. • I don't believe it is fair to the high school students of schools • I don't have an issue with renovation/replacement of facilities that are not as modern as schools such as Kellam and in a COST EFFECTIVE manner. Replacement of an outdated Landstown High School. This school is modern with all the traditional school building with a newer traditional building bells and whistles. maybe too many. Some of the cost of the should be sufficient- I see no reason for a public school system cosmetic features could have been funneled to other schools. must spend exorbitant sums of public funds on facilities. Glass domes really necessary. How about the fact that each of • I don't know about detrimental safety or environmental their fields have lights on them but yet some high schools concerns. Do the existing buildings have mold, poor air have no lights. All their fields have bathrooms. At other high quality, broken HVAC units, moisture, sewage problems. schools, we are using port-a-potties. They have city funded • I don't know if the school board is making sound choices indoor facilities to work out all year long or lights to practice when it comes to choosing schools that need to be updated/ in to the evening hours. All the high schools should be equal. renovated and/or rebuilt. First, I do believe that the latest of I would move my child there also because children at Kellam schools provide an air of excess. While I believe that new have more of an advantage then others. No wonder some of schools should be attractive a thinking person would agree the high schools are full and others are under capacity. Get that some finishes were not wise or fiscally responsible moving already with the school updates choices. Secondly, there are schools (take IMS or Kempsville • I don't feel that I have enough information about the High that are woefully outdated and dilapidated. What condition of schools throughout the city to say which grade makes those schools not at the top of the list? And, thirdly, if levels are in the most need or how well satisfied I am with the School Board hadn't gone to excess in schools such as the current pace of facility modernization. I will say, however, Kellam, Great Neck Middle or the new gifted school

56 Virginia Beach City Public Schools - Community Dialogue #1 Results 56 QUESTION 6

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(whatever that's being called now) wouldn't the thought of seems need additional classrooms added to accommodate the renovating or rebuilding older schools be closer in view? It growing student population. is sad to think that the school board is a political position as • I don't think the (10) point scale works here. You need to look the only apparent players in this game seem to be the schools at the growing neighborhoods can the current school hold that can afford lobbyists and whose families seem to know them and the age of the school... We have schools like enough to get out and be the squeaky wheel that will get your Bayside HS getting some infrastructures done and grease. Thoroughgood & PA getting replaced before Bayside HS. • I DON'T like that all the schools where the privileged kids Didn't Thoroughgood already have some work done to it a attend seem to be the first to be replaced. few yrs ago? Is this because Thoroughgood is in a better • I don't think elementary schools should have spent so much neighborhood than Bayside??? money on chrome books. I am concerned with the ability to • I don't understand why @ Brickell Academy - a $63M project fully monitor activities and kids needs more time being the teachers have to share classrooms and their isn't a separate physically active, not watching a screen. I think the long term gym for elem and MS. effects will not be good. Instead, improve space and • I feel as a school system, we have spent way too much money curriculum to promote movement. to completely rebuild certain high schools. I think it would be • I don't think elementary, middle or high should be prioritized much more cost efficient to renovate, put additions on, and simply based on the fact that they are elementary, middle, or update current buildings. Our most recent buildings high - schools should be prioritized based on age and (especially high schools) although stunning and impressive, condition. Capacity of the building should also be strongly seem excessive to say the least. Our teachers haven't had a considered. If a building is over capacity they should be significant raise in years, and are below the national average prioritized so that additional space can be added. The district for salary. Our school system prides itself for being superior will probably never rezone because it causes to much uproar to the average school system, but its the opinion of many in the city so the building that are literally busting at the people in our community that our success is due to our

57 Virginia Beach City Public Schools - Community Dialogue #1 Results 57 QUESTION 6

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people, not our brick and mortar. on our Street's and not ENOUGH, PEOPLE THAT • I feel condition and age should be top priority due to the CARE.WELL I'M JUST SAYING, HEY WE ALL HAVE TO safety issues involved in a dysfunctional and ageing building. WAKE UP AND GET IT TOGETHER BECAUSE IT IS WAY Poor conditions for student learning. TO LATE OR IT CAN BE THE BEGINNING OF A GREAT • I feel High school facilities that are in disrepair, over 50 years START. of age should be the first to be renovated. These buildings • I feel like the teachers should explain assignments more generally house the maximum number of students and instead of using chrome books because some households should have updated technology for our students. don't have internet • I FEEL HIGH SCHOOL IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR • I feel PAHS should be much higher on the list. The building is STUDENT DEVELOPMENT.AND IF YOU ARE falling apart. In the city government's dream to bring SURROUNDED BY THE RIGHT ENVIRONMENT .YOU business, culture, and beauty to town center the school looks WILL SUCCEED IN LIFE. so sad and neglected. It would be wonderful if the • I feel it is awesome that the city is revamping these schools reconstruction could be done as Great Neck Middle was, and bringing a freshness to the facility's and newness! The where the new building was constructed behind the old school that have been completed look marvelous! structure and the old building taken down over the summer break. If the building remains nearly 10 years out on the • I feel it's not just Not enough CARING for one another in the School system @ all and it's not that of the school. It's a parent reconstruction plan. At least get functioning electronics and reliable WiFi. so many teachers are using electronic lesson thing too. But how can we Control our KIDS and go to plans and the equipment will not handle the load demands. different meetings to "Improve Our Schools", when we don't have the Law on our Side. The Kids have more Law's and Say My child is constantly being knocked off. ALSO teachers are So's then we do!!. Back in the day's we went to club house giving lessons on blocked sites, so it falls on the students to meeting's for teenager's and Boy's and girl goes to the REC use their own data to complete work. I DO NOT HAVE Center and what not. But know there are to to many GUN's UNLIMITED DATA! It is very frustrating as a parent to see

58 Virginia Beach City Public Schools - Community Dialogue #1 Results 58 QUESTION 6

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Renaissance Academy and ODC, both about a mile from PA the original building may not have been in as bad of shape as with more than their share of luxuries. Wile Princess Anne other buildings around the city. Priority is being placed on students suffer through their days in less than substandard areas where new housing is going up and affluent families conditions. Then there is Bayside High School, nearly as bad live. as PA. • I feel that school buildings should be attractive comfortable • I feel schools that are in better economic areas and are not spaces that children want to be in. They need to be safe, Title I are not taken care of like students who attend schools modern, clean and capable of handling the technological and like Cox, Landstown, etc. I feel schools in better areas are physical needs of the students today and into the future. Cost given more and provided more resources and those schools in should be a factor but not the only factor. Tax payers money lower economic area. should be used wisely but school board members should not • I feel strongly that there is a need for additional space to nit pick each plan, just to nit pick. If there is something that accommodate the needs of the VPAA @ Salem HS. seems to be a complete luxury with no other purpose and • I feel that if you can upgrade the oldest High Schools the costs a significant amount. I love the bright open feel of the division would be in much better shape. new buildings. I love that they are built to be more environmentally sound and have less of a footprint and are • I feel that Kempsville High School is one of the many schools that needs to be rebuilt. It is old and dilapidated. There are more cost effective in the long run....this extra expense is rats and horrible mildew in the school causing the students invaluable and responsible. and staff to get sick. A tile was taken down from the ceiling • I feel that some schools are getting placed higher on the and there was a bunch of rat feces that came along with it. priority list just because they are in a "higher" bracket, even This school is no where for a student nor staff member or though there are other schools that need modernization more faculty member to be. These problems are absolutely • I feel that some schools are receiving frivolous renovations ridiculous and the problem needs to be justified! while some of the older schools are really in need of updating. • I feel that new schools are bring built in affluent areas where • I feel that the remodernization of a school depends on the

59 Virginia Beach City Public Schools - Community Dialogue #1 Results 59 QUESTION 6

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capacity to student enrollment . I feel we need to keeping in rebuild. As a result, VB lacks a soul and a history. It comes mind the new neighborhoods being developed. We need to across as the ultimate modern suburban Mecca. I wish our plan for a long future and not a short term fix . city would learn to appreciate the older architecture and keep • I feel that there are schools that get overlooked due to their a sense of local, neighborhood communities instead of trying demographics. My child is at a high school that currently has to make every new school the next Taj Mahal. Rejuvenate roaches and rats and it's not taken seriously by the and innovate. Involve the community: staff, students, administration. To the students it has become "normal" to see parents, all stakeholders. Instead of showing what some them regularly. This to me in unacceptable, my child contractor who won the bid can do and how they can shouldn't have to worry about those things when there is disappoint us (sinks in some high school science labs don’t enough pressure on you as a high school student. even have proper drain pipes installed for example and don’t • I feel that there are several schools that are in desperate need forget about the flag pole at OLHS that never worked. ) Let of renovation/replacement that are repeatedly ignored. There the students rejuvenate their schools and build something to is a huge discrepancy between the facilities across the city. be proud of. When they come home from college to visit or Smaller schools shouldn't be placed on a "low priority" simply they return from a long deployment, let them come home to because they house less students. The oldest schools and the see the school that they know and that they had a part in ones with the most disrepair should be addressed first. "Band- preserving. High school pride and culture is so important. aid" solutions are frequently used to bide time in my • I feel the oldest schools should have top priority. There isn't children's schools while other schools are replaced at a any equity at all among the schools and I feel each student in staggering cost to the city. There needs to be more uniformity our city should have the same opportunities to experience the across the facilities. same things and that just isn't the case • I feel that what goes on in the building is far more important • I feel the schools should be updated before thoughts of than the building itself. Virginia Beach in general, not just building a new school board admin building schools, has a tendency to tear down old buildings and • I feel very satisfied; however, I have heard that once the

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students move into the new buildings, the administration High School and First Colonial High School. These buildings treats it like a new piece of equipment that they are afraid to are old and outdated. I realize we have a limited amount of use, and are not using the features and upgrades of the new resources to replace these buildings but I believe there is a building to its full potential. great need to bring these old buildings/high schools up to • I feel Virginia Beach is not moving fast enough to keep up date for our students who are the future leaders of our with the student population in terms of school renovations communities and of the United States. I believe VBCPS has and building of new schools. done a beautiful job with the creation of modern, sustainable • I feels like you are renovating the schools with students from and updated, state of the art buildings/schools over the last 18 higher income families before you begin to look at the schools years. It would be nice to improve these high schools for our in poorer areas of the city. I think you need to put the needs of students. schools that are at higher capacity because of academy • I graduated from Kempsville HS in 1980 and not much has enrollment towards the top of your lists as well. changed since then. My three children have recently • I go to an old school, but sadly renovations arn’t to be graduated from Kempsville. The inequity between completed until after I graduate Kempsville and the newer schools is ridiculous. At one point, it was on the list to be replaced. What happened? I would • I graduated from Bayside High School in 1979. I felt like it was old, dreary and dated at that time. Many schools have like to proudly say I would like for my grandchildren to go to since been rebuilt. I still live and teach in this area. I haven't Kempsville, but I'm not so sure. You are going above and beyond on the new schools you are building. You really heard of any plans to modernize this building. There are so many other buildings that have been built in other areas. should tap it down a bit and replace the really old schools not However, this high school remains one of the older buildings patch them up. in the area. I think it should be taken into consideration. • I graduated from Princess Anne in 1993, and my son is currently a sophomore. Aside from renovations as a result of • I graduated from Kellam High School in 1971. I think our city needs to replace or update Kempsville High School, Bayside the fire, the school looks much the same now as it did 24 years

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ago. I understand there have been other priorities in the of maintenance in the school. The school is clean and kept up division in regards to building new schools and replacing nice by the janitorial staff, but it need to be modernized to fit aging ones, but I think it is way past time for PA to receive a the needs of the students. new facility. As the oldest high school in the city, and the • I have a thought on the old buildings and/or not so old national rankings the school has, I think it is only fair. buildings that have major OSHA issues. Like Larkspur • I had three students graduate from Salem High and my forth Middle School with the special education room next to the is currently there. Over the years it was always my hope the cafeteria. The same room with the leaking 'antifreeze' coming school would get rid of the trailers and have better out of the ceiling tiles as I type this. The administration knows accomodation for the students however the trailers are still it's there. The usual run-around regarding this leaves the there. I also listened to the many complaints about the room still in disrepair. Yet, the students with special needs running track and the need for a modernized track. This track who occupy the room...still are susceptible to the hazardous is used by students, athletes, Relay for Life, Special Olympics material leaking into the room...as are the staff - of which I am and even the community. I did not relize the severity of this not one, so relax. But I do know about it. Maybe I should go to matter until my daughter, a track and field athlete developed OSHA. I do know if the leak were in the Principal's office - it shin splint while practicing on the track. This injury was would have been fixed WEEKS ago. I won't go into how slack devastating as it caused her to miss a year of competition and the administration is at this school regarding the interest of its we were left with a huge medical bill. Sports/Physical students with disabilities. I hope you're sweating after education is essential to the development of our students so I reading this too. Now - how about that comment that do hope this matter will be taken into consideration. teachers' morale is 'up' regarding the new superintendent. • I have 4 children in Virginia Beach public schools and the How about giving his $10,000 bonus AND his 14% pay raise only schools I have seen that are in good shape are Larkspur to the teachers, assistants, and staff. The morale comment Middle and Ocean Lakes High School. Rosemont Elementary was a sugar-coated LIE from some one who probably isn't has several items that need addressing due to the age and lack even an educator. I'm glad money is being put into new

62 Virginia Beach City Public Schools - Community Dialogue #1 Results 62 QUESTION 6

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buildings, but new buildings will not increase morale...not believe the facility modernization /replacement plan should when those involved constantly get back-stabbed in the really just focus on categorizing facilities by worst to best pocketbook. Now - back to OSHA...let's see...what is that condition, and then go form there. Keep up the great work phone number? Virginia Beach! Thank you for giving us so much opportunity • I have been administrator at several of the high schools in to be a part of these decisions! VBCPS. Princess Anne HS is in critical need of replacement. • I have children that go to Center Centerville Elementary and The building does not meet the needs of its outstanding me personally they have too much field over there to be student body. They deserve better. Princess Anne is in the having trailers instead of actual building being part of the middle of Town Center. The building should represent the building I really believe that schools like that needs to be values and the architectural design of our business district. updated and then really need to get rid of these trailers Bayside, First Colonial and Kempsville HS are in need as well • I have four children. Ones in college, ones in high school, ones • I have been at Bayside MS for 13 years and heard my first year in middle School and ones in elementary school. Education is that this school was slated to be redone.....nothing yet. very important to our family. Sadly there are people in charge • I have been extremely impressed with the facility at CLMS the principal who doesn't follow state or federal modernization and replacement across the division that I mandates. My child's been assaulted twice within a month have seen in the past 10 years of me living in Virginia Beach. and once in the bus. I'm upset that there's someone in charge There are a LOT of schools to keep updated and I appreciate who refuses to follow rules and allows other children to the schedule and pace that I have seen the city move through assault non handicap children and handicap children with no projects. Can everything be updated in one year? No. And it consequences. Please help.... shouldn't be. Staggering renovations is the best way to go. • I have had a tendency to think..."Why is it taking so long to and by the time you are done with updating facilities, well, it update some of these particular schools?" But after seeing the will probably be time to start at the top of the list again. Its 23 year plan it makes more sense to me now. just the nature of wear and tear on a building. which is why I • I have had the experience to recently have taken a workshop

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at the new Kellam HS. It is a beautifully functional facility. If looks like mold (but of course we are told it is not) coming the long term goal is to put that much time and purpose into through the floor tiles in many classrooms. There is actually the buildings you are doing a fabulous job at the undertaking. mold in other areas that is being addressed now. Our • I have never known anything about the improvement buildiing is infested with rats and cockroaches. In order for projects. This is the first time I have ever been asked for any some of us to get to art or music from our location in the input. building, we have to go outside. If we don't cut across • I have two children at the oldest schools around...Lynnhaven outside, minutes are eaten away from our schedule walking Middle and First Colonial. Both schools are in poor condition through the congested halls with other grade levels coming with very over crowded class rooms. The PA sound system at and going to lunch or PE at the same time. We are not a one- LMS does not work. to-one school, but even if we were, I doubt our band-width or whatever the issue is could support it. Classrooms are small • I know it is not always possible, but since many older middle schools have larger and better facilities than most older and do not have enough convenient outlets--leading to surge elementary schools, why shouldn't we utilize them for protectors or outlet extenders being used. I do not consider it movement of elementary schools that need repair and a safe or otherwise healthy place to work. revitalization? As new high schools are built, older middle • I know that all schools can't be worked on at once but I do feel schools could relocate to the replaced high school facility. as if some schools are over the top while others are in real Then some of the older elementary schools could relocate to need of repair. Feel like some schools which could really use the then vacant middle school facilities. I teach in a building some of the higher advanced items are completely lacking that had a new addition built many years ago. It seems that while other schools have gotten more then what is necessary. because we have the "new" addition--that really isn't new any • I know that finding the right balance between cost and need is longer--we can't qualify for a new facility. The old part of our difficult. Students need an environment they can grow in and building is unhealthy. We have sewer problems in bathrooms be proud of in order to really embrace learning. that leave a stench in the halls many times. We have what • I know that it requires a lot of money and time in order for

64 Virginia Beach City Public Schools - Community Dialogue #1 Results 64 QUESTION 6

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new buildings to be completed; however, it seems that, even but I think they sometimes have too many fancy features that when you are on the list to have your building rebuilt, it could are not needed. take 8-10 years for that to happen. I know many factors affect • I like the layout of the school and all of its physical that timing, so I feel ill prepared to make a judgement on components, but it'd be nice if the courtyard was kept, the satisfaction without experiencing, first hand, what goes into printers in the hallways worked for chromebooks, and the projects as a whole. teachers to be better. • I know that VBCPS wants to remain competitive with other • I live in the Alanton, Lynhaven Middle, First Colonial High divisions in terms of the innovative ideas that we are using in zone. I am profoundly concerned with the age and physical renovating our buildings. I find it unfair, however, for some condition of First Colonial High School, especially when schools to be renovated with huge amounts of money, while compared to other high schools in VA Beach. I addition, both other schools are using duct tape to keep things from falling John B Dey and Great Neck Middle are far superior in apart. I believe that there must be a more equitable way to modernization versus Alanton Elementary and Lynhaven handle the budget in regards to distribution of capital funds. Middle. Is it possible to set a more reasonable budget for these • I live in the Kellam HS zone, therefore my oldest son attended renovations to allow for more buildings to be renovated in a the old Kellam HS and the new Kellam HS. I noticed an timely manner? obvious improvement in his pride and educational experience • I know this is a difficult process, full of many considerations. while attending the new school vice the old school. The However, it feels unbalanced to have schools such as Dey, updated environment and amenities made a tremendous Old Donation, Great Neck MS, PaMS and Kellam at the top of difference! My youngest son attends the IB Academy at the new school list - while this may appease certain Princess Anne HS. As one of the hardest academies to get constituents, please ensure the process allows for renovation into and for such an amazing group of students and teachers around the city, especially where the neediest students are. it develops for our community, it is sad and disappointing the • I like that they are include "green" things in the new designs, school doesn't even come close to the quality and capability of

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its students and staff. I feel the facility itself actually holds • I rated my level of satisfaction as neutral because I am not them back from reaching their full potential. They deserve sure what a realistic or average rate is; I have not done the MUCH better!! I don't need to identify the laundry list of research so cannot make an informed decision. There are examples to support my claim. Your own assessment clearly some schools in the division that really need renovating/ shows this 63 year old school has highest need for replacement due to their age. And then there are schools, replacement and should be done the soonest. Sadly, I won't Salem HS in particular, that need renovating/replacement to get to see the same difference a much better facility makes on simply support the program's needs. Salem does not have the education of my youngest son as I did with my oldest. adequate performance space or large enough classroom However, I wish it so for the hardworking teachers and staff movement spaces to accommodate the needs of the program. of PAHS to have the facility that their tireless devotion to The auditorium is regularly overbooked and overlapped with current and future students warrant. programming. I am not referring to scheduling errors, I am • I question the intelligence in building new buildings when referring to a lack of physical space. Whether is it Fine Arts some of the current buildings we have would be suitable with Chorus or Band, or Academy Chorus, Band, Theatre, or renovations. I am specifically referring to Princess Anne Dance, the group's time in the auditorium is always cut short. Middle--we do not need a new building. The old Kellam Fine Arts theatre doesn't even use the auditorium anymore High is big enough to suit our needs. It definitely needs to be because of the reservation; their showcase performances are renovated, but a few million dollars in new electrical or in the Schola instead. Auditorium time at many schools is a HVAC updates is far less than a 120 million dollar new precious commodity; it has to be shared with three groups: building. The current PA Middle has terrific athletic facilities chorus, orchestra, and theatre. Then consider the fact that that we inherited from the old Kellam--we will not see Salem has those groups- plus four more- all needing the facilities like these in a new middle school building, It seems auditorium. The fact that programming gets reduced and like a waste of money to build new when a renovated existing rushed diminishes the authentic experience for the students. building would be a far better and cheaper solution. Salem also has a lack of movement space for classrooms for theatre and dance. Dance has one "large" studio and one 66 Virginia Beach City Public Schools - Community Dialogue #1 Results 66 QUESTION 6

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small. The large one is adequate in length, but not in depth. school centers and parks as well as the best teachers. The small studio is too small for adequate movement across • I see older schools that could really use modernization such as the floor. Theatre has a classroom and a portable, which work Bayside HS and Bettie F. Williams ES that are really old and well for written work and discussions, but then get too tight worn down that need renovations while schools that are not when groups are rehearsing. Both dance and theatre regularly in as bad of condition are currently getting updated such as have students working and performing in the halls and John B. Dey ES. I strongly believe building conditions should common area of the school to accommodate the number of be more of a priority when considering which schools to students/lack of space. I fully understand the building was update first. not designed with a performing arts academy in mind, but the • I spent 2nd through 12th grade being promised better, safer, performing arts academy is here, and the school (physical more environmentaly friendly, and more educationally space) needs to be able to fully support the Fine Arts and beneficial classrooms and schools- I never once saw an Academy programs. It currently does not. We need another improvement over 10 years. Buildings should not need to be performance space for concerts or theatre productions, and condemned before they are renovated. Old Donation and the larger theatre and dance classrooms. Former Kemps Landing came a decade later than we hoped. • I really feel that the age of a building is the most important Princess Anne High is old, and the oldest sections of the factor when considering rebuilds. The older a building is, the building must be at least renovated. The academy schools more health concerns there are (as well as germ infested should be as advanced as their students. Non-academy pests), as well as fewer resources for most current schools should support and advance their student body, not instructional practices. The layouts don't fit the flow of a 21st hinder it with poor old building conditions. century classroom, and also accommodate fewer students, as • I strongly believe as an IB academy, Plaza Middle School they were built when fewer homes were standing. should have its own space with updated technology. Having • I see in Virginia that resources are still not given equally to all to serve as both, a zone school and an IB MYP curriculum, schools. Those schools in higher income area have more after limits the amount of students that could potentially benefit

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from this program in our area. instructional time due to the need to repair items such as • I strongly believe First Colonial should be the next high leaks in ceilings. As the high school that houses one of the school to be updated/renovated. The school was old when I best International Baccalaureate programs in the country, I attended almost 20 years ago. Students often complain of the believe that the students deserve a better learning poor condition of the school, and the bugs that are found environment that shows that we, as citizens of Virginia Beach, throughout. Not only does the school need to be updated, but value their hard work and devotion to their studies. also expanded to eliminate the numerous portables on the • I strongly believe that student and community demographics property. I've been told that Princess Anne High School is should be considered in order to improve equity and equality being considered for renovation prior to First Colonial and among schools. Bayside - this would be a mistake in my opinion as significant • I strongly believe the school zones with affluent households portions of Princess Anne were rebuilt after the chemistry fire are taking priority on rebuilding projects. Bayside and back in the mid-90's. Finally, in regards to equitable Kempsville desperately need new schools. distribution, many parents find it curious that Great Neck • I support the school board's comments in the Virginian-Pilot. kids have a newer Cox High School, a very new Great Neck Building new schools should have input from teachers in how Middle, and now one of the feeder elementary schools is the school should be constructeed. See through walls add to being renovated. A majority of FC kids attend older more distractions! elementary schools, Lynnhaven Midde which is in need of • I teach in a room that has barely 4 outlets for power, 2 of updating also, and finally FC which is old, out-of-date, and which had to be installed pre-1980. When using laptops, there too small to properly accommodate the student body. are never enough outlets when their power levels drop for the • I strongly believe that Princess Anne High School needs to be last class of the day. The school is outdated and many rooms replaced as soon as possible. The high school is very old and have heating, cooling and leaking problems that continually cannot be cleaned adequately from all the years of disrupt the learning process. accumulated dust and grime. Students are losing valuable • I teach in one of the older schools and I truly believe that the

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environment that I work in causes me physical ailments. You just specific schools. can see mold on our ceilings and each time I come back from • I think all the older schools, regardless of age group, should any extended break I have major sinus troubles, headaches, be thoroughly tested for mold and those should be on the top and respiratory issues. Eventually my body acclimates itself, of the priority list for renovations. but I doubt that’s very healthy in the long run. • I think Anthony L. Arnold, P.E. is a superstar when it comes • I think a lot of resources are more focused on the ascetics to managing and facilitating everything that is involved in than for education. Instead of having elaborate architect keeping our school buildings running. outside the schools those resources can be used towards other • I think both facility age and capacity are both important things, inside the school. factors in deciding which schools to renovate. I have a middle • I think a lot of things need to be considered when deciding schooler trying to do science labs in an English classroom which schools to renovate first. For the elementary level the without even a sink. age and condition as well as the buildings ability to • I think building replacement should not be based on school accomodate school programming needs are really important. level but on the necessity of changing the building. Currently At the elementary level I think it is important to have smaller I teach in a classroom that is on the second floor, but it's only class sizes so that all students can be reached and no one falls access is by stairs. This means students in wheel chairs through the cracks. My hat is off to those Kindergarten cannot be up here, and if a student is on crutches they either teachers with 24-25 students in their classes! miss instructional time or the entire class must be moved • I think all aspects of the school divisions should be considered downstairs for that block, an inconvenience for both teachers when building new or replacing schools. It seems that affected and both classes of students. parking and traffic flow get put off to the side sometimes. • I think everyone wants to provide the best environment • I think all of you are doing a great job! I realize it's not easy, possible for all students; however, limited funds are a reality! and you are all under appreciated! Therefore, we need to be fiscally practical and responsible • I think all schools should be able to handle all programs, not when considering building structures at an enormous price

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that support just a few students in certain neighborhoods. Is there is equipment available for their use during school it fiscally practical and safe to put more money in the more renovation projects. affluent neighborhood schools? Look at the needs of ALL • I think it is very important that all high schools have similar students in the division first! facilities. Unfortunately the remaining high schools can't be • I think Frank W. Cox High School is long overdue for a afforded that due to physical location. Kellam was WAY over renovation. It's very small and it is obviously overcrowded for budget and all other schools will fall short over 2,000 students. It isn't physically appealing, due for it • I think it might be a smart idea to work within geographical being an older school. The cafeteria is always highly regions or specific school districts within the city. If the populated at lunchtimes and kids don't have enough time to schools that feed each other are all modern and updated eat due to the long lunch lines. The Auditorium's seating is facilities, the students will have a consistent environment and vandalized and frankly uncomfortable, due to them being just a better learning experience throughout their time in VBCPS. wood. The mirrors in bathrooms and locker rooms are made There are students who go to academies and whatnot, but I of a metal material and don't show up clear. The sinks are think the focus needs to be put more on the "average" student trough-like and the water comes out in such low pressure. and how they feel when they are going to school at our Some classrooms still have chalk boards, which is dangerous facilities. For example, Centerville Elementary is a mess! for the computers. The biggest problem is the traffic getting in There are a ton of great students, but no storage or extra space and out of school. Students get unexcused tardies for getting to have additional activities and whatnot. Fairfield late, but if there was no traffic, they would be on time. Frank Elementary is the same way, and both these schools feed into W. Cox needs an updated new building to support education, Brandon Middle. Brandon Middle is old, dirty, and not a and a wonderful high school experience to students and great place to try out new technology or initiatives because of teachers. the lack of updates. Brandon feeds to Tallwood High, where I • I think it is important to consider the special needs and teach, and we have a lot of great stuff, but even this school preschool/pre-k population at elementary schools and ensure was built in the late 80s. We could use some updates,

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reconfiguration, and some aesthetic changes. It would be and have the surrounding grounds double as a public park great to have a few additional classrooms, so the ISS room (with paths and gardens etc.) While First Colonial is in a busy doesn't have to be in the middle of the fine arts department. It neighborhood so it does well in offering open recreational would be great to have an additional space to have fields performances or Global events, but we do not have the space • I think it's important to be aware of public perception and right now. If we want to continue to grow our student thoughtful about how to impact more schools. Spending all population and have a happy student body, we might need on one school creating super schools while others don't have some kind of addition like Landstown and Ocean Lakes had a any modern features or even furniture isn't fair. Parents and few years back. If all the schools in this part of the district teachers sometimes feel this is inequitable. So spreading the were updated, we would all have what we need and there wealth or providing some simple upgrades and nicer more wouldn't be a huge change or gap between each school and modern furniture to other schools - especially schools with the expectations that the students have when they go there. I higher poverty unable to fundraise and who lack Title I funds think the current plan for revitalization and updating is good, would be a good approach. but it needs to be centered/focused a little better. • I think keeping costs down when building new schools is a • I think it stinks that Bayside HS keeps being overlooked. I must. I know how much it cost to build Great Neck Middle know there are still a few high schools in our area that are just and I hear that the bids for the new schools that they are as old. As a parent of a student who will be a future high building are about 25% more than that. I want my children to schooler zoned for Bayside, it's disappointing that this facility be safe at school but I do not need my children attending with many students representing low-income families and schools that look like they could be put in an architect diverse demographics isn't a priority. magazine. Our children need to be comfortable while the • I think it would be good to build schools based on their new buildings are being built. Stuffing them in trailers is not neighborhood location. For example, Princess Anne is near acceptable. I also think that making a school big enough so Town Center so it would do well to build up instead of out expansion is possible is key. Virginia Beach has some of the

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best schools in our country and our schools need room for to fix current issues. And why do the affluent areas get the growth. Keeping the class sizes down is very important for new school buildings? Is here really more money for those learning. The elective classes offered are wonderful and those schools or just for “affluence”. What happened to all of the need to stay in the curriculum. Save some money on these money the lottery was supposed to bring to education that we new builds and give our hard working teachers a raise! were promised when the lottery was brought into Virginia? • I think Lynnhaven Middle should be at the top of the list. Maybe money could be handled more like a fine tuned budget They are adding an academy to the school. The building that it should be and would allow money to build new already leaks all the time lockers don't work, classroom are schools in areas other than the ones with people in a higher not big enough for the amount of students in the class. tax bracket. • I think money is wasted with cosmetic fixes such as furniture • I think PAHS is long overdue for a new building. The in a library to make a school look updated while ignoring the students can't use their lockers or go to the bathroom because fact that it is old and should be replaced or renovated. My they don't have time to get to and from portable city through student had a rat in class that was trapped under a garbage the crowded hallways. Mold, critters, and varying can during class, had its tail cut off and bleeding everywhere. temperatures are on-going issues. The students talk about the This is not only disgusting but disruptive to a learning hallways as the "hot" hallway and the "cold" hallway. They environment. Above all else I think one of the biggest are supposed to be going 1-to-1 with Chromebooks, but the disservice’s of our school system is the temperature being internet infrastructure can't even support what they have controlled by some central location. Living in Virginia Beach currently. My daughter burns through her personal data everyone knows it can be raining and cooler in one area and trying to use her own device for school assignments and in sunny and hot in another. Not all schools get the same sun class activities. The teachers never know whether or not they exposure, etc. the schools temperatures are most always will be able to teach using their planned activities when they disruptive to learning. Too hot normally. I think more money involve the internet. The school is in public view along a busy needs to be spent on buildings to either build new or renovate road. It should be an example of the future of our school

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system, not an example of our deteriorating physical plant. buildings for temporary use of entire school communities: • I think Princess Anne HS, Kempsville HS, Green Run HS, Kellam HS, Kemps Landing, PA middle school, etc. Keep up Alanton ES needs extreme modernization or replacement. the good work. • I think schools in higher income areas are seeing more • I think that cost needs to be more carefully regulated by our renovations than lower income areas. It's not fair to the school division. I appreciate the fact that the buildings are students and lower income areas should be made more of a "unique" signature structures but is it really necessary? A priority. million saved could mean computers to MANY children • I think schools should be renovated accordingly, start with throughout the entire division or it could mean additional elementary then the middle school, then the high school. personnel. A building supports only the children that attend it-- in some cases only 600 children in others closer to 2000. • I think schools should have more class rooms and teachers to Costs need to much more closely examined--there's a lot of make the class ratio better example 15 kids to 1 teacher waste. Also, high schools should get much greater attention. • I think some facilities have too much open space inside the These are the kids who are going to lead us into the future building and not enough parking. This would be ODS. Seems now. Their facilities should mimic the workplace --besides like some of the new facilities have extra nice decor, fitness the ATC what other options are available? How can those areas for staff and yet not enough bathrooms. computer skills be taught if equipment is outdated in our high • I think sustainability/green facilities is important and I school facilities? Please take another look at the wasteful encourage the school system to continue to push for green "extras" at TES and PAM-- no one "needs" a ropes course. We buildings. need teachers and technology. • I think that community willingness to revise school district • I think that it has not been equitable in the city with the mapping should have been a factor in this survey too. Good schools that are slated to be renovated. Princess Anne is slated luck juggling the extraordinary demands of changing before Bayside and was renovated when the school had a fire. technology, aging buildings, shifting student neighborhood To me that school doesn't take priority. Also 14 million populations. I am very impressed with the wise use of old 73 Virginia Beach City Public Schools - Community Dialogue #1 Results 73 QUESTION 6

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dollars was spent renovating the Renaissance academy. To me environment! Again this doesn't seem to take priority since the Academy • I think that there are many schools in the division that need to was also built after Bayside and some other schools. If you be replaced or modernized. This is an important aspect of our want to talk about Equitable solutions. Look at schools like childrens educations, the ability to have a facility that meets Bayside and see which ones should take priority over the their learning needs. others. Stop putting a band aid on these schools and renovate • I think that when schools are modernized or replaced they them appropriately. should plan for future growth. The schools should not be • I think that many elementary schools are in dire need of built to capacity. renovation or upgrades, but high schools keep being put first. • I think the city is doing a good job of keeping up with schools • I think that monies have not been used wisely. Excess school however their desire to fill up every inch of green space with system money that has been spent on non-school buildings; more expensive houses is another issue. The schools should while some of the schools in the system are over 40 years old be looked at along with housing going up. The plan has to with sometimes an excess of 15 portable classrooms. include the cities quest to fill every inch with another house. • I think that older buildings should be used to house students. Makes no sense to decide to add to schools or build new ones If their school is being rebuilt then that building will serve as if housing is not considered. Most things in the city should their school. I do think that cost play a big role when it comes go hand and hand. Budgets for staff, raises, school space, to building new schools, but it's what's best for the students in enrollement, etc. It isn't these simple easy questions that the area. should determine anything. Right now the city has again • I think that over 70 million for one building (new facility on approved another new neighborhood on Princess Anne Rd. Independence Blvd.) is way to much. Also, some buildings Which school will they attend? The new Kellam or are so bad the plumbing makes the building smell awful. Landstown HS and middle school? The neighborhood is • I think that the renovation at JBD will take too long and be too equal distance between the two. Another new neighborhood disruptive to the students and staff creating a terrible learning is going up at the corner of Princess Anne and So.

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Independence. Where will they go Landstown or Salem? hallways, making it hard to get to a class across the facility in Landstown again is two minutes up the street. So Landstown a short 5 minutes. will maybe not be chosen to get any new updates or additions • I think the new ODC building was overbuilt and consumed because it is a new school and enrollment might make sense way too much time. I haven't been in every school, but I can but in the next year add all the new kids that will be attending say I think the ones with mold and dehumidifiers should be and it will have needed to be updated and enlarged. MAke the ones to be replaced first regardless if it is a High School, sense? These questions make me feel like the city has already Middle, or Elementary. decided what to do but they want us to feel like we are • I think there is an equity issue with the remodels. You have involved in decisions making process. . . schools receiving 60-70 million dollar reconstruction and • I think the economic status of the families zoned for the other schools that look as if they haven't seen much more than particular school should be a factor. Bayside High School a coat of paint in 50+ years. It's almost extreme what some of should have been a much high priority than ODC and should these schools have and what others are lacking. I think we be a much higher priority than Cox or John B. Dey. could have met in the middle and provided more across the • I think the idea of replacing older facilities in the City of board. Old Donation School is absolutely over the top and Virginia Beach is a great idea. Some of our older facilities are serves an incredibly small population when you look at the outdated and do not provide as nice of a learning entire district. I would love to see some of these schools that environment as I believe they could. With some having tight were built earlier on get a fraction of what these current hallways, making it hard to get to a class across the facility in remodels are getting! a short 5 minutes. • I think Title 1 schools and schools that are bursting at the • I think the idea of replacing older facilities in the City of seams should be prioritized. A new building will allow Virginia Beach is a great idea. Some of our older facilities are students to gain access to better facilities and furniture. I have outdated and do not provide as nice of a learning high school students who are sitting in dated and small environment as I believe they could. With some having tight student desks that do not foster cooperative learning

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activities. Not to mention the students in wheelchairs who into different ways to effectivly purchase the it. Look how can't get through and can't join cooperative learning activities much money has been wasted on Smart boards and because the classrooms are so cramped. Promethean boards. Now, teachers are hearing they will be • I think VB public schools is doing an amazing job investing in removed from the rooms. eco friendly buildings and cost-saving innovative green • I volunteer regularly at Rosemont Forest Elementary School technology for our children’s future. and I truly think it should be looked at for major repairs. • I think we should be thinking of the impact of large schools • I want no portable classrooms, good facilities for sports, and a on student behavior referrals, success, and learning wrestling room big enough for at least 2 full mats. environments. This is especially true on Elementary and • I was extremely disappointed in the condition of Kempsville Middle school levels. I think we should be considering High School during the time my child attended. I strongly enhancing robust environments by reducing class size. This believe that the condition of the school affects the attitude the might mean building new schools instead of renovating older students have in high school. Maybe a revamp in the schools. With reduced student enrollment sizes in older aesthetics would have a more positive affect of the students schools, we could minimize renovations costs but improve wanting to take more pride in their school. student success. • I was very impressed with a new modernized building for the • I think we should look at age and condition of the buildings gifted and talent at ODS but sadly it still did not have enough regardless of what grade levels they house. seats to house all identified gifted students in Virginia Beach. • I think we should rebuild some middle and elementary All identified gifted and talented students should all go to the schools because some are so old and gross and hard to work full time centralized schook and receive the same services. in. • I wish they would work on Kempsville High School, Plaza • I understand the importance of technology in the schools, but Middle, Green Run High School, and Kempsville Middle I am finding we can not keep up with the ever changing School. I understand that these are the lower enrollment world. Technology changes so fast it might be best to look schools and that may be why it is not a priority, but they are

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old too. sewage, HVAC, wiring, leaks, mold, lots of "critters" and • I work at Bayside High School. Our floors are bubbling in our various other constant issues. I see King's Grant is not on the hallways, making it a tripping hazard for students and staff list of planned schools to be considered? Although a wing with mobility or balance concerns. There are cockroaches all and Library were added in 1996, the rest of the school is in over the school. There was a dead rat in the ceiling of my poor condition. I believe school plant employees can attest to classroom at the beginning of the school year, which stunk up this. my classroom and interrupted the learning environment. I • I work at Princess Anne High School and out building is way really recommend Bayside High School as a target for over due for any sort of repairs. In my own classroom, I have replacement or major remodeling in the near future. a ceiling that leaks when it rains - which last year lead to • I work at Bayside HS The majority of the building is over 50 molded ceiling tiles that then needed to be replaced. Because years old. The cockroaches are legendary. The gymnasium the ceiling leaked my tables were water logged - many of and other indoor facilities are extremely far behind other which are now warped and deteriorating because of it (also schools I have been in. When I travel to other HS in the makes me believe there is mold in the tables because the district and region - I feel even more sorry for our student water sat so long). On top of that there is an insect and rodent population. The student desks are a bojangle of mismatches - infestation in the school. My room alone has been sprayed for I do enjoy my chalk board, though. The lack of staff areas for ants three times this year - there are ants in the wall and in the planning - one is a part of the old Art room storage area; the floor of the building. There is also a cockroach and rat constant break down of copy machines. Good luck my problem in the building as well. This irritates student and friends - tell Tony Arnold I said hello! :) teacher allergies and nothing has been done to prevent the • I work at FCHS. The building is old and needs to be replaced problem. The building is falling apart - it is not meant to for the health of the students and staff. withhold the number of students we have here at PA. On top of that, with the city all going to a one lunch schedule in the • I work at King's Grant Elementary so I have more of a vested interest regarding this survey. Our building has plumbing/ near future along with other programs that are being

77 Virginia Beach City Public Schools - Community Dialogue #1 Results 77 QUESTION 6

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implemented we physically do not have the space or capacity ditch the flipped classroom, my child does not at all to carry these out in a safe manner in this building. understand it) i also think that we should have more field • I work in a building built in 1962 and opened in 1964, Bayside trips for everyone and not only for certain clubs and electives. High. There are flooding issues, mold issues, inadequate and most importantly, we should make the curriculum funner lighting, antiquicated electrical systems, narrow halls with and more exiting, kids should look forward to going to school nooks and crannies students can get into mischief in, an entire or going to their next class. upper level that is inaccessible to handicap students due to • I would like my taxes to go the renovation/improvement of lack of elevator. When a student is injured the entire class dilapidated and very old schools in va beach. must change with another classroom on the ground level to • I would like the pace to be faster but understand that it does accommodate the student. That disrupts the learning take time to plan and build. I think that Princess Anne High environment for both classes. The spaces are small and the School should have been one of the first to be replaced. I am classrooms not current with the times to support the subjects SHOCKED at the condition of part of the school. Walking being taught. I have had 2 children graduate from Princess through that school is like walking back in time. There is the Anne High, opened in 1954, and have one more who is a new wing then you slowly walk back to an outside hallway freshman there. That school is horrible. There are classes only that has been closed in that is so dark and depressing that I'm accessible by going outside in all weather or through another surprised it is allowed. There is also the village of portable in classroom. There are halls that are badly light, narrow, and the parking lot, I am truly shocked that the students don't get with low ceilings. In the gym I've hit my head on the ceiling "lost" going to class and end up at Panera! beams when standing up! Both of these schools are in • I would like the school designers to carefully consider student deplorable condition to educate our children in and need to safety, considering the ever increasing number of shooting be replaced as soon as possible! incidents across the country. Please make sure there are • i would like kids in all grade levels to have interactive means of protecting our children designed into the floor plans activities. i also think more online activities are needed. (but (walls and barriers). - thank you!

78 Virginia Beach City Public Schools - Community Dialogue #1 Results 78 QUESTION 6

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• I would like to go back to my old school faster and it would save time on the tech people, because all • I would like to see Bettie F. Williams modernized they have to do is train the teachers and leave it up to them. • I would like to see older, out dated schools replaced. As well as new water fountains. They look like they have been Specifically for schools that have low numbers (and therefor here since the school opened. Oh by the way this is for part time teachers and specialists), I would like to see these landstown!!!!! awesome schools rebuilt and then re-zoned to benefit the • I would love to see First Colonial rebuilt within the next 5 or overall morale of the school and get the teachers at the schools 10 years. These old schools just don't have enough they love full time. bathrooms. The school should also be built with almost • I would like to see smart designs implemented into science double the size and more student parking. classrooms. Please enlist the help of science teachers to design • I would vote to fund/build new schools over public buildings classrooms that will meet their needs. and recreational centers in the short term. Some of the • I would like to see the oldest high schools rebuilt. schools are in desperate need of replacement/upgrading. • I would like to see the schools have better internet service! It • I’m a school employee and work at the newest school. I does no good to spend all this money on computers and consider it an honor and a privilege to work there in such a whiteboards and you can’t even get on the internet to use beautiful building with so many features committed to them! sustainability. I am concerned about the first school I ever worked at; Bettie f Williams. That has to be the oldest building • I would look at the age of the buildings over grade level being served. in the city. When I worked there the building was very clean but needed major renovations and updates. I thought this • I would love my student to receive better school lunches, no would happen during the Tri-campus makeover but it didn’t. matter what the cost is. As well as i think we should move on I just feel those teachers and students deserve an updated from windows and go straight to apple products only. I mean building. your'e double dipping into two different brands. If you were • to stick with one the students would get their work done I’ve been in some of the newer facilities and have found that 79 Virginia Beach City Public Schools - Community Dialogue #1 Results 79 QUESTION 6

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things are all ready breaking. Quality for longevity has to be a schools in order to keep our students competitive in the real priority world. • I’ve only been in a few of the schools but one school has a bug • If the ultimate goal is to have PRE-K programs at every problem. It is gross. The elementary school I’ve been in was elementary school, then certainly there should be appropriate nice. playground equipment for these students at said schools. • IB programs needs much better facility Many pre-k students have no playgrounds at this time. • If teachers are expected to incorporate more technology into • I'm all for capital improvements, but not at the expense of the learning environment as well as things like flexible seating funding personnel cost. and creative room arrangements in order to maximize student • I'm at an "older" school (almost 30 years old) and we still have engagement, then the facilities need to provide the necessary the original desks, classroom furniture in our classrooms. infrostructure-such as WiFi that works and classrooms that New schools get state of the art technology, desks (to make allow for flexible seating. Future plans should also include a for easier grouping), etc. Even if we have an older building, it commitment to smaller class sizes. would be nice if furniture was updated! Especially as we go • If technology is what we should be preparing our students for 1:1, trying to offer flexible seating options, flexible grouping, who are ready to go out into the workforce, why are we not etc. making sure our high schools are the most up to date first? • I'm begging you, please renovate Cox ASAP - the school looks High Schools are the most critical for learning as these are like a prison! Schools like Kellam are fine I believe, as well lifelong skills, where the foundational skills like reading and with Great Neck Middle. Cox though, I believe Cox is far too math do not depend on technology to do them. Business long overdue a renovation. The rooms are musty and skills, autocad, science projects, all require technology to uncomfortable. If you look at a school like Princess Anne, that enhance the education. All high school should have a one to school has had almost over 1/2 of it burnt down, and it still one ration first, them middle, then elementary and the same looks better than Frank W. Cox High School. with the buildings. The most up to date need to be the high • I'm concerned about Virginia Beach getting too far behind

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regular programs that they're not able to keep up with the there is less time to correct that than the elementary school needs of the students. They are currently a wonderful school level. system but if you look at the age of the buildings we need to • Improve Cox high school please be replacing them on a regular basis. I think perhaps a faster • In addition to the capital projects, please consider offering a Pace than we are going now. Of course I understand that is "room" makeover in those elementary and middle schools that always dependent upon money currently do not have a "21st Century Classroom" like an • I'm the principal of an elementary school in the West Bayside Innovation Room or Center and are not slated for a new community that is due for an upgrade/replacement. I send building in the near future. my son to an academy every day that my school feeds into. • In architecture of building schools u must address stagnant His school could use an upgrade too. My wife works at Great air windows in every classroom to draw in fresh air also Neck next door to John B Dey. I am very happy that my mold it is a huge problem and makes students and teachers Bayside area schools will be getting the same attention as the sick no carpet anywhere regular crew mats inane for caulking schools in my family's school zone. Windows roof repair and inspection water drainage away • I'm very concerned with the aging high schools in Virginia from the buildings also careful consideration for SPEd level II Beach. Princess Anne needs immediate attention as does and III much wider doorways WCs with hydrolics are big First Colonial which is physically small, very old and at vented areas for changing students made of metal to go capacity. Bayside and Kempsville also need to be addressed through the roof sinks with faucets that WC students can in the near future. access Windows to access natural light and solar panels to • Immediate need to address pest control in schools much more access heat from the sun agressively • In light of all the craziness in today's world, I feel first and • Impact on high and middle school education has more foremost, that security, both physical and cyber, should be immediate consequences than elementary. If high and middle vigilantly maintained and considered for the future. school kids don’t get what they to have a solid education, • In making funding decisions, the City of Virginia Beach has

81 Virginia Beach City Public Schools - Community Dialogue #1 Results 81 QUESTION 6

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failed to fund the school division at a level commiserate with All sections of the buildings should be on better climate the impact that a strong public educational system has on the control for the comfort of students and staff. Cafeteria City's economic growth and development. kitchens should be air conditioned in this day and age. • In my opinion, building capacity and student enrollment • In the place we have here cockroaches crawl around in the should be looked at as a priority when determining which cafeteria and locker rooms. schools should be rebuilt. • Independence Middle School needs an auditorium. • In my opinion, the building of the new ODC/Virginia Beach • Indian Lakes Elementary School needs a major update. It Middle school is a bit much. My child happens to be labled seems like no one has even tried to update the school "gifted" and decided not to attend this school. Thus, not all • Individual students should definitely get Chromebooks, and children that are "gifted" will be taking advantage of this High Schools should be prioritized for renovation. facility. Some of the moneys spent on this ridiculously huge • Infrastructure has not kept pace with technology demands. school could have been dispersed to other schools that needed Current space design and equipment does not foster flexible funding as well. seating and small group instruction. All those with vested • In some cases it seems like rezoning would eliminate the need interest should be stakeholders in the building process. to build a new school. All high school renovations should Current teachers (not just those who have been teachers in the include a plan for multi-surface fields (girth) for use by all past) should be decision makers. Teacher productivity needs middle and high schools. should be a priority. Students and parents should be a part of • In support of school modernization because it is within the any design/redesign process to foster ownership and pride. schools that you are providing the educational foundation for Besides they have great ideas about how learning should take our future leaders. Currently, schools are outdated, worn and place. All designs should have growth and change in mind. need more capacity to support technological advances. Rigid design no longer works in schools. • In the older buildings more needs to be done about the • Interior maintenance/replacement of existing materials, heating/air conditioning situations throughout the building. equipment and facilities to be a priority even before a total

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building replacements take place. by a particular school the higher the priority for facility • It appears priority has been given to schools in higher income modernization/replacement and the less disruptive the areas - e.g. Great Neck and Princess Anne Middle, where educational experience during construction. For example, Independence Middle is just as old and in need of renovation. John B. Dey and Great Neck Middle were both without Princess Anne High School - the school division's highest moving students AND both were updated prior to older performer, has been neglected. Despite being a Blue Ribbon schools utilizing more portables (Thoroughgood, Princess school, they have terrible acoustics and equipment. The fields Anne and I believe even Independence) It is my are not usable after rain. The hallways are dark and understanding replacement will finally begin for depressing. The HVAC equipment is loud. We would like to Thoroughgood next year and original plan was to build in see a plan for modernization of that school. field while keeping students in old building but now there is • It appears schools that are in a more affluent neighborhood talking of putting them at another school. WHY? I currently have new buildings. Some school buildings receive “band- have a daughter at PA HS and the conditions she describes aid” makeovers, (new windows, heating units and doors) are deplorable. Oldest school in the city, with a portable instead of total new construction. If money is spent on village for classrooms. If I could afford private school my replacing old things in old buildings, new construction is kids would be there. I have started considering the high highly unlikely. school online program because at least it would provide my children with a healthier learning environment. • It appears that some schools are being replaced with extreme costs, prohibiting other schools being done. For example, • It has come to the attention of parents that the next two years Great Neck Middle is very extravagant, yet Alanton will be used to perform immediate changes to Thoroughgood Elementary is very old and outdated. Why not take some ES by use of a plan that utterly disrupts both Thoroughgood funds away from the design from the first, so the latter could and Hermitage ES students. This is unacceptable in both be done? execution as well as the communication level to families of these schools. • It appears to me the more affluent the neighborhoods served

83 Virginia Beach City Public Schools - Community Dialogue #1 Results 83 QUESTION 6

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• It is a very small item considering the scope of this survey, but work in each district and it seems as if the more wealthy it is a significant item that would make the school seem a bit schools have been caterred to. welcoming to its community. I wish that Glenwood • It is hard to understand how a tennis court being done out Elementary still had a place to sit down at the Administration weighs a floor in the school building that all the student use Entrance. This is where parent drop-off and pick-up take and that is disintegrate and peeling up can not be repaired. place. The benches were there earlier this year, but they are • It is not clear how the administration is currently prioritizing gone now. There are more than a few older parents/ which schools are chosen and when. There seem to be certain grandparents/guardians who miss those benches. geographic areas which are getting preference. • It is also important to consider the sustainability of the • It is of great concern to me, as a parent, and a Virginia Beach building for the future, and looking into "green" options. Tax payer that it is now considered the "norm" to spend • It is apparent that the schools with the highest income upwards of 100million on a high school. It is also troublesome community has the most renovation i.e. great neck middle, to me that "Leeds standard" buildings are being pushed on us, John B Dey elementary school while many others just sit and given the high cost/low impact that these buildings have been fester. proven to exhibit. Why on Earth does it make any fiscal sense • It is clear that FC High School has too many portables and the to spend this kind of money on just one school, when so many facility is way over due for an overhaul. of our schools in our district need repairs and renovations? • It is difficult to accommodate student learning in buildings How about getting our kids out of portable classrooms before where there is a shortage of usable space, a lack of technology we start building shiny new magnificent schools? capabilities, and an inability to make sure that services such • It is unfair to have schools like Plaza, Bayside, and Green Run as HVAC, air quality, unfixed roof leaks and the like are not be the way they are compared to schools like Tallwood, fixed, but instead patched until the next time something Kellam, Ocean Lakes. breaks down on these systems. • It is very hard for teachers to teach high school students • It is disheartening that so many schools still need so much current and technical skills when equipment is to so below

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par. Teachers cannot stay on the internet. Connections and major factor in determining the order in which schools are wiring are poor and when a building is older, it does not renovated or replaced. While it is of course a factor to be always get the updated attention it deserves. Academies are considered and planned for, there are some buildings that are nice, but lets not TOTALLY focus on the kids who are rocking in desperate need of replacement, but they are never the world!! Let's ALSO focus on the kids who cannot afford considered in the long-range plan because of this issue. That to go to college (or are not college material) and want a is illogical - will they never be considered? For eaxmple, technical skill and can fix your plumbing when it spews, or First Colonial HS is in desperate need of renovation / HVAC unit when you have not heat or AC . . . or your car, or replacement. The facility does not meet the current work with lawyers, or nursing or dental assistants. Let's programming needs of the students in terms of space and make sure the technology for these schools are working and infrastructure. The temporary housing concern cannot up to date as well. continue to be the reason that it is not considered in the long- • It makes no sense that the remodeling of the oldest school in range plan. the system (PAHS) got pushed back. It seems that affluent • It seems like after the financial crisis things just stopped. It’s areas garner more attention, such as Kellam HS and John B. time to get them going again! My son (and his little brother Dey. Princess Anne Middle should have been remodeled after that) go to Red Mill and then PAMS-this side of the city AFTER PAHS. Age of school and functionality should be is growing-we need new facilities out here; now!! PRIMARY concern, not who's voice is the loudest. Time for • It seems like schools are being build to replace older schools fairness. which is great! But i feel like schools like Bayside and FC need • It seems as if the middle schools and high schools the have work before an Elementary school with less kids. And that’s been updated so far are in higher income areas.... Kellam HS, coming from a mom of elementary school kids. Princess Anne Middle, and Great Neck Middle. • It seems that extreme amounts of money have been thrown • It seems as though the difficulty in finding a place to into a few schools when spreading that money across more temporarily house students while building a new facility is a schools would have been prudent. The 2 schools that come to

85 Virginia Beach City Public Schools - Community Dialogue #1 Results 85 QUESTION 6

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mind immediately are Kellam HS and ODS. Both are state of • It seems to take way to long to design and build new schools. the art in a time when state of the art is expensive and • It should not matter what type of school. It should be based obsolete almost as soon as the building is completed, due to on age of school. If it is an unhealthy school because of the age technological advancement rates. It also seems that areas of and problems it does not matter whether it is high school, the city that are wealthy are receiving new schools, and lower middle or elem. income areas are not. The squeaky wheels are getting oiled. • It sometimes feels like some schools are being built for the • It seems that when some new buildings were completed, they sake of building new schools, rather than actually renovating were made to accommodate the current capacity. VB keeps schools to keep them up with the technology needed to building new homes, neighborhoods, etc.. and even the successfully educate students in the 21st century. newest schools get overpopulated. Growth projections • It would appear that we would be able to replace more should be taken into account. Many schools are busting at the schools if we stuck to a prototype approach for the seams! elementary and middle, while giving more design freedom to • It seems the schools in the most affluent areas take precedent the high schools. In as much as we seek to collaborate with regardless of age/condition. I would hope to see this change our business partners, why not have them participate and moving forward. offer up materials to teach our 21st learners? • It seems to take a long time to replace a school. My child’s • It would be nice to at least fix leaks in buildings elementary school is VERY dated especially considering the • It would responsible of the school system to ensure that area of town. I don’t see it on the replacement list. And there buildings are free from asbestos, lead, and mold. This is a is lots of growth towards the pungo/ redmill / courthouse minimum. It would also be nice to know that the rats, mice, area. Where will you put all these new kids for all the homes and squirrels aren't always in the building. HVAC systems they keep building??? Please consider where the city is should be actually serviced meaning that ALL the duct work growing and plan ahead so kids are not displaced or put in and vents should be regularly cleaned. The technology trailers etc should also be updated to reflect the philosophy that Virginia

86 Virginia Beach City Public Schools - Community Dialogue #1 Results 86 QUESTION 6

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Beach Schools are going to be leaders in today's world by Northwest District does not mean our children should suffer! "Charting the Course" that can be emulated by others. Bayside Middle and Bayside High are glaring examples of • John B. Dey, in the heart of the Great Neck Corridor, with how money is NOT spent where it should be. some of the highest property taxes in the City, is an • Just wish a number of the older schools were more up to embarrassment in terms of the physical plant. I realize it is speed with the modern era. However, truth be told, being updated, but these updates are long overdue. Cox High cosmetically, particularly on the exterior, this should be of less School needs renovations and modernization as well. Again, concern than is the internal infrastructure, technology and the taxpayers along that Great Neck Corridor pay huge taxes, educational programs. It's just being nitpicky. As an IT much higher than other parts of the City. Great Neck professional, I know technology can be retrofitted relatively Middle School should be a model for updates to JB Dey and easily in old environments. Keeping our kids more aligned Cox. GN Middle School is a jewel. The mobile home / trailers educationally/technologically is really what's most important. referred to as "learning cottages" should only be used on an • Kellam, Great Neck Middle are wonderful buildings. They are extremely temporary basis, not as a substitute for either re- being maintained well by the Principals at both locations. zoning or building new facilities. It is an embarrassment that Compare this to Norview HS, this is a fairly new facility and in a City that was strongly considering the financial looks terrible already. We need to hire Principals who will not boondoggle that is "Light Rail," our children and their only do a great job of educating our students but protect the teachers are relegated to what are glorified FEMA emergency cities investment. trailers for hurricane victims. Disgusting and appalling. • Kempsville High School is outdated, filled with Roaches and • Just take a look at the outside appearance and condition of the more than likely asbestos. It should be the first school on the middle and high schools in the Northwest list to tear down and replace. Deplorable. District.....compared to the other three regions, they are • Kempsville Middle and Bayside High School are in need of completely outdated and appear to be neglected!! Just because renovations. some of the lower income neighborhoods are in the • Kempsville area has long been ignored in terms of new

87 Virginia Beach City Public Schools - Community Dialogue #1 Results 87 QUESTION 6

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schools. Elementary, Middle, and High schools all need • Kempsville High School has been badly neglected. The replaced. building cafeteria, restrooms, furniture, and technology are • Kempsville High is a Digital Anchor School But can’t handle inadequate. Money invested across the division is unfairly the technology. Kempsville High School is a pilot school for allocated to Academy programs which is inequitable. blended physical education but has out dated facilities and • Kempsville High School is a toxic building with mold, rats, equipment. and roaches. Children with asthma are at a disadvantage. • Kempsville High is aged and falling behind. The layout is no Kempsville High must be torn down and replaced longer conducive to modern learning practices, and the (remodeling is unacceptable). If needed, close Kempsville overall patchwork repairs on a crumbling infrastructure are Elementary and use that land to expand the high school. starting to erode not only the physical appearance of the There are at least five underenrolled elementaries in building but also the moral of students and staff. Kempsville area. I can say this: if Kempsville High is not fully • Kempsville High needs to be high on the priority list & you torn down and rebuilt by 2022 we will move to the Kellam need to do something about the Tallwood High entrance/exit district even if it means losing money on our home sale. My situation. One of the biggest schools in VAB with only one child's health is far more valuable than money and I will not way in/ out. It is a nightmare daily! jeopardize his health by sending to the toxic cesspool of Kempsville High. • Kempsville High School and First Colonial High School are ancient! • Kempsville High School is in desperate need of replacement. Hopefully the rats and cockroaches can be gotten rid of also! • Kempsville high school and Princess Anne high school should be done next, while using the Renaissance Academy building • Kempsville High School is in dire need of replacement! Please as the swing space. place it near the top of the list. • Kempsville High School as a whole desperately needs an • Kempsville High School is in need of replacement and the update. The academy additions should not negate updates to athletic facilities need upgrading. Kempsville needed an the rest of the school. upgrade when I was a student there 35 years ago and it seems

88 Virginia Beach City Public Schools - Community Dialogue #1 Results 88 QUESTION 6

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that historic Kempsville is being ignored because we are not vicious cycle where enrollment is low partially because an affluent neighborhood. Our children deserve an updated people perceive the building as old, which affects public school we are the heart of the city and people don't leave the opinion, which causes people to advocate hard for their kids Kempsville area once we move into the area and our children to go to other schools in various ways. I think you could get a deserve the best just like the children in the Cox or Kellum lot of "bang for your buck" if you worked on capital districts. improvements of KHS to move that school back up to a • Kempsville High School is in terrible shape. I'm frankly reputable and prestigious school in the community. thrilled my 16 year old is going to school across town at one • Kempsville High School needs replaced! It was old when I of the academies. Also in Kempsville, Providence Elementary was a student many many years ago! School needs serious work on its interior courtyard (also • Kempsville High School needs to be replaced. thrilled I don't have an elementary age student right now). • Kempsville High School needs to be upgraded. When my older two were there it was forever leaking/moldy • Kempsville High would be my number one, followed by • Kempsville High School is log overdue. Princess Anne High. • Kempsville High School is long over due. It looks awful and • Kempsville highschool and middle school sits in poor shape run down. Please seriously consider this school when as an apartment complex new rec center and park built....kids planning. first • Kempsville High School is the most in need of being replaced. • Kempsville HS Bayside Fc Need to be rebuilt • Kempsville High School is the oldest building in the school • Kempsville HS is in desperate need of renovation. division and has only undergone two modernization. With • Kempsville HS is in need of a new school with space for the the addition of the new academy, plans to modernize Entreprenuer and Business Academy to grow. The school has Kempsville High should be given top priority in our plans. shown their commitment to innovation and it would be Thanks. beneficial to the school as a whole to have work spaces like • Kempsville High School needs renovation terribly! It's a those at Kellam HS. 89 Virginia Beach City Public Schools - Community Dialogue #1 Results 89 QUESTION 6

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• Kempsville HS is truly disgusting. The teachers kick have issues with air quality, temperature, bugs/rodents, etc. cockroaches under the doors—this is a known phenomenon • Khs needs to be renovated. among students. The school structure is embarrassing • Kids need teachers who. Create a good class took out look. compared to modernized schools. We can’t even get fields Something kids of all ages enjoy going to learn. mowed whereas Cox & Kellam have downright campuses • King’s Grant Elementary is an older building rat infestation and multiple fields. mold and asbestos are only 3 of situations we face • Kempsville Middle and High schools are falling apart. The • Kings Grant and Bettie F. Williams need to be in the top 5. high school is now home to a popular academy but it looks • Kings Grant Elementary especially needs building like an Elem School and is unattractive and in disrepair. It is renovations on the inside walls there is a terrible odor that in need of a much overdue renovation or complete rebuild. lingers and they cannot seem to figure out how to stop it so • Kempsville Middle and High Schools should be renovated. therefore it must be mold or mildew coming from the inside • Kempsville Middle and Kempsville High are two schools that of the walls near the restrooms. The Lynnhaven Middle are the oldest and do not offer or have the ability to have School needs outdoor improvements such as landscaping etc higher education or STEM level type programs. These two The more technological improvements and cyber protection schools should be high on the consideration list to get the better across all School divisions updated. • King's Grant Elementary is in desperate need of • Kempsville Middle School High priority modernization. There are several issues with the building • Kempsville schools for the most part look the same as when I that cause disruptions to learning on a daily basis. The school attended in the 80's. There are some nicer / newer schools that has sewage issues that cause the entire building to smell have taken some of the enrollment, but I feel Kempsville has terribly. There is mold in almost every room. When it rains been overlooked for far too long. outside, it also rains in the building. Classrooms are too small • Kempsville, First Colonial, Bayside, P.A. are old high school and have absolutely no storage space. The layout of the buildings with old building problems. Teachers and students building is not convenient at all. It is difficult for young

90 Virginia Beach City Public Schools - Community Dialogue #1 Results 90 QUESTION 6

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students to maneuver through the building on their own. We upper grade levels have to walk all the way around the are forced to take outdoor shortcuts, even during inclement building, or exit the building to take the "cut through" to weather, in order to make it to another place on time. The reach the appropriate hallway. alternative is to leave 7-10 minutes early since the hallways • King's Grant is overdue to be rebuilt. are congested and that is a complete waste of our • Lacking sufficient gender neutral facilities. Nobody has instructional time. The building is infested with rats and gender specific facilities at home, so figure out how to sustain cockroaches, and their appearance throughout the school day a different paradigm at school in line with home cause huge disruptions. The wi-fi doesn't support our use of • LEED Platinum Construction should be the STANDARD for technology. There are not enough outlets to support our use all future developments. of technology either. Our fire alarm is so old and out-dated • Less is more just build a good, sturdy non leaking building. that when we set it off for fire drills, we are usually listening • Less resources to easily outdated books and electronics. to it for hours later as no one can turn the alarm off. When • Let those older buildings and ones with the most need fro things break or stop working, no one seems to want to fix it replacement be replaced first. because the building is so old and it would cost too much. • Lighting outside buildings needs to be better. When you go to • King's Grant Elementary is in desperate need of remodeling. a function or pick your child up at night it's very dark. We have had several issues with mold, rats, and roaches. Our building does not have the capability to allow for multiple • Limited use of trailers for temporary housing due to classes, let alone grade levels to access the internet at a given construction time. This severely limits our ability to access district testing • Louise Luxford Elementary looks the same as when I attended on our computers. If the expectation is that we will eventually from1968 through 1973. be one-to-one with technology, we need to overhaul the • Lynnhaven Middle and First Colonial are in desperate need of internet capabilities of the school. The set up of the school is modernization. They are not adapted to technology or new also inefficient. In order to access the specialist classrooms, the ways or learning. As a parent of two athletes we visit each middle and high school. LMS and FC have been ignored by 91 Virginia Beach City Public Schools - Community Dialogue #1 Results 91 QUESTION 6

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the city for Modernization and are way behind other schools lockers and locker room facilities, painting the inside of the in the area for upgrades. FC has roaches and rodents in the building, replacing student desks with newer ones, and locker rooms And gyms. And parents and students put up replacing the windows (the windows are plastic/plexi-glass) with it. These schools are NOT on any upgrade list and I am and exterior and interior doors. With the addition of the deeply disappointed with this. Superintendent Soence’s Achievable Dream Academy next school year, it would be a Daughter attends FC - he should know exactly what I’m shame that these students will come to Lynnhaven Middle referring to. Universities are being designed on par with with the school in its current poor condition. Classrooms forward thinking corporate facilities. Our high schools should seem very dreary with old furniture (bookshelves and filing be working towards this as well. And this I closes FC - always cabinets) and outdated student and teacher desks. Everything a high performing high school. Get rid of those mold infested needs to be thoroughly cleaned or scrubbed. There is mold on trailers! Kellam And Bayside have been or are being replaced most of the tiles near the floors and especially in the and their facilities are more upgraded than FC ever has been. restrooms. Most classrooms still have chalkboards and have • Lynnhaven Middle is in MAJOR need of renovation. Please not been updated to whiteboards. Over the summer months, help us to keep our schools integrity in tact by updating this mold and mildew can be found growing in most classrooms building ASAP. due to the air conditioning not being run during the summer • Lynnhaven Middle School has been neglected by the school months. Overall, much can be done to improve Lynnhaven system for years. As one of the oldest buildings in the system, Middle School. I hope some of these suggestions will be it is in dire need of renovation. There are several ways in considered. which the school building could be rejuvenated. New ceilings • Lynnhaven Middle, Cox and First Colonial are in major need and lighting would be most helpful. Replacement of of updates and expansion, just like Great Neck Middle baseboards in the classrooms (most are damaged or rotten), received. updating the restroom facilities (faculty restrooms are in the • Lynnhaven MS is in desperate need of bathroom upgrades, worst shape - sinks do not have hot water), updating the consistent spraying for roaches, lockers need to be replaced,

92 Virginia Beach City Public Schools - Community Dialogue #1 Results 92 QUESTION 6

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classrooms need to be increased, the small gym needs an • Many highschools have a large population of students and overhaul both floors and walls. teachers and not enough space to accommodate them. The • Make it better then it is right noe halls and always cramped and trafficked with kids between • Make sure each teacher has a classroom. classes and there have been plenty of sightings of rats/bugs/ etc. It feels as if high schools are neglected compared to • Many building are do not have elevators to the second floor. This causes a disruption in up to 60 students should an middle and elementary schools. Many high school buildings upstairs kid become unable to go up/down stairs. are very old. • Many of our buildings have such capacity, there is no • Many elementary and middle schools have been renovated or rebuilt however many high schools are in poor shape. First additional space to house resource teachers and related Colonial, Kempsville and Bayside are old and have many service providers. Space is at a premium and many of the older buildings no longer have additional space to house issues such as plumbing and infestation of insects and rodents. Speaking from experience, first Colonial is full of these positions. This is especially true with related service cockroaches, black widow spiders and rodents and no matter providers such as Speech, Occupational Therapy, and what school plant does nothing helps. Even a simple Physical Therapy and additional staff such as Psychologists, renovation of things like windows and bathrooms would go a Social Workers, and Program Compliance Support Teachers. long way to improve the schools. In many of these cases, related service providers are working with students in less than desirable situations, or have been • Many elementary schools are very old and need to be asked to provide services in environments that would violate replaced. Adding on to buildings was a poor choice as the not only FERPA regulations, but also HIPPA regulations. In majority of the building continue to deteriorate. many buildings that have additional staff, the physical • Many elementary schools have been updated and replaced building is old enough that there is no additional space to more than once however, B.F. Williams remains in disrepair, house the classrooms and the additional staff that is supposed rodents, mold, leaks, roaches, spiders, and an unhealthy to provide support to staff and students. Also, many environment for students and staff.

93 Virginia Beach City Public Schools - Community Dialogue #1 Results 93 QUESTION 6

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buildings seem to have chronic problems with 'critters' (i.e. (mostly paid for by grant money I'll assume) while not taking roaches, water bugs, spiders, mice, etc.). When planning for care of larger pressing matters. I know in my position that long range, please include space for the related service we have a million things to deal with (new buses, fix buses, providers and additional staff members to effectively do their create student programs, fix minor things like press boxes that jobs and help students perform to the best of their ability! windows barely open, etc.) but at the same time its a long • Many of our elementary and middle schools are over capacity term must. My largest problem I do have with this school and they are only getting worse. The portables (trailers) are a districts decision is the uneven split of funds where we have poor solution and many of them are in terrible shape. We schools like new Kellam with air conditioned bathrooms at have great schools and teachers in Virginia Beach but it is an their fields, but other schools like Salem, FC, Cox where embarrassment to have so many of our kids attending class in student athletes go to compete and have to walk halfway portables. across the entire facility because FC's only Port a Potty is over • Many of our schools are old, are have been in need for some near the baseball field. It's unfair to the athletes and parents of time of repair/replacement. We currently use "old Kellam" to those other schools. house kids for education when even that building should • Many of the outdoor Athletic facilities across the region are in have already been rebuilt by now. At the same time some of need of some work. Many of the fields have become concerns our "newer" facilities (i.e. mid90s schools) were built poorly. for safety reasons. Baseball/Softball fields in particular. Many (Example: Tallwood No windows, high schools that should of these facilities lack even the basics of needs, such as have a true "little gym completely separate from their main bathrooms or port-a-potties. It's sometimes embarrassing gym - not separated by a net). Hallways narrowed by lockers when your school is visited by a school from outside the that aren't even used anymore and bathrooms that have no region and there's no facilities. doors (Bayside middle). I know we have a rather large school • Many of the public schools have been renovated in recent district, but so many of our buildings need work. Meanwhile I years, although many others need tending to. Glenwood understand the effort to build programs like the academies elementary is one in need of updates & renovations.

94 Virginia Beach City Public Schools - Community Dialogue #1 Results 94 QUESTION 6

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• Many of the spaces in our middle and high school buildings • Many schools are outdated and need updated to keep up with are incompatible with the division push for flexible learning the newest developments in education. environments and student collaboration. Much of the space in • Many schools have been replaced and modernized, however our oldest buildings have been adapted and repurposed over the oldest schools have not. the years to accommodate new technology and larger class • Many schools with an academy are beginning to become sizes/student populations, but the educational demands of overpopulated in the hallways as there are both academy and our students and teachers today require more than just zoned students attending the school, and all students are let storage rooms converted to collaborative spaces. out at the same time in high school. For this reason, it's hard • Many projects have been delayed and the city put more to get to other classes or places within the school at a better emphasis on building things like the town center. Schools time. High school is the key to college, as well as elementary should be our top priority in the City of Va Beach. Schools school is the beginning of one's education, which is very dating back to the 50-60's can't keep up with the technology important, but elementary schools don't hold as many demands and the aging factor makes many schools not safe. students as high schools do, and the grades aren't let out all at Safety issues with school security and the health factor for the same time, so elementary schools are less crowded many old building have asbestos. It seems to me impossible compared to high schools. Middle schools are somewhat for custodians to keep an old building clean....is that a work crowded in the hallways, but it doesn't happen very often or ethic issue or an old building issue?! Many old buildings have to the point where people are moving at the pace of snails. smaller class rooms that can't support the increase in class Also, the age of a school definitely matters because the school sizes that the school board keeps increasing. is no longer as modern as others as the years go by, and every • Many schools are inadequately equipped to create a suitable parent wants their child to have high-quality education in a learning environment. An example is Princess Anne High high-quality environment, so older schools should be a School, which was built in 1954 and now houses thousands of priority, unless an incident occurred, and the school already students. had some reforming done, which made the learning

95 Virginia Beach City Public Schools - Community Dialogue #1 Results 95 QUESTION 6

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environment a better place. • Middle Schools have leaking issues, are aged with obsolete • Maybe if the division did not spend a ridiculous amount of appearance. overcrowding due to increased housing areas. money making the new "gifted" school and busing those Same with Elementary schools! At least some high schools students from all over the city, there would be more money to have been replaced! spread more evenly across more schools that need • middle schools have really bad buildings. especially improvements. Kempsville Middle and High Schools are in kempsville middle. terrible condition. Students are not even able to drink from • Modern facilities do not function without well qualified fountains in certain parts of the buildings because the water teachers. Do not overlook the priorities. tastes like metal! Bayside high schools looks just like it did • Modernization of the schools should create enough space so when my daughter's grandfather graduated there in 1966! I that students and teachers do not have to leave the physical believe that the division is trying to make things equitable building. The us of portables poses an increased security risk, with what they have to spend, however, it does not seem like in my opinion. Proper heating and cooling of the portables is that to the public. Give our low socioeconomic students a also an issue, as well as how they are maintained. warm, clean, and happy environment to attend school... • Modernization/replacement should not be based on the social • middle school tennis courts could be used to teach pickle ball class of the neighborhood in which the school resides. Bettie F. and to be used in the community- pickle ball usage has Williams Elementary school is in desperate need of increased significantly in the past few years - the placement modernization/replacement. of itinerants in the schools need to be considered more than in • modernization/replacement should take into account the the pas entire school when considering the age of the school. When a • Middle schools are under -funded and over -crowded. More portion of a school is replaced. that should not reset the clock attention an more funds are needed to provide teacher on the age of the school. positions. Classrooms are at 35 students or more. This is not • Money should be spread equally among all schools and productive for the teacher or for the students. modernization and less on totally new schools like Kellam

96 Virginia Beach City Public Schools - Community Dialogue #1 Results 96 QUESTION 6

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and ODC. It doesn't' seem fair to the taxpayers, parents, or needed by some. students. • My answers reflect my opinion that First Colonial High • More consideration should be extended to Lynnhaven Middle School desperately needs to be updated. First Colonial High School due to the addition of the Achievable Dream Academy School looks like a school from the 1970's. which will increase enrollment/capacity by approximately • My biggest gripe is that if any part of the building is 10%. renovated, it gets pushed to the bottom of the list. My school • More put info gifted school than other schools. (King's Grant) has one wing that was renovated after a fire. • More schools, especially some high schools in the virginia The rest of the building has recurrent sewage issues (it often beach district should be renovated. smells so bad that it is hard to concentrate) which have been • More student feedback is needed within the schools when it "fixed" on several occasions only to return. The internet does comes to renovation. We have super old, small, roach infested not work reliably on all hallways. Some rooms in the old schools such as first colonial where students are unhappy. it is wing are small. extremely difficult to walk in the hallways, the cafeteria isn’t • My chemistry classroom is half to 2/3 or the size of other big enough to accommodate all students because we are science rooms in the building, so more space is needed, overcrowded, and we can’t have more than one pep rally a particularly for larger classes. We also do not have an eye year because the gym is too small for all the students to fit, wash station, which should be a requirement. Finally, the and the fall pep rally is the only one we can do outside. chem storage area is an old delivery area, complete with a roll • Most of our facilities are out of date. up door, and is quite small. In any capital improvement program, it would significantly impact the quality of • Most of the older schools are just in general outdated, and need to accommodate more of the students. The schools education, as well as safety, if these needs were considered. should allow space so that rooms are less crowded and • My child attended the IB program at Plaza Middle School and education can use new hands on ways of learning. is currently enrolled in the IB program at PAHS. This is one of the most popular and most successful programs Va Beach • Most of Virginia Beach schools are nice but there are updates 97 Virginia Beach City Public Schools - Community Dialogue #1 Results 97 QUESTION 6

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offers to our students yet both of the se facilities are seriously It's concerning how cramped the space is in each of these deficient. facilities. Classrooms are small and corridors are narrow, • My child attends a school that is over 50 years old. It is making it difficult to move the vast number of students disheartening to think about the funds that must have been attending these schools safely and easily each day. Student spent on Kellam’s school and stadium while my child parking at FC is horrible. As we live well out of district for attended both middle school and high school in old, this school, it's important for my child to be able to drive substandard buildings with numerous portables. himself to school, so that he can get the extra sleep he so • My child attends Bayside High and I am constantly hearing of desperately needs, especially given the school system's fights and violence there. I believe this is a very important decision to not re-evaluate the school start times. Cafeteria and volatile time in the development of these children. I can space is limited in these schools as well. These are just the not say exactly what needs to be done but I believe that over things that as a parent I can see when I spend time at the crowded hallways and buses are detrimental to their schools. It's very noticeable too when I visit other schools for wellbeing. I think learning is better facilitated when the kids my children's sporting activities. As children are likely to have room to breathe and aren't in each 'other's faces' quite so spend more time at the school during their MS and HS years much. I think perhaps consideration to building additional and given the number of students attending high schools vs. schools would be as prudent as simply updating the ones we elementary schools, I think it's important that the school have. Thank you. Regina Davis system focus on the secondary schools for updating/ replacement first over the elementary schools. • My child attends First Colonial High School and receives a great education but the state of the facility is unacceptable. I • My children attend red mill. We live in Sandbridge. We are believe that an improvement in the facility appearance will very concerned about the imminent future of housing all the help morale of both students and staff students at RMESwith the increasing number of new developments. It appears all of the schools surrounding us are • My children attend academies at First Colonial HS and Bayside HS, two of the oldest physical structures in the city. full or at capacity(Creeds, Three Oaks, Red Mill and

98 Virginia Beach City Public Schools - Community Dialogue #1 Results 98 QUESTION 6

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Strawbridge). Already we are feeling the impact for decreased Kempsville. services and I can only speculate that it’s due to increased • My concern is that we are not thinking far enough into the enrollment. future and in 20 years the buildings we design for our current • My children attended First Colonial High. Their complaints educational programs will be obsolete. I'm specifically related to the facility were that the hallways were so thinking of our high schools. Our technology and society has congested they couldn't get to class on time. already out paced our educational programs. How quick will • My children go to Holland elementary and it is quite dingy change occur in the next 20 years as compared to the last 20 looking.. years. I also believe we need to think of high schools as • My children have been in 2 elementary schools in Virginia community centers that can be utilized 24/7. We currently Beach. In addition to the classrooms being cramped and have separate libraries, recreation centers, and schools. Why outdated, I have seen roaches actively living/roaming the are we not combining these facilities and sharing costs with halls in both schools (Centerville/Strawbridge). Parking and the city. There are ways to do this safely. As we move further parent pick-up, drop-off access to both schools is inadequate towards authentic personalized learning a "traditional" school (particularly Centerville). Strawbridge is in much better building no matter how "green" is not going to work. condition, but in order for our youngsters to be able to • My daughter attends Bayside High School. She attends the compete they must be exposed to technology, science and academy. There are so many students in the building and the math earlier to spark interest and help learning about and halls are wall to wall students. The bathroom stals are do questioning the world arou d then take root. small you can look right over the door. I volunteered to • My children went to Green Run ES. Great school but old and decorate the gym for senior night and when trying to hang outdated building. Newer schools are getting rebuilt or posters the wall crumbled. There have been sightings of expanded or updated before GRES which opened in the cockroaches and mice. I truly feel this school has been gravely 1970’s. looked over when looking at schools to repair. • My comments specifically pertain to the schools in • My daughter attends Bayside's Health Sciences Academy and

99 Virginia Beach City Public Schools - Community Dialogue #1 Results 99 QUESTION 6

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she loves it! One thing she always complains about though is dated. It was in bad shape when I attended in 1990 and is still how small and tightly packed it is. I've done my research and in bad shape. The same chairs I sat in in the auditorium are I think Bayside has way too many kids to be kept in such a still there!! The school system does not supply the small space. I think that if the facility has a remodel, my extracurricular activities with the proper safety equipment for daughter and the many other kids at Bayside Highschool select activities. They have had to borrow from the High would have a much nicer learning environment, which could, school to make sure our kids don’t severely injure themselves. in fact, make some of the students at Bayside Highschool This was the work of the fantastic teachers and principal more engaged in what they're learning. assigned to this school because they truly care about their • My daughter attends First Colonial high school where she safety. If they didn’t go the extra mile then our kids safety routinely sees rats and cockroaches. The ceilings leak and would have been at risk. Don’t get me wrong. We love the portions of the building are constructually unsound. The staff and the teaching there has been wonderful for my temporary facilities are deplorable. The number of kids per daughter and our family. I can’t say enough about our classroom is too high. The classrooms are built for much experience with every one of them. They just need the lower student to teacher ratios. resources to make things that much better for these kids and • My daughter attends Tallwood Elementary. The layout is their well being awful. Definitely needs to be modernized. • My grandson's attend Pembroke Elementary School and my • My daughter goes to First Colonial High School. It is ancient. husband and I also use the school when we vote. It seems a After Kingston(old) and Lynnhaven(old) I knew FC would little outdated and dim and very not very modern. I think not be a step up, but it is disappointing the number of this school should be considered for renovation. Thank you. portables that are used. And they are in horrible condition. • My husband and I feel that there is much oppprtinity her in Compared to the new glories being built, it is a disgrace, and Virginia Beach l, when it comes to how the schools conditions the kids feel forgotten. are. These can improve, across the board. We come from the • My daughters middle school (Brandon) is very old and out west coast, and the schools are newer and better equipped

100 Virginia Beach City Public Schools - Community Dialogue #1 Results 100 QUESTION 6

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with programs. We feel that it’s very important to update redundancy, administrative inefficiencies, and lack of sense of some these buildings and start these projects ASAP! The urgency and importance for school improvements/projects in learning experience for children is crucial and their Virginia Beach. This area is full of resources, involved environment must be conducive as well. Also opening more citizens, and deserving students. brand new schools in developing housing areas would help as • My ranking in Question 5 - It's very difficult to prioritize well. grade levels. Several Elementary schools have been replaced • My main concern when thinking of building new projects and added within the district over the past few years. So I feel would be the effect on class sizes and teacher salaries. I would they would be the lower priority. Since a couple middle not want to see any money that could go to teachers be spent schools have recently been replaced and another is currently on new buildings that are unnecessary; nor would I wish to under way, I believe the High Schools should be the next see schools be overloaded with students to encourage the highest priority. Question 6 rating - Overall I could not ask existence of avoidable issues with class sizes and disciplinary for a better public school system. VB Schools is top notch by concerns. all means. My rating is based on the fact that at the current • My oldest daughter went to First Colonial HS. My youngest pace of replacement, several schools will be at least 80 or 90 just started the IB at Princess Anne. Both are long past due for years old by the time they're replaced. replacement. The physical plants are far behind the level of • My school desperately needs to be rebuilt but we are far technology available and the caliber of the staff and students. down on the list. The hallways are so crowded sometimes I • My only concerns are that the lockers are too small for Middle am late to class. an High School students, needing more teachers, need more • My school's halls are too small. There are so many students funding for teachers supplies (so they do not have to pay out that jumble up because there isn't enough space. Some of the of their own salaries) and teachers are extremely under paid. ceiling panels fall off/machines aren't working properly. Plus • my opinion does not matter. there isn't even cameras in one of the halls. It's not fair for the • My perception is that an overwhelming amount of students or the faculty because it's not a great environment to

101 Virginia Beach City Public Schools - Community Dialogue #1 Results 101 QUESTION 6

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work in. princess and high school receives the treatment it deserves. • My son attenda Princess Anne Highscool and the school is in • My spouse is a teacher at First Colonial High and is housed in dire need of capital investment. For a program like the IB portable classrooms that are infested with pests. I think old program, the achool should have MUCH better facilities and buildings that are not able to host the capacity of the school technology. needs prioritaztion immediately. This is not acceptable • My son attended Bayside High School during the summer of learning or working environments. 2017 and I was very disappointed the conditions of the Gym • My student was attend Great Neck Middle when it and bathrooms are horrible. You must really take a look at transitioned and it went very smoothly! updating those older high schools. • My three children go to two different Virginia Beach schools, • My son attends the same elementary school (Birdneck they previously were in a third school before we moved, the Elementary )that I did 30 years ago. The building has not schools are all new, very impressive and very well equipped. been modernized at all. It looks exactly the same on the The schools are kept clean, very well maintained and provide inside. My daughter attends Corporate Landing Middle and a wide variety of extra curricular activities. We love the she cannot hang up her coat in her locker because the hooks progression of technology in daily operations and the gradual are gone. integration into the kids school educational programs. When • My son attends Virginia Beach middle school and we are very building new schools or renovating an existing facility please happy with the facilities. take into consideration the traffic in the area, weather by • My son is in a 51 year old building that has roaches and mice. traffic light pattern change, road widening, introducing He comes home almost daily saying there were roaches in the roundabout solutions or dismissing students at variable times cafeteria or the SCA office. This is unsatisfactory. by grade or time schedule to eliminate the extreme wait times and the traffic delays around schools dismissal times. Please • My son is in the IB program at PAHS and the facility is Shameful. Schools in much better shape have taken priority. consider seatbelts on school buses and climate control buses IB students excel in spite of the poor conditions, and it’s time would be great as well. Thank you for the great work you all

102 Virginia Beach City Public Schools - Community Dialogue #1 Results 102 QUESTION 6

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do and for giving us parents the opportunity to be heard. school prototype along with a middle school prototype and • Naturally I want my school to be renovated or replaced soon. let's get the funding moving. It's not scheduled at all as far as I know. There are cracks in • New schools must be able to adapt to ever changing the terrazzo and the infrastructure is out of date. I realize technolgy that our students will face in the future. I put High because we just got updated HVAC we won't be on the list Schools at the top of the priority list because these young soon, however. adults are on the edge of joining the real working world and • need to stop spending money on bandaids for school when we have to give them every advantage to succeed when they they need open heart surgery. recently went to pa high school make the jump. Lets start with Princess Anne HS. This school to see a play, I was embarrassed. the school is old stinky and is very outdated and it lies on the busiest road in Virginia in pitiful shape. the drama and band hallways look like they Beach for all area new comers and tourists to see in plain haven't been updated in years. view. It does not portray a prosperus and innovative • New schools being built are considered to be Taj Mahals, community that invests in its students. Sure the cost of a new castles and/or McMansions. Oversized, overglitzed and very PAHS would be very high...but would it be any higher than much overpriced. What happened to the Elementary the palace we built at Kellam HS? As far as Elementary Prototypes where several elementary schools used the same schools go, we have too many little ones. Would it be more plan (Linkhorn, New Castle, Christopher Farms) which kept cost effective to close two or three small ones that are pretty the costs within reason to build several buildings vice one close together and build one bigger school? For example, Kellam or Old Donation. And now we move to PA Middle. Woodstock, Providence and Point O' View all a few miles While these schools are getting shiny new bling, the older apart on the same road. Could one larger Elementary school schools are struggling with their structures (room capacities, accomplish the same purpose and be more cost effective in cafetoriums, electrical requirements, portables). Our schools energy usage, staffing and building maintenance? are getting older and NOT being replaced as they should be • New to the district. I am pleased to see there is a steering because of the new neighborhood jewels. Create a high committee and also one soliciting feedback. I am also relieved

103 Virginia Beach City Public Schools - Community Dialogue #1 Results 103 QUESTION 6

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to see Princess Anne middle being replaced. That looks long creating a future for the children that would make them overdue. thinkers. 8: The ability to grow and expand as human beings • Newer school buildings do not need to be so extravagant has been lost. I fear that other school renovations will actually (ODS) at the cost of redoing more buildings. take away from our city in the ability to grow our children • North Landing Elementary Needs Modernization into capable citizens. ALSO: I DO NOT LIKE THAT MY OPINION IN QUESTION 5 IS REQUIRED. I WOULD • Not only is Kempsville HS outdated, students are unable to complete assignments due to major Internet issues. If VBCPS ASSIGN A ZERO TO THAT QUESTION. THEY SURVEY is going to continue to move forward with 21st Century skills, DOES NOT ALLOW MY ANSWER. these high school students need the best of the best. • Often the condition of a building is not taken into consideration as part of the educational experience. It is • Not sure how it is decided on order of which schools receive extremely important to create physical environments that uogrades. Example Great Neck Middle and then John.B.Dey Elementary but not Lynnhaven Middle. provide safety, security, and a sense of calm to our students. These are basic human needs. When our students enter into • Not sure if the process is equitable. an environment that doesn't meet their most basic needs, it • Now that ODS has been renovated. . . .At the beginning it was can hinder their ability to take full advantage of their an exciting time. Now that the students have moved in: 1: education. Every child has the right to attend school in a They can not get out of the building during the fire drills. 2: building that is physically safe (i.e. fully operational, latest Parent Pick up is a complete nightmare. 3: The children are technology/safety, doors/windows operate correctly, treated as though they are in a prison. 4: The rules are so strict functional climate control) as well as an enhancement to the that if they put their trash in the wrong trash can it is educational experience. Some schools I have been in do not punished with ISS. 5: They are no longer allowed to be show our students or teachers that we value the work they are children, they must act as adults. 6: The school administrators doing nor that we value them as a student. Gym floors no longer support the Arts outside of the school walls. 7: So peeling off and crumbling, aged/dirty/dingy classrooms with many teachers have left that the education provided is

104 Virginia Beach City Public Schools - Community Dialogue #1 Results 104 QUESTION 6

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poor lighting or insufficient electric/plumbing receptacles, and does not have this problem. I have children at both schools so crowded facilities do not communicate to our students that I know first hand. we place a high value on their education, nor does it • Older buildings should be priority. The cost of fixing and up communicate to our teachers that their workplace is a place keep of older “things” can become expensive. Being a tax where they can do their best work. This all costs money, payer, I would much rather pay a higher initial building cost however I would assert that it is "costing" us not to improve and have lower up keep cost over time. The older buildings upon our aging facilities in the way of student success, have some pretty bad bathrooms and classrooms, my son is in teacher retention/morale, and overall economic vitality. We one of these. It’s a bit emabarrasing when I’ve gone to his should be proud of our students and teachers, and they have school and have seen the bathroom and classroom he uses. the right to feel pride in their school as well. Virginia Beach spends quite a bit of money keeping tourist • Often wonder how it is determeined which high Schools are areas updated and beautiful. My sone who is a resident uses a worthy of renovation. When will Bayside High receive kindergarten bathroom with bugs crawling under the wobbly rennovation. They have a dynamic program educational toilet and cracked, falling off the wall and floor tile. ( Health Science Academy) and sports. Something isn’t right. Please as s city government do right by • Old does not means needs renovation. Do the work that us hard working tax payers . needs to be done to create a safe learning environment. • Older buildings should receive priority with new • Older buildings should be maintained free of rodents, construction. cockroaches, & other bugs or critters. If the buildings aren’t • older school building needs to be modernize and upgrade updated & tend to have those problems, custodial Staff rooms capacity. should be checking traps & classrooms to ensure a clean • older schools need attention and high schools like First environment free of live or dead animals. This has been a colonial needs attention to building and the parking situation. repeated problem at PAHS. Great school & programming but The current lot does not allow for students to park and not not a clean & healthy environment. Kellam, a newer school, fair as most HS are equipped with ample parking.

105 Virginia Beach City Public Schools - Community Dialogue #1 Results 105 QUESTION 6

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• Older schools need updated sinks, cabinets and storage space However, too many schools are waiting for construction - in classrooms. Princess Anne Middle! • Older schools should be replaced first. Please consider the • One of the Oldest Schools, Bayside High School is already common areas that have to be used by students and faculty/ ober 50 years old, and is not in the best condition, and should staff. For example, if a school was built in the 1970s, the be renovated soon, however, It seems that it is overlooked building is approaching its 40th birthday. Consider the and put on the back burner to renovate schools like Kellam cafeteria, restrooms for both adults and students, classroom High School or Great Neck Middle. It was my understanding size, heating/air conditioning units, and electrical outlets. that Bayside High School is not slated to do a remodel for • Older schools such as Bayside Middle School need new another 50 years.... Bayside High School may not last that facilities. The last update was to create the 6th grade wing long!! bringing the 6th grade campus into the building. Bayside • Only 1 high school has been updated in years. And the pace Middle School has a lot of hard work staff and students and of updating the elementary schools is very slow. would benefit from a new building. The asbestos in the walls • Other buildings that need attention and causing health of all the old wings of the building is awful. Teachers can't concerns in students and staff because of the conditions of even decorate their room well for fear of accidentally pulling some of the buildings still waiting to be replaced. off the paint covering the asbestos. Virginia Beach is an • Other states charge the builder/developer a fee to build on or amazing school system and I look forward to all the updates develop land to cover the cost of improving roads and they will bring to the school buildings in the future. schools. This really needs to be considered here, our roads • Oldest most outdated facilities first. PA high school which and schools are so behind. For my daughter to have to go to houses the special needs children needs to be done ASAP. school in a trailer and having to go out in the weather to enter Why did we renovate the gifted school first for a small subset the building and go to the bathroom was pathetic. Virginia of children and not think of the special needs at PA. Bad plan Beach has some wonderful programs, but the basics of proper • Once construction begins, the pace seems quite fast. buildings and space should come first.

106 Virginia Beach City Public Schools - Community Dialogue #1 Results 106 QUESTION 6

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• Our building has many issues (First Colonial) that affect the unacceptable. Student capacity needs to be at the forefront of functionality & effectiveness of the building. Our wing of the consideration. building frequently has electrical issues, leaking ceilings & • Our high schools are severely outdated and require new has had significant fire code issues this year. buildings to meet the needs of today's students. • Our building is full of rats, squirrels, roaches and asbestos. • Our kids are the future of our country. Our kids should have • Our classroors are to small. And something really needs to be an up to date facility to be ready for the next millinium done about the cafeteria at Frank w. Cox regardless the cost. • Our elementary and high school were built in 1966. The high • Our kids deserve the best quality education possible in the school is disgusting, many portables. The bathrooms are best facilities. I am very impressed by Kellam High School rusty, tile coming up, tile falling down. It's embarrassing and Old Donation School. Both facilities foster a sense of inside and out. pride and it is clear they were designed with educational • Our elementary school is extremely old and is in need of needs and sustainability in mind. I also think it is important modernization. The restrooms, floors, windows etc. are in that we foster a sense of tradition and permanence. I would need of repair. hate to see the city lose PAHS in order to create more, • Our general population is increasing VB and all of those kids unneeded retail spots. IF the city feels so in need, look at one need to go somewhere. Landstown HS is the biggest in the of the under-utilized strip malls that proliferated over the last district, and they are BURSTING at the seems, and they can’t 5 decades. even get portables. It’s becoming outrageous. Either build a • our school is in bad shape the ceiling tiles are falling out there new high school, or redraw your precious gerrymandered is massive amounts of water damage through out the school. lines, because this shouldn’t be happening. there are parts of the school that do not meet fire code and • Our high schools are far from equitable. Students should be this is not a safe conditions for us as students to work in. we proud of their high school facility and have a school fit for don't even have enough space to put all students in the school 21st century learners. When a school has 15+ portables, that is we have 20 portable classrooms outside of school if we take

107 Virginia Beach City Public Schools - Community Dialogue #1 Results 107 QUESTION 6

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the time to rebuild fc we can accommodate for all of these reconsider SOL testing. It is too stressful for teachers, students faults and would be cost effective to rebuild instead of patch and parents. What happened to the change of time for high up what's wrong. to conclude I know that we could make schools. They need to start later so they can get more sleep school life easier and also the other schools ahead of us for since we all know they are sleep when they arrive. them to be rebuilt are in relatively good condition compared • Our schools need to be built to last. Schools need to take into to first colonial consideration growth of student population and energy • our school is in shambles and is very run down. we were efficiency. We seem to have a right now mentality and then supposed to have our school rebuilt this year but we were outgrow our schools or the schools cannot handle the higher bumped down to another 20 years it is not on we are having tech needs of the world we live in. Schools are overcrowded to make constant repair to the school and most things are already and we heard that they are removing portable outdated in our school buildings which will further crowd the overcrowded schools. • Our school is very small and old and is infested with cock • Overall - well done. In weighing the options, please don't roaches. On my first day of freshman year of 2016, we had to forget that good teachers/administrators are more valuable to evacuate the gymnasium because there was a rat running the educational result than a new building. Thank you. around in the ceiling. It was quite nasty. • Overall I am pleased with VB Schools response to facility • Our school Princess Anne Middle School does not fit our issues and most maintenance. The city is usually very needs,it is not big enough for the amount of students we responsive. Our zoned High School, First Colonial is in need have,there is being construction happening within the school of rebuild and hope it makes the list before the newer Cox HS. which is causing a distraction and our building is very old.We • PA and Plaza are in terrible shape to represent the IB need a new school. program. My children complain about trailers that smell, • Our schools have the best educators. Unfortunately, they crowded hallways making it difficult to get to class on time, don't have the staff to assist them with teaching more than 20 having to sit at a regular desk instead of the lab table in students. Special needs students get limited assistance. Please science class b/c there isn't enough space.

108 Virginia Beach City Public Schools - Community Dialogue #1 Results 108 QUESTION 6

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• PA High needs to be replaced ASAP. students and faculty deserve better. • Pace should be increased in order to keep up with growing • PAHS is an over utilized, run down facility and we keep need for more technology and the need for the schools to getting pushed back for a new School. The bugs and rodents handle it. have taken over the school and often disrupts the learning • PAES is an older school, but is nicely maintained and still environment. very functional. The faculty and staff are taking great care of • PAHS is by far the worse campus in the VB school district. It the building. has a MAJOR bug problem- old and decrepit trsilers - • PAHS definitely needs a new facility. Ceilings are crumbling, students sitting on the floor for lunch because the school some ceilings are too low for certain students, and the cannot handle the capacity. This campus is an utter condition is a wreck. It’s a shame for a school with such embarrassment and the school district should be fined for the wonderful programs and educators to not have the problems at this school! accommodations go take it further/ meet its current needs • PAHS is far behind in being updated to meet the educational • PAHS has been on the rebuild list for over a decade. PA is the challenges facing todays teen population. Building is old and oldest school in the city and has been constabtly passed over. outdated not to mention the failing electrical/mechanical Meanwhile, PA has been falling apart and is put back together systems. I see HVAC ductwork taped together in many with leftover parts of other buildings. PA is ranked statewide places. The frequently failing electrical and heating/cooling and nationally in academics and sports and could achieve systems makes frequent visits from school plant personnel a even more with better facilities. It is an embarrassment to the requirement. It must be extremely expensive to heat and cool city to have teachers and students in such a shabby the building as well as maintain the lightning system/s. The environment. PA also houses a significant number of special cafeteria is undersized for todays enrollment and necessitates needs students who really need to be in a more four lunch periods to feed 1800+ students. The gym is nice for accommodating building to help them achieve their goals. PA basketball, but the boys and girls locker rooms are not on par is unsafe, unhealthy, unable to address student needs and the with the new facilities being provided by the newer high

109 Virginia Beach City Public Schools - Community Dialogue #1 Results 109 QUESTION 6

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schools in the division. PA is one of the top performers in the neighborhoods up. division academically and for on time graduations. It would • PAHS is the oldest high school in Va Beach and is nationally be a bonus fo provide the students as well as the outstanding ranked; however, the building is in a constant state of educators and staff working in the building, the facilities they disrepair. It is dark and dingy and frankly depressing in the need and deserve to continue to provide a world class interior. The cafeteria is too small and cannot accompanied education for our children. PA is one of the few High Schools the number of students. The faculty and students deserve a that has a world wide following/reputation due to the IB MY new state of the art high school! and IB Diploma Programs offered there. Let's work together • PAHS is the oldest school in VB and we were supposed to be to bring the facilities up to meet todays standards. rebuilt in 2007 yet we’ve watched school after school be put • PAHS is located in VB Town Center yet the school does not ahead of us on the list. The quality of the facility reflects the reflect the surrounding area. It is by far the oldest school in value of students and teachers, and when you’ve watched a the beach and in very, very bad shape. My son, who is a building deteriorate over years, yet no one steps up to junior, has never used his locker because he is afraid of improve it, it affects learning as well as quality of bringing home roaches. He does not eat lunch at school employment, as we see other renovations “matter” more. because there is no room to sit and because of the problems • Parking continues to be a challenge. with roaches and rodents nine the building. This kind of • Parkinglots, transportation, and infrastructure design should environment is not conducive for learning. The rooms are be improved to limit impedements. small as are the hallways. • People move where the high schools are good. The academy • PAHS is not a suitable learning environment. programs have helped immensely to spread the academic • PAHS is OLD! Replace it. It should be the flagship school wealth. Having modernized high schools attract people to since it houses the IB World School and hosts international move to the area. NATO families. Since Town Center is the apple of the city's • Perhaps instead of spending so much on making the newest eye, so should PAHS. Keep real estate values of feeder school so "over the top" the money available could be spread

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out to more schools for updates and improvements. Some of • Plaza Middle School has a wonderful IB program, but the our school have not had any updates since they were built 40+ building is old, full of cockroaches, rats etc. holes in the roof years ago. when it rains. Our kids deserve better. • Perhaps lights should be added to ballfields if that's what is • Plaza Middle School is in need of renovations but is skipped needed for high schools to start at a slightly later time, over because of the planetarium. The building is from 1969 perhaps only 30-60 minutes later. I'm very disappointed in and is in major need of an upgrade. how the school board handled that issue. • Plaza Middle School is long past due for replacement. The • Personally I believe that the restrooms in the Landstown building is nearly 50 years old and in poor shape. It is difficult Middle school and grade schools are awful. Even the locker to teach using 21st-century practices in a building that inhibits room is terrible. Children should be secure that there anything other than mid-20th-century teaching styles. The environment is clean. We harp on hygiene yet our school s classrooms are too small; technology is retrofitted and own restrooms tell a different story. Give the kids the right frequently does not work as hoped; the physical layout of the message by following what we teach them. building offers ZERO opportunities for flexible learning • Plaza is VERY OLD and many portions are nonfunctional or spaces; and the overall appearance is very institutional. sub par. Likewise PA is disjoint and very run down and in Rumor has it that Plaza is always bypassed for consideration need of expansion and rebuilding. because the existence of the planetarium makes it difficult to • Plaza Middle and Green Run High should be at the top the rebuild the school, and rebuilding the planetarium would be list. too costly. This is nonsense. Surely we can come up with a construction plan that can accommodate the presence of the • Plaza Middle appears to be original and could use some improvements. Lockers aren’t big enough to hold the planetarium in some manner, and/or replace it as cost- students backpacks. effectively as possible. To be honest, having the planetarium in a building that is so clearly outdated does more to harm • Plaza Middle is very old. That should be considered in the VB's reputation than it does to enhance it. ranking for renovation.

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• Plaza Middle School should be seriously considered for a new Density housing equals more children. Also consider the building. I am convinced that air is not safe. There has been technology needs in the next 50 years. Our children will mold, asbestos, and unclean air vents within the walls that probably need more. School system often does not consider separate the classrooms from the hallway. The building is this in their goals. depressing. • PLEASE consider itinerants in building plans. Space for • Plaza middle school should be top priority itinerants to work& serve children is a BIG PROBLEM. • Plaza Middle School should have been replaced before Especially at the elementary school level. Sometimes in plans Princess Anne Middle. rooms are "labeled" for these staff members but never actually • Plaza Middle School was built in 1969 and now houses the are given to them because of "lack of space" . E.g.--OT, PT, MYP IB program. As one of the oldest school's in the district, Speech, ESL, HI, VI, AT etc it should be a top priority for VBCPS and be replaced/ • Please consider remolding the Laskin Road Annex. It’s modernized asap. A new building is currently under completely embarrassing how outdated and unsafe that construction for PAMS, but little attention is being given to building is. With mold spots on the ceilings and missing, Plaza. The building is in poor condition and needs to be broken equipment. I was taken back that this was the place improved and/or replaced. that is to help my child. • Plaza MS and PA High School need renovations • Please consider renovating Bayside High School. Bayside • Please add vending machines to all middle schools without High School is in desparate need of renovation or replacment. one. And please have the lunch room televisions on a channel • Please consider safety and student-to-teacher ratio. Thank such as Disney Channel, for the kids who have no friends. you! Thank you, and have a wonderful day! • Please consider space for itinerant staff in building new • Please address the Princess Anne High School facility issues; buildings. the building is old and in need of complete renovation. • Please consider stronger security options • Please consider growth in the Town Center area. High • Please give Princess Anne High School an update, I t is so old 112 Virginia Beach City Public Schools - Community Dialogue #1 Results 112 QUESTION 6

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and small, and while it still meets the needs of the students it impossible to get into the main hallways without going and teachers, it is about time for an update. through the office first would make a life and death difference • Please make Princess Anne High School your top priority — in safety for the students. start building a new one IMMEDIATELY • Please replace First Colonial High School! • Please rebuild Princess Anne HS it is disgusting • Please stop using portables as options! • Please remodel KGES. It is in dire need of attention. • Please strongly consider rebuilding Princess Anne High • please renovate PAHS asap it's literally the oldest high school School. It has long outlived its facility and needs to be rebuilt. in the district and you decided to update an elementary The school is one of the top high schools in the city, yet it is in school? horrible condition. It seems insulting to these kids, who work • Please renovate PAHS. It's the oldest school in the city and it's so hard and improve the reputation of VBPS, but who do not honestly disgusting. The school is falling apart, too many receive consideration for a better learning environment. students are relegated to Portable City, and students and • Please take into consideration some of the older high schools teachers alike are suffering. like First Colonial. Parking for student drivers is abysmal • Please renovate Princess Anne High School! with student drivers having to park almost a mile from school, and the building could use several improvements. • Please replace Birdneck Elementary School. It is like a combination of airport and prison. Most of the classrooms do • Please take into consideration the surrounding communities. not have any windows. The layout of the school is very Noise is a significant factor. High school band noise for confusing. It is not a safe school because there are multiple instance literally reduces the quality of life for the residents front entrances that enable anyone to just walk right into the near the school. Noise from football games. Traffic patterns building without clearance. Someone could pull right up to when traffic goes through a local neighborhood. School tend the front door, walk right in, and begin shooting everyone in act with impunity to the surrounding homes and this practice sight. If nothing else, PLEASE do something about the front has to stop. Schools should have notify residents and get entrance to keep the children safe. A minor remodel to make community leagues of their intentions. Neighbors affected 113 Virginia Beach City Public Schools - Community Dialogue #1 Results 113 QUESTION 6

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the most, or closest should have a say in how schools are built The facility does not reflect the pride and effort of its students with regard to their homes. We do want another Great Neck and staff. middle situation, that costed tax payers a lot of money. • Princess Anne High School and Bayside High School should • Please...... First Colonial HS. It’s awful!!!!!! be top priority • pretty good schools overall, in my opinion every single school • Princess Anne High School deserves a much nicer facility as it should be renovated in VB provides so much support and success to the city in terms of • Princess Anne Elementary needs to be torn down and rebuilt. academics, sports, and alumni. The school has been passed I taught in the building 11 years ago and there were animals: over for decades and deserves to be renovated. roaches, mice, rats, snakes, etc... in the building. The building • Princess Anne High School deserves to be next on the list for is just old. The students deserve a more modern space in replacement. Many of the teachers do their own repairs if the which to learn. I'm sure it's not the only building in the city learning environment is significantly impacted. The school is with this problem, it just happens to be one that I think sinking into the ground behind the 900 and 300 hallways, and should have a priority of being rebuilt. we often have horrible septic problems after a hard rain. • Princess Anne Elementary should be considered for updating. Drinking fountains are repaired with duct tape and our desks Seriously needs some help! are falling apart. Recently a student sat down in a chair and it • Princess Anne h.S. was supposed to be replaced 4 years ago. It sank to the floor. One of the support braces cut the student's was never done. I do not know about Independence middle. ankle open. Although this doesn't happen often, things break The elementary school ny son goes to has been remodeled every day here and some students lack a sense of pride in the and is perfect but these other schools have to be done and building itself. soon. • Princess Anne High School desperately needs to be • Princess Anne has a great reputation, but it's disgusting and renovated. As a student, I can speak from experience when I outdated. It should be updated. say that the condition of the building is not conducive to the aims of our school as whole, let alone the IB academy. • princess Anne high is an ambarassment to our school system. 114 Virginia Beach City Public Schools - Community Dialogue #1 Results 114 QUESTION 6

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• Princess Anne High School has been at the top of the list for alumnae, and a fantastic student body dedicated to learning. years, while remaining at the bottom of every indicator of They deserve a facility that promotes learning rather than building quality except student capacity. PAHS needs to be distracting from it. repacked asap, with up to date infrastructure that supports • Princess Anne High School has long outlived it’s ability to the needs of individualized instruction needed by all of PA’s serve as an effective building for education. It’s teacher’s and special populations. students have made the best of it for too long. The students • Princess Anne High School has been on the list for years and and the community deserve a building that better suits their keeps getting bumped for renovations to newer schools. There needs. are only 2 hallways that are in good condition. The rest of the • Princess Anne High school is a dump. school is too old and needs to be rebuilt. • Princess Anne High School is a nationally ranked school, yet • Princess Anne High School has been passed over time and is in the most need of improvements amongst our high again for renovation and rebuild . Then conditions in the schools in Virginia Beach. PA strives for and meets/exceeds school are horrible . The bugs abound as well as the heating the highest of educational experiences while it's students are system and air conditioning do not work. The children cannot exposed to a facility that is run down and at times ineffective get lunch appropriately everyday is a struggle to eat. Maybe at providing an ideal learning environment. My daughter Andy Fox should do a story on 13 news , it is ashame our IB complains of how cold many of her classrooms are and children go to school in this environment. dresses with thick socks and fleece jackets each day. I have • Princess Anne High School has been put off time and time also heard complaints of electricity outages on a regular basis. again. It's time to start from the ground up and rebuild it. In a technology driven world, how is a school successfully • Princess Anne High School has consistently been at the top of educating its students with consistent outages? One may every list for building replacement for years, yet has been argue that "aesthetics" do not impact the power of quality passed over as other schools have been rebuilt or replaced. educators. Where would you rather learn and spend 180 days The school has a dedicated faculty with many teacher of your year? At a school with bright lighting, matching

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walls, clean facilities and wide hallways? Or, at PA, with dim • Princess Anne High School is in dire need of renovation. As lighting, stains and grime from decades of use, broken chairs/ one of the oldest high schools in VBCPS it has several issues desks and narrow hallways? Pride in an institution does not which have had to be dealt with through these past years, only come from the quality of education. The students and including insect and rodent infestation and asbestos in the teachers/staff at PA are truly embarrassed that they, as part of walls among other things. Alongside, the faculty and staff are a nationally recognized school, are in a facility of disarray. in need of a new facility wherein they are able to make the Please recognize the hard working teachers, staff and students best use out of the new technology and equipment they have at PA and provide them with a facility that is worthy of a been provided. nationally ranked title. Place PA at the top of your • Princess Anne High School is in dire need of replacement. replacement list. There are rodents, the bathrooms have an constant oder and • Princess Anne High school is falling apart. The ceiling is there is not enough classroom space for the current student always leaking, a window is broken from when a goose flew body. The school has success in spite of the facility Moving into it, the heating and cooling system is not at all consistent, from class to class requires the students to move outside the and parts of the school is too small to hold all of the students. building in large numbers on a daily basis. This becomes a • Princess Anne High School is full of mild, mildew, inadequate major hardship on days where we have inclement weather. classroom, furniture, lighting, space, and on and on. The students and faculty are at greater risk of illness and/or • Princess Anne High School is in desperate need of renovation! accidents in the halls due to slippery conditions. • Princess Anne High School is in desperate need of • Princess Anne High School is in great need of replacement. It renovations/a new building. With the expanded population, has been pushed off several years. This building houses the this old building has to be replaced. "West Wing" facility for severely disabled students. It is unacceptable that the facility needs of these children has been • Princess Anne High School is in dire need of an update in order to provide safe and effective learning experiences for delayed while we build a state of the art facility for gifted students. students.

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• Princess Anne High School is in need of an upgraded facility. plays a major role in student engagement, and Princess Anne Princess Anne High School has great academics with a very High School needs a new school building. old building. • Princess Anne High School is the oldest school. The hallway • Princess Anne High School is not equipped to handle to ceilings are very low in some places and seems to be a bit of programming which is maintained within the building. There struggle for taller students. The school is not very attractive is a corridor of portables there is a separate building with inside or outside. The classrooms are very small and crowded. special education classrooms. Building need to show the There are so many portables that the students refer to the inclusiveness we are teaching the students. cluster as "Portable City". Princess Anne desperately needs • Princess Anne High School is outdated and needs better more classrooms with more space because of the number of facilities to accommodate for all the services it provides, students. The outdoor eating space needs many more tables especially the IB program. because there are so many students that in some lunch bells, • Princess Anne High School is over 50 years old and is run students sit on the ground outside. There is a terrible down and depressing inside. I believe there are mo9ld intersection at the lower 300 and 900 hallways and students problems too. The high schools are the last educational level think it is because of the school's poor layout. Please provide some students have and should be prepared to offer top rate Princess Anne with a new building as soon as possible. The educational experiences in quality spaces with high quality current building is not practical for the students and just an materials. embarrassment to VBCPS. The building is very old and needs replacement soon. • Princess Anne High School is the oldest school building in the beach, yet it has been passed over numerous times in the • Princess Anne High School is very old and needs replacing. decision to be rebuilt. The school needs new resources... many • Princess Anne High school is way overdue for modernization. of the classes are in run down portables, and the building It should be a top priority. itself is old and needs to be redone to fit the growing student • Princess Anne High School must be next on the list to rebuild! population and support students. The classroom environment The students and staff make it a great school, but the building

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is old, nasty, and roach and rat infested. It should have been • Princess Anne High School needs to be renovated; however, I re-built years ago. It keeps getting moved back on the am against students attending school all the way across town timeline, which is not fair to the students or staff. No one's at the old Kellam High School when this happens. My child should have to go to school in a building like this. children leave the house to go to their bus stop at 6:30am, and • Princess Anne high school NEEDS an update. They have we live within two miles of the school. I can't even imagine some of the brighest students in the city yet the worst what time they would have to leave the house if they were conditions. going half way across the city. The thought of going out there • Princess Anne High School needs to be at the top of the list! four times a week for after school practices is completely So great academically but in a run down building. overwhelming. I live in the PA zone, and I want my children to be able to attend their neighborhood school. • Princess Anne High School needs to be considered for renovation. It is an old school filled with fabulous memories • Princess Anne High School really needs redone. My son but it should be near or AT the top of schools to be renovated! didn't want to go there because he felt the ceilings were too low • Princess Anne High School needs to be priority. • Princess Anne High School should be a top priority for • Princess Anne High School needs to be rebuilt. It is so old and so many things need to be replaced in it. It’s been on the replacement due to its age. waiting list for years and something needs to finally be done. • Princess Anne High School should be given top priority due to the age and condition of the school • Princess Anne High School needs to be renovated. It's been passed up for decades, and is in by far the worst condition of • Princess Anne High School should be on the top of the list for any high school. Beyond that, it has the highest graduation renovations because of its physical condition and lack of rate and some of the most advanced academic programs - space for students. why is it fair that the highest performing school get the least • Princess Anne High School should be on the top of the list for amount of funding? It's shameful that it's taken this long renovations! already. • Princess Anne High School should be placed on the list for

118 Virginia Beach City Public Schools - Community Dialogue #1 Results 118 QUESTION 6

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renovation so that it remains competitive with the other high overcrowded, per say, PA is a very old, outdated building schools within the district. that ultimately needs to be rebuilt to meet the needs of 21st • Princess Anne High School should be renovated! Whilst some Century learning. of the school is in good condition, other parts are not! There • Princess Anne HS has needed a new school for a very long are bugs everywhere!!! time and continues to be overlooked. Students classrooms in • Princess Anne High school which is the oldest in Va Beach, portables for years is unacceptable. The addition makes needs to be updated. It is quite evident that there is a lack of getting to classrooms very choppy and the multiple entry/ equity among our schools after you visit the instructional exits is a security hazard. It also houses the prestigious IB setting. program for the city with some of the brightest and hard- • Princess Anne High School would benefit greatly from a working high schooler's. It could probably excel in this and facility replacement. its other programs better if it had a better facility. • Princess Anne High School’s building has consistently been • Princess Anne HS is 63 years old and in poor condition. It rated as inadequate and even unsafe in some respects. Much deserves a very high priority. of the building was constructed in the 1950s! It’s unacceptable • Princess Anne HS should be the priority. that a plan for modernizing PA has not yet been finalized. • Princess Anne is quite literally falling apart. The school is the PLEASE REBUILD PA! oldest high school in the district and is simply unfit to still be • Princess Anne High School’s need for rebuild is significant. in use. It seems completely unfair that while the school has The rooms are too small for the large number of students in one of the highest academic rates in the area, the students and classes these days. Rodents and bugs are a daily nuisance at faculty are not being rewarded with a better environment and the school. The bathrooms are in terrible condition. Teachers materials to continue thriving. How are students expected to complain that it is a sick building causing many chronic maintain motivation and respect for their education, when the illnesses. The roof leaks all over the building when it rains. place they are receiving it is in such bad shape that is distracts The theater has been flooded with heavy rain. While it is kit from the everyday classroom experience.

119 Virginia Beach City Public Schools - Community Dialogue #1 Results 119 QUESTION 6

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• Princess Anne Middle School needs some sort of update. The classrooms. *Provide better air/heat to rooms and offices. current building is/was the old Kellem which needed Most of the time it's either too cold or too hot in rooms. updating before the school swap happened. Makes it uncomfortable for students and staff. • Princess Anne needs to be replaced it is horrible how the part • Providence Elementary is in need of bathroom sinks to be of the school is outdated and dim. Kids deserve better replaced. They are rusted and the stones are falling out. learning conditions. • Really need to rebuild Bayside, Kempsville, and FC high • Priority of renovation should be put into improvements that schools. They all have the same antiquated blueprint and have been tested and shown to be useful and effective. Any layout and deserve to be brought up to at least the level of technology initiatives should be budgeted for upkeep as well Tallwood and Ocean Lakes. as initial cost. Building renovations should be used to • Rebuild Kempsville already! These roaches are getting on my provide solutions that are long term fixes for problems nerves. instead of more quick solutions. • Rebuild Kempsville high school and KEMPSVILE JUNIOR • Priority should go into all schools to keep each one at optimal HIGH AND FAIRFIELD ELEMENTARY. I went to these functioning statis. Not to just build new schools when other schools in the 70’a and 80’s they are all so outta date. schools have 20 year old replacement issues. Complete rebuild needed. I’m raising my family in • Priority should not be given based upon age group. Kempsville and my kids do and will attend all three of these • Priority should not be with schools that have already been schools. renovated several times. If a school has enough money to do • RED MILL ELEMENTARY IS A SICK SCHOOL AND NEEDS so, then focus on building funds for schools that cannot afford AN AMPLE AMOUNT OF WORK TO MAKE IT SAFE FOR such things. STUDENTS AND STAFF. • Provide ample parking for students, staff, and parents. • Red Mill ES needs modernize, especially the playground. For *Provide a barrier between and above/below rooms so that young children phyiscall activities or play time is as classes/offices are not disturbed by noises coming from important as academic.

120 Virginia Beach City Public Schools - Community Dialogue #1 Results 120 QUESTION 6

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• Redistricting should be on the table before another large scale • Renovate Kempsville high school building process. Equality needs to be seen districtwide. • Renovate PAHS! Making mega schools while others have to wait instead of • Renovate thoroughgood sharing the wealth is not ideal. • Renovation of all elementary schools should take priority due • Regular Elementary schools need attention. They are dated to full day kindergarten and pre-kindergarten and could use expansions and upgrades for students that • Renovations and new buildings are so modern and state of aren't gifted. the art while others are so old and out dated. Maybe spend • Remodel Bayside High School first. less on the renovation to make it functional without all the • Remodeling, design plans, and regular maintenance should unnecessary bells and whistles and put that money towards cater much more to childrens classrooms. Thats where they the outdated schools. are most of the day. Elementary schools are the foundation. • Renovations are always nice because change promotes a level They should be welcoming and like home. The building of fresh enthusiasm, however, there isn't just 3 factors to should look well maintained throughout. Not just the Main consider. I believe all option listed above are important and Foyer. Grounds shall also be safe and well maintained. the child's education is most important. So you can rebuild, • Renaissance Academy is full of capable students, as well as renovate, etc., but if the teacher to student ratio isn't where it exceedingly friendly staff. The problem within this facility is needs to be then they can learn in a shed and still be how and why students are to be placed in it. Operation is productive. If teachers aren't motivated like some private nice, but it seems a bit overly protective of itself, showing TSA school staff to keep students ahead, renovating doesn't make a -like Airport security during check-in. bit of difference. If the curriculum is sub-standard, again • Renaissance Academy is not filled to half its capacity. Kellam renovating doesn't even need to be on the drawing board. and ODC exceeded the cost, which puts other schools for Now, of course, safety of those attending the school and renovations on the back burner. working there, is a top priority and renovations are necessary. • Renovate cox high school • RENOVIATE BAYSIDE HIGH SCHOOL PLEASE BUT KEEP

121 Virginia Beach City Public Schools - Community Dialogue #1 Results 121 QUESTION 6

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AUDITORIUM AS IS • School looks the same 24 years ago when my oldest went to • Replace plaza middle school white oaks elementary in Virginia Beach. • Replacement/modernization program does not seem to be • School replacement has not matched the needs of the division moving fast enough. orbits students. Why are the latest projects for those students • Replacing the School Administration Building should be on who the least needs...Kellam, PA Middle, John B Dey, ODS? your list. VBCPS should build a new School Administration Why would a newly recruited talented teacher want to work Building large enough to house all School Administration at Bayside Middle or High when they could go elsewhere. Staff. In addition, renovate the Plaza Annex and provide Also, our verbage on equity doesn't match where we put our central air conditioning in the old section of the annex. money. • Restroom need to be updated and water fountain. • School security, lockdown, and surveillance are integral to design as well as planning for building longevity and capacity • Safety for the children is really important. The school must be built to the highest level of safety. flexibilty. • Schools have not been updated by how old the school was or • Safety is most important. Often, crowded classrooms leave little space for the students to move, which could be what condition the school was in. It was done to please who problematic in the event of an emergency. ever was in office that yelled the most. Kellam HS should not have gone first school to get a new building with three other • Salem High and Middle school football and track facilities are schools waiting. an embarrassment compared to Landstown and Ocean Lakes. • There are temporary fences at Salem Middle that have been Schools in lower socio-economic areas should have priority in there for 3 years now and the grass is rarely cut at Salem being renovated. The physical state of the school contributes Middle. significantly to the morale and motivation of the students, and students in those areas need that. Three Oaks Elementary • Salem HS facilities and infrastructure are moderate to poor. School (where my daughter goes) is a great example of what Princess Anne MS infrastructure and facilities are very poor. an elementary school should look and feel like -- a bright, • School is dirty and crammed, hallways always crowded. 122 Virginia Beach City Public Schools - Community Dialogue #1 Results 122 QUESTION 6

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happy, cheery place for children. Kellam High School (where • Schools need to be looked at as a whole. One newer hallway we're zone for) is a great example of a what a high school should not stop an entire school from being rebuilt if the rest should look and feel like -- a state-of-the-art educational of the structure has leaks, bugs, and an environment facility that promotes an atmosphere of serious learning. - unsupportive of learning. Karen Armstrong • Schools need to be up to date, clean and safe. Many schools • Schools in the Bayside zone are in need of improvements, are out dated and have many problems due to the age of the upgrades and efficiency. building. • Schools in the more affluent areas receive renovations before • Schools need to have the electrical outlets modernized and schools located in less affluent areas. Kellam vs Bayside VB modified to support more computers being plugged in and and Great Neck Middle vs IMS cell phone chargers. Students constantly run over outlets with • Schools like Landstown Middle were designed to have 28 chairs during class because outlets are on the floor. This students in a classroom. Most teachers today have 30+ creates an unsafe environment and computers are shut off students in them and with the emphasis being on unexpectedly frustrating students. individualized learning plans, there is not enough space to • Schools should be comfortable and inviting, but let's spend commadate small group instruction effectively. money on cost effective measures- they don't need to look like • Schools like Williams ES in the bayside area are in need of malls. modernization. • Schools should be modernized to prepare our next generation • Schools need adequate heating/cooling systems that are for the types of jobs and lifestyles they will experience upon efficient and quiet. graduation. Academies are a real strength for the city of • Schools need more space in hallways and better bathrooms, as Virginia Beach. I would like to see more trades added with in stalls and sinks. The cafeteria needs more space for schools real Department of Labor or Industry certifications for those with a bigger population because everyone is so close that enter trades. All students should experience more together and we just need more room in general. learner centric performance based learning that focuses on

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skills instead of rote memorization. learning environment while keeping costs under control. At • Schools should be modernized with the changes in some point, repairs become more costly than renovation. technology. Buildings over 50 years old need to be replaced. • Schools should not have to wait 60 years to be replaced. • Schools should be replaced on NEED not because they look Teaching and learning has changed drastically over the past bad in front of another school! Bettie F. Williams is in dire 60 years and our buildings must meet this change. need of replacement and John B. Dey was modernized less • Schools such as Bayside, Green Run, and Kempsville are than ten years ago. Yet, John B. Dey is being replaced while completely run down. Bettie F. Williams is being kept? If we want all children to be • Schools with leaks/mold or other possible health concerns to productive citizens in society , we should at least replace the faculty and students should come first. schools that need it the most first. Lets work together to make • Schools with lower socioeconomics should be looked at first. Virginia Beach a better place for all children to learn and It is important for these kids to have a place to go where they grow. can feel pride in and have access to soacea that meet their • Schools should be up to date to allow technology to work. If increased needs you are requiring teachers to teach with technology and it • Schools, especially high schools are too large. I think small does not work, it just becomes very frustrating and not worth schools allow for a better learning and also build more doing. “community” (ie neighborhood). A huge school just leads to • Schools should be updated based on the need/age/safety, but “someone else will do it/support it mentality. Get back to should be done to minimize the disruption to students. I smaller student body populations in each upper school, don't think any one type of school should have priority over versus the “small city” population you have in each school the other. My least concern is athletic updates. I want the now. students to have space to learn to get into college. They need • Science teachers should be consulted and listened to when labs, not more expensive fields. designing labs. Some recently built labs are not conducive to • Schools should keep up with the pace of the changing safely conducting experiments (lack of sinks, outlets in unsafe

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positions, etc). Functionality should be most important, not • Several projects were moved ahead and others were pushed flashy appearance. back. The oldest schools are rest infested, cockroaches • Seems that newer pro gets are happening further in the Beach everywhere and not able to be adapted for technology. There and as much in the areas closer to the Norfolk line. is still rumors of asbestos in the walls. • Seems that the oldest high school in the Division is constantly • Significant efforts to address the modernization needs of the slipping backward on the renovation schedule. four oldest high schools are long overdue. Our focus on 21 st • Several High Schools are lacking in amenities and facilities to century learning, student-centered classrooms, flexible prepare our young adults the ability to transition into today's learning space, up to date and reliable instructional society. technology, high quality performing arts space are undermined by requiring students to work in classrooms with • Several middle and elementary schools have been replaced or 20th century furniture and equipment. Common spaces such renovated, while high schools, with the exception of Kellam, have been largely ignored. Several high schools, and most as cafeterias and bathrooms are deplorable. Lockers are an specifically PA High, are in extremely poor condition and lack artifact of the past with very little use in high school anymore. the ability to serve their population appropriately. The wiring Electrical service infrastructure is insufficient to meeting the is substandard, the facility is falling apart, and the conditions rapidly expanding need to charge devices and run classrooms are overall deplorable. The faculty and staff do a great job effectively and efficiently. Chronic pest issues (insects and with what they have, but they and their students deserve rodents) although responded to rapidly, are still a distraction to learning and cause people to lose confidence in our ability better. This is the "Original Beach High School," and it shows. Thank you. to provide a clean and safe environment for children. School security systems are outdated and needed repairs/ • Several of the high schools are very old and outdated. There is replacements take far too long to occur. The image quality on definitly no equity when compared to Kellem or Landstown. most of the security cameras is low definition providing a • Several old high schools. Appreciate the importance of small range of effectiveness. The needs of the library media outdoor space at schools too.

125 Virginia Beach City Public Schools - Community Dialogue #1 Results 125 QUESTION 6

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centers are being addressed in some schools which is a oldest schools (First Colonial) have not and must continue to positive step in the right direction in a visible and heavily operate in grossly dated facilities. used part of the school. • Some administration buildings also need to be updated not • Since there is only so much money to go around, the schools just schools should be modernized and replaced as needed but maybe in a • Some building are in dire need of improvements. more thrifty way. For instance Kellam High and Brickell • Some buildings have gone too long without upgrades or academy look fabulous but way over the top when you see replacements. There is a consistent issue with roaches and the state of some schools, like Plaza Middle. My kids could other pests. These same buildings lack the capacity to support attend both facilities I mentioned so I am thankful but they ever-growing needs to upgrade electronic systems. The didn't need to be this fancy to be great! Seems wasteful. HVAC is inconsistent. PAHS represents security issues due • So much money has been spent on Kellam HS and it has a to the use of so many out buildings. PAHS, FCHS, Plaza huge open space - large enough for many classrooms. The Middle are examples of these buildings and should be Pentagon style is not a enviable shape since so many classes considered before others. have no outside windows. Many of the schools are being • Some buildings may just need some renovations not constructed with non-opening windows - maybe cost savings replacement. Example: Bayside Elementary has a leaky roof. but each room should have the ability to open a few. Princess Instead of repairing the roof, water stained ceiling tiles are Anne HS is so shabby and short on space that I saw a class just continually replaced. This does not solve the problem. being conducted in what used to be a storage space - • Some buildings really need renovation (Princess Anne High crowded, creepy and falling apart. If you only have one School, Salem High School, First Colonial High School, project to move forward it should be Princess Anne HS. Bayside High School) • So when i was in Brandon Middle School we saw cockroaches • Some high schools in Virginia beach are way below standards on the ceiling. Just remove the bug problem and I’ll be okay. and can cause health hazards and don't meet the • Some (newer) schools (Kellam) have been updated while the requirements that are needed to accomodate the amount of

126 Virginia Beach City Public Schools - Community Dialogue #1 Results 126 QUESTION 6

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students that are enrolled. elementary school demonstrates. That attack was only • Some middle schools and high schools that I have visited thwarted because staff were able to lock all the doors. I don't smell musty or like mildew as soon as you walk in the door. know if that could or would happen at either school listed Typically, these schools are the older ones. Janitors work above in a timely enough fashion. hard to keep the reachable areas clean, but ducting and areas • Some of our schools are extremely poorly designed, and make in the ceilings have black residues and flakes that fall from the students and faculty feel more trapped than anything else. them, as well as many water stains. I think the physical Classrooms with no windows, very little natural light, condition and age of these buildings is evident. Teachers and hallways that are way to small, different classroom sizes that students are exposed to molds and this unhealthy can't accommodate the class sizes that we currently have to environment. Safety and health concerns should always come teach. Not only that the resources that are at the schools are first. terrible. Desks are falling apart or already broken. Technology • Some of our buildings are so antiquated and cannot handle in some of the schools is absolutely laughable. Also, poor the technology and student population. Many of the older building designs where students have to go outside just to get middle & high schools were built with a maximum class size to the office because it is in a SEPARATE building, how does of 20-25 students - now the classrooms hold 30-35 students in that even follow safe schools? If Virginia Beach wants to foster that space - the best learning environment for its students then it has to • Some of our neighborhood schools, Kempsville High and take a hard look at some of their schools and start doing Fairfield Elementary, are really showing their age. The high something about it. school in particular doesn't appear to have the space needed • Some of our schools are quite old, it's time for new ones. to accommodate new programs. Another concern is safety. • Some of our schools are very old and still have asbestos in the Obviously pre-Columbine schools were built to encourage walls. Teachers are told not to put anything on the walls, but community involvement. Post-Columbine, safety and security then our rooms look like prisons. The moisture in the walls must be a huge priority, as last week's attack on an causes the paint to peel and then students will sit and pick at

127 Virginia Beach City Public Schools - Community Dialogue #1 Results 127 QUESTION 6

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the paint. Mold grows in the walls and the vents. need to be updated. • Some of the buildings are beautiful and so well done (VBMS, • Some of the high schools are very old, like First Colonial GNMS, Kellam, ODC), and this is Great for the students who High. Looks pitiful next to Cape Henry. attend those schools. For everyone else, though, it seems to be • Some of the high schools in the area are very old and need to moving pretty slowly. be redone. • Some of the buildings are extremely old and infested with • Some of the newer buildings are nice but maybe we should bugs and rodents The sizes of the classrooms no longer consider a more cost effective method accommodate our growing class sizes, nor do the teachers • some of the older buildings are not able to service students have the space to do flex grouping as the administrators and the modern programs needed in today's education. The would like to see. This city wants to attract new businesses infrastructure is not there to run enough computers to meet and for them to move here we need to show them great the needs of today's learners. High schools are sending schools! Yes, the education that goes in in the buildings is top students to college without enough preparation for a digital notch, but the aging facilities do not match that. Our city age of learning. Some high schools are much older and more council should worry more about replacing these buildingS worn out than the feeding elementary and middle schools and less about building more hotels and arenas or moving the taking away the excitement to learn once they get to the older city offices to towne center . Some of our schools are 10 times run-down high school they are scheduled to attend. I think more disgusting and out dated than the administraton that the high schools should be state of the art, middle schools building and city offices. a bit behind that and elementary schools should be basic until • Some of the buildings are in awful condition, meaning you we are caught up with the country in technology and the waited too long. building that allows for that to happen. • Some of the elementary schools may need rentavated. They • Some of the older facilities continue to have difficulties with have built new and rentavated high school and middle mold/moisture issues and inconsistent heating/air schools within the last 5 years. The elementary schools may conditioning through out the buildings. Bathroom facilities

128 Virginia Beach City Public Schools - Community Dialogue #1 Results 128 QUESTION 6

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after so many years only clean up just so well and kitchen not up to date.. even with heat and cooling needs are facilities for moving students through the lines efficiently are overlooked. How can a child possibly focus on learning when extremely outdated with all the choices that are now available they are distracted with how hot / cold they are? How can and weren't when they were designed. Also, with the children be expected to use bathrooms that look disgusting? changes in education, curriculum, and instruction the older The pipes, drains, walls, sink fixtures, toilets etc should not be facilities are not designed or equipped for active engagement so unsanitary with rust, stains etc... I think more focus need to and small group design with large numbers in a classroom be put in the facilities where our children spend a majority of that has large fixed desks/storage units in them. Also needed thir day. They need to be comfortable and have all they can to to be taken into account for design purposes is the need to thrive. have at least two or three smaller classroom areas where • Some of these projects are way overdue. students with disabilities can be tested and in some cases • Some schools are desperate for remodel/rebuild instructed in a smaller group setting. Ideally this would be a • Some schools are growing due to new construction and are location per grade level in the school building. old. • Some of the older school buildings pose a health risk with the • Some schools are in horrible shape while others have brand- amount of black mold and asbestos glue throughout the new, state of the art facilities. It does not seem equitable. school. • Some schools are really bad off and are in desperate need of • Some of the oldest buildings in the division seem to be either repair! ignored or a bandage is put in place to help them limp along. • Some schools are significantly greater in functionality and The new schools are beautiful, with full facilities for all appearance than many other schools. This creates a disparity encompassing learning in the modern era. The older schools between students across the city. The oldest schools in the struggle with everything from lockers falling apart to drafts worst physical conditions need to be replaced first. and rodents. • Some schools are very old making it difficult for technology. • Some of the schools in Virginia Beach are very unsanitary and • Some schools get more attention than others. Kellam HS 129 Virginia Beach City Public Schools - Community Dialogue #1 Results 129 QUESTION 6

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students got a new state of the art school while Greenrun, case... Salem, and Princess Anne are older and gave many issues. I • Some schools look so huge which is a bit concerning. I would feel that the schools that get more attention are in the "nicer" prefer more smaller schools compared to gigantic schools that districts/ zones of Virginia Beach. Kempsville is an old school dilute a quality experience for our kids. We need to invest in too. Many upgrades and apartments are being built right recruiting the brightest most capable teachers and weed out across from Kempsville and meanwhile the school looks non-productive ones. We need more computer teachers. terrible. • Some schools may not be set for modernization/replacement • Some schools have so much more than other schools. Having due to the age but the function of the school is so out dated. worked in aTier 4 school before, I can say that the conditions One example is Green Run High School. It is not set to that the students and teachers in those buildings work in are a adequately run regular classes and house the collegiate. lot worse than other schools that have more financial Many of the classrooms are outdated with trying to use resources. It's hard when you have to deal with really old/ current electronics. The rooms and desks are very old. The broken classroom furniture, windows that leak whenever it auditorium has chairs broken and cushions falling apart. And rains hard, and air conditioning and heating units that are so Salem High is not adequately designed for it to hold the Fine loud you can barely hear instruction, while other schools have Arts Academy. The rooms are not current and designed to special water fountains that students can refill their water hold the academy and the regular classes. At one time the bottles with. The inequity is just so unfortunate. school was okay for the academy but with the new Old • Some schools in the city (ex. Kempsville Middle) have been Donation School and all its bells and whistles for students to struggling to maintain educational viability because of facility go from that then to the Fine Arts Academy is a big let down age which causes issues with its ability to maintain school to students. system programming needs. Schools in better condition have • Some schools need more renovation than others. One thing Id been renovated or rebuilt which suspiciously shows that more like to see is more high schools with a rubber track. Perhaps affluent areas are getting priority. We hope that isn't the Ocean Lakes could be next. Elementary schools are in one

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classroom almost all day and their buildings don't need to be • Something should be done about busses. My kids are renovated as often as middle school and definitely high dropped off way to far from our house and walked home in schools would. High schools need to house top academic the dark. If you can’t have proper activity buses then stop the programs with the academies and schools like Kempsville or after school activities. First Colonial are very old, and how do incoming students • Space for related services providers need to be taken into feel about it must be mixed feelings. account. Itinerant staff should not be housed in portables or • Some schools that are not as old as others have been replaced/ on stages. We work with most physically disabled students renovated, while the older schools continue to be outdated and to put their services at the farthest point in the school is and in disrepair. ridiculous. Often they can not walk up stairs and ramps. As a • Some schools when you enter you can smell moisture in the result, they must be carried or do not receive hands on air which means at some point there is mold and mildew that Services. Also, preschoolers should not be on stages for has not been handled. The need for space in my daughters instruction. When space is not available often therapy staff are school alone the overcrowding in the hallways has children housed on school Stages. If there was an emergency or literally bumping into each other and I don't mean horse play. intruders, this is not A Secure location. In addition, handicap 6th Grade orientation parents and students were stuffed in Bathrooms need to be larger and in more Central locations. the hallways the classes were hot because the amount of The newer buildings do not have bathrooms with enough people. If you don't want children to touch other students or space For wheelchairs, mechanical lifts and staff members. understand what personal space is this has to be addressed, Bathrooms have been built in older schools as the original • Some small schools are in poor shape based on their age. design had no large handicap accessible Bathrooms. Bandaid type fixes are used for problems that arise. These • Space should be a priority over technology and aesthetics. buildings may not serve a large amount of students but they With the rapid growth in this area, many schools struggle still deserve to have a facility that is safe and appealing to its with capacity enrollment—or above. Many related services students and staff. and other vital staff are packed on top of each other in small

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resource rooms. Students needing smaller class size due to 'average' students. Brickel Academy, Kellem HS, and Great attention or sensory issues (particularly the autism Neck Middle is a disgrace and embarrassment to the gross population) is vastly underserved/accommodated. Again, negligence of tax dollar spending. Why do certain students technology should not be a priority. Adequate space and deserve their 'own' building while other programs are shared? quality buildings are what we NEED. I was annoyed and disappointed that Virginia Beach will • Special needs students need accessible playgrounds, continue to accommodate those particular parents and classrooms and access to all areas of eff every level of school. students in the future as well. • Spend less money on the "wow" factor, and more on the • Strong consideration/prioritization should be given to schools basics. Kellam high school does not need as much money with ongoing facility issues such as outdated/overloaded focused on sports as it does. wiring and leaking roofs/mold issues. Buildings with these • Stop building facilities that look fancy but are poorly issues are dangerous to the health and well-being of the staff designed for use. Case in point Kellam High School. Lots of and students that are in these structures for 6 to 10 hours wasted money and space. daily. Teachers experience ongoing health issues (respiratory/ allergies) related to poor air quality that seem to improve • Stop building schools that will be costly to maintain. Consider if the latest building design is just a 'fab' or will be during summer months. Until these buildings are improved/ able to adapt to the future. And why are there schools with renovated/rebuilt, regular air quality tests should be trailers? How does this meet security standards? performed by an independent company and results made available to ensure the safety of the occupants. • Stop wasting money on LEED. Build sustainable but stop • Student and staff safety should be considered when looking at spending money for a plaque on the wall. Build normal buildings that will not be monuments to the architect. buildings to replace. • student enrollment and new housing development should be • Stop wasting our tax dollars on buildings that are 'palaces' and not school buildings. The unequal spending for strongly considered. I would not like to a similar situation particular 'populations' has not gone unnoticed by parents of that Chesapeake schools is experiencing with over crowding

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at some schools and under enrollment at others. we do not • Teachers are not teaching and are being lazy want to be in the paper like they are and having to rezone • Teachers need to be included on classroom renovations or students. A close working relationship with the city designs. Some new additions were made to the building in development and planning authority is important to ensure which I work and the functionality of the classroom is poorly this does not happen. planned. Also, secondary education classes should have a • Students and teachers are the highest priority higher priority since class numbers are generally higher in • Students are not as quick to take care of their school secondary than elementary. And high school students should environment if it already looks run down. be better prepared with technology uses as they are joining • Take a look at classroom size, if the student count is 30-35 and work forces sooner than elementary. the programs such as Pitsco modules only can handle 2 per • Teachers need to be paid more. We don’t need new buildings, computer station and 12 stations the program will not work. we need teachers who get paid a competitive salary. Each Pitsco class room set up runs $40,000-45,000 for 24 • Technology exists to build new schools with all the latest students. Each station cost runs from $2000-10000 depending conveniences. We have to write better bids to allow school on subject. The point being is that class load is making leaders to find the correct contractor / vendor to build what is programs unusable and makeshift lesson plans are having to required. If school leaders are handcuffed by one pool of be put into place in order to teach classes like Tech Ed. Class contractors / vendors, we won't be able to use scarce funds size has to be supported be the programs that are in place. efficiently. Also, why is it taking so to rebuild Landstown Class size is the driving factor and then everything else is put High School baseball field? It was damaged in late March and into place. We need a full scope plan. still not complete. There is no sign of a batting cage (how • Teachers and other educational staff should be the majority much could that possibly be? A drop in the bucket of the of the people on committees to design schools. Architects may VBCPS budget? Landstown is one of only schools without a design an attractive building but they do not build a school hitting facility (again, no indication that the batting cages are that best meets student needs. being replaced. I understand that football field took priority,

133 Virginia Beach City Public Schools - Community Dialogue #1 Results 133 QUESTION 6

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but what was done this summer? Other high schools have won't be counted when the children are school age, though beautiful (and simple) batting facilities. Thank you they may be replaced by others who are stationed here later • Technology is advancing at an amazing pace and the schools on. Kudos to the people who can look ahead 30 years and need to have the capability to take advantage of the latest manage all of this information, it looks like a huge technology in the instructional environment. Older buildings undertaking! It's good that you look ahead of current school may not be able to support this endeavor and this must be boards and city councils, and look out for the well-being of factored into the capital improvement plans. future students and the school system in general. • Technology is great to have if it can be supported in the • The age of a school and the safety of students is the first buildings. Some schools are so old that we are wasting money priority. trying to fix them up instead of starting by rebuilding the • The age of the school should be a strong determining factor. facility. Poor air quality seems to be an issue for students, faculty and • Thank you for the dedication placed upon our children's staff in older buildings. education. Budgeting is always an issue, good luck. • The amount of money spent on some of the schools (Old • Thank you for the marvelous school you build. (Old Donation Donation, Kellam, etc.) could be spread more evenly in my School). I wish it had more parking. Parking lot is opinion. I feel that if we spent a little less money on each overflowing with staff that there is no extra place for visiting facility, it would improve the rate at which we could parent. Hopefully city will consider surrounding area or modernize or rebuild other facilities which need it. I work in multilevel parking. This school has 3 schools in it and parking a facility with 19 portables, many of which are used every must reflect that. block, every day, for instructional purposes. I taught in 5 • The age and physical condition of the facilities are in different classrooms last year, with a study block in a 6th. This poor condition year I have 3 rooms, all but one block taught in portables. I love the school I work in. However, when I look at the • The "live births" figure does not show how many of the births are attributable to military mothers, who may be transient and expense that went in to building schools like Kellam and Old

134 Virginia Beach City Public Schools - Community Dialogue #1 Results 134 QUESTION 6

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Donation, I wonder if going forward the money might be poop and insects. This school is absolutely disgusting and the better spent spread a bit more evenly so that all students in majority of Bayside students thinks this as well Virginia Beach have the same opportunities for success in • The bathrooms at bayside high school are awful and more modern facilities. unsanitary, the hallways are not wide enough, and there is • The amount of use that high-school facilities see, buildings not enough time to get to classes because of the traffic in the should not be 50+ years old. hallways. • The amount of waste and expense for the schools that they • The building I work at KHS is outdated and doesn't facilitate have renovated this far is astronomical learning in the 21st century. There are problems with bugs • The bathrooms at Bayside High school are absolutely and rodents and the overall school environment is disgusting. Other than the nasty stuff that students do in the unwelcoming. When comparing this school to Kellam, it is bathroom, I feel like there can be improvements to the poorly evident that students at Kellam have a more positive learning designed bathrooms. I do not understand why Bayside experience with fewer behavioral problems. Studies have continues to spend their money on computers and shown a direct correlation. It's time we bring learning to the technology. I am fine with having tablets but this school is forefront by first fixing the school's infrastructure. going to far with spending there money on technology. What • The building I work in is incredibly dilapidated. we need is renovation to this disgusting school. I find • The building is adequate. I'd like to see an update in the cockroaches in the hallway, broken stalls, nasty chairs, nasty building's lighting. decks, and unclean floors. Bayside needs to fix there • The building of Bayside High School simply does meet the cleanliness so that students do not have to learn in a nasty educational needs for the students and staff members. The school. The cleanliness of a school should be more important structure of the building is not conducive to the parameters of than having extra technology being thrown at us. What I want todays academic changes and nuances. This building has the to be thrown at me is a clean and fresh smell walking into most impact on its community than any other in the city of Bayside or at least the bathrooms but all I get is the small of Virginia Beach. It would aid the city if there were a new

135 Virginia Beach City Public Schools - Community Dialogue #1 Results 135 QUESTION 6

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building for Bayside High School. in worn out roach infested buildings. Just think what could • The building of LEED buildings is something you missed on be accomplished in a school equipt with the latest inovative the list of important factors. ALL new school buildings need equipment. to be at least LEED Gold, if not Platinum. The School district • The City of Va. Beach has 2 of the oldest High School is really blazing trails with these buildings and it needs to stay buildings and are doing very little to make improvements/ that way. replacement a priority as far as the student and parents in • The buildings and facilities are very well structured and those 2 schools see monitored. • The City of VB is doing an excellent job replacing aging high • The buildings are outdated and have sanitary concerns. There schools with superior learning centers providing for new and are often spiders and cockroaches, dead and alive, in my improving technologies. office area. Rooms smell of must after any type of rain and • The city was talking about city hall replacement/ ceiling tiles are discolored and bowing. modernization and/or moving to town center. City employees • The children in elementary schools are youngest and most can stay in portables during modernization, if portables are susceptible to toxins. They can hurt their development more good enough for our kids it's darn sure good enough for the than the older kids. The students are in elementary schools for city workers! Spend the money where it needs to go, our 6 years if they start in kindergarten. They are in the same schools. Upgrade city hall, and the schools. building breathing in mold and dust longer than middle and • The class sizes are not being considered. Almost every school high school students. I am allergic to several elementary in the city has portables or cottages.It’s out of control. Some school buildings in VB. I shouldn’t walk in and within a few schools have empty classrooms and other schools have short hours feel terrible. Fix it. portables and 25+ kids in every class. Some schools are better • The city appears to think having facilities like arenas more at responding to downtowns metrics. Rezoning needs to important than modernizing or replacing our old out of date happen! I’m very disappointed in our city. Our kids aren’t schools. Teachers do remarakable things with their students getting smarter in VB - the teachers are just better and

136 Virginia Beach City Public Schools - Community Dialogue #1 Results 136 QUESTION 6

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teaching to the SOLs. Our teachers are under paid. Pressure have a window unit for AC and heat. The hallways are too is put on classrooms to not use paper and students are small to accommodate for the amount of students in them. working out of portables. As parents if we hear comparisons The classrooms are overly crowded with desks due to the about Fairfax we are going to scream! Have you noticed their small sizes. scores have gone down. Renovating while kids are living in a • The district has done a great job keeping up with the 21st building- especially an elementary school is truly unfair to century demands for education. The district also focuses on their education! equity and I think that should stay a priority when making • The condition of the schools need to be a top priority in this decision. choosing the order of projects. Some schools have ventilation • The district is doing a nice job on the projects in which it is issues that can contribute to illness and absences for both taking part, but there are simply not enough of them. In a teachers and students. district of this size, it seems like more frequent renovations • The conditions of the First Colonial High School facilities are necessary. should be an embarrassment to our Virginia Beach • The division has a specific plan and schedule that is being community and school division. Our students and faculty implemented in a timely manner. The present leadership is in deserve so much more. Please tear down and rebuild so that tune with a diverse student body and ever-changing needs of our students can achieve their full academic potential. In the school community. addition, perhaps a new facility would provide competition to • The division has done a good job of ensuring that all areas of the nice, updated private school located next door. the city as well as programs receive equitable attention and • The current state of Bayside High School is embarrassing. The support. bathrooms are ran down and not cared for, there is a general • The division spends a ridiculous amount of money on capital stench to the school, there is a roach infestation, students projects. A school should be safe, and energy efficient but all forced into portables due to a lack of classes. These portables the extra money spent on bells & whistles is a waste and as a are very uncomfortable, they lack proper ventilation and only taxpayer it greatly disturbs me. Does the new magnet school

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really have a Steinway piano?? How can you justify spending small, narrow and extremly overcrowded which leds to $100 million on Kellam while Bayside High is falling apart? frustration among the student body, a rise in absentee rates Talk about inequities in the system? All schools should be and eventually drop out rates. There are problems with built the same, use the same basic design for all schools and adequate heating and air, mold and functional bathroom save the taxpayers some money. The LEED certifications do facilities for students. Bayside is home to an amazing nothing but increase the cost (& give the architect firm a program in the Health Sciences Academy but sadly some marketing gimmick). ALL school board members should be students are choosing to stay at their home school rather then upset at the cost of Thorouggood elementary- be good attend Bayside in the conditions of this facility. Bayside stewards of our money for a change and start asking hard desperately needs a new facility to educate the number of questions. Think of what else those funds could be spent on. students that now attend that high school. • The early intervention facilities for students with disabilities is • The facilities being built now are extremely costly for extras lacking in space and availability of appropriate resources and that students can do without. Virginia Beach while trying to equipment be better than everyone else spends money on unnecessary • The elementary schools are in most cases older than the high items and designs and needs to get back to the basics. schools and middle schools. Recommend focusing on • The FC district is neglected building larger elementary schools and consolidating to • The functionality of the building should be more important reduce numbers and reduce maintenance costs. than the appearance. • The emphasis has been on elementary schools and middle • The health and safety of students and staff should be a top schools; students transition to high schools that are outdated. priority in the decision of project priority. If the building itself The infrastructure cannot support the technology we are is becoming a health or safety hazard, those schools should be asked to use and that we want students to use. handled first, regardless of the grades they serve. • The facilities at Bayside High School are outdated and not • The heating and cooling of some of the schools needs to be functional for the population it serves. The hallways are corrected.

138 Virginia Beach City Public Schools - Community Dialogue #1 Results 138 QUESTION 6

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• The high level of need for portables increases student stress much support and encouragement as they can get. Those for being able to switch classes in allotted time and caused students will be graduating and hopefully attending college students to be subject to inclement weather when switching and need a safe, inviting learning facility to motivate them to classes. Older buildings have poor intercom systems and continue pursuing their educational needs. students are unable to clearly hear annousments being made • The infrastructure of our buildings is beginning not to which also increases their stress, they are worried they may support the needs of the school. For example, I teach at have missed something important that was said. Kempsville High and we have a copier that has set in our • The high schools are not up to standards set by lower level building for 2 years unusable because it has been said that we schools. The older kids do not have clean, safe, or healthy do not have enough room in the electrical box for it to be establishments to learn in. I am strongly dissatisfied with the hooked up. quality of my high school, Bayside. I do my best to learn in • The Kempsville Elementary, Middle and High School all need my environment although the classrooms are consistently a To be replaced. All 3 schools are out of date and don’t mess, the desks are old and broken, and the ceiling tiles are provide the modern advantages other schools have. falling off the ceiling. The entire campus is old, especially the • The Kempsville High School Facility is outdated and cannot bleachers in the stadium. meet the technology needs or course offerings of the students • The high schools here in Virginia beach are very low quality compared to other VBCPS facilities. and can be considered "ghetto". • The kids at First Colonial High are in s very old building and • The high schools in lower socioeconomic neighborhoods have only enough parking for seniors. The parking situation haven’t been upgraded/modernized in forever. for students and parents is awful cauding students to wake • The high schools in the area need an overhaul. Most are up twice as early just to find a parking space near school. falling behind the times. We need to change this. • The lynnhaven middle school could use some renovations. • The high schools in the district need the most attention and • The middle schools in the city were supposed to be renovated therefore should be a priority. The high school level needs as over 15-20 years ago. There was a change in leadership and

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the renovations were put on a back burner... Landstown Larkspur was under design teachers were invited to view the Middle School, which many people think is a new school, is plans give input to architects. All recommendations were 25 years old! It is very outdated. It is very unclean. It was ignored & the recommendations were not about fluff but were painted 2 years ago, and it was done so poorly that the paint educationally /safety based as well as consideration for the is already chipping badly. The staff restroom areas smell, and age of the population. The open 2 story galleries are a safety the carpets are dilapidated. The sound boards that hang in the issue. No MS teacher approved of that concept. The setbacks foyers and are nailed to the wall are filthy. Although the of the specialists rooms is a huge waste of space and a physical space is fine, many classes are too small for the class security issue as anyone can that as a hiding space. None of sizes. I do not think that is a priority. the “educators” based design changes were incorporated and • the money spent on the new HVC system was a waste of the school was replicated at Corporate Landing Middle w/ all money. The classrooms are either very HOT( which is most of of the design problems identified in the original “teacher the time) or cold (not often). input”. College Park Elem. construction w/ the priority • The needs of some schools should be considered over new focused on “LEEDS” certification vs. functionality of an builds. educational complex was an obscenity. The classroom signage w/ flora, insects etc. imbedded into the number signs was • The new construction dating back as far as Birdneck Elem/ Larskpur Middle have had major flaws in designs and safety. astronomical in cost ( at Tim Cole’s insistence) & 2 years after Birdneck was a documented sick school yet it was replicated construction does not work. The imported “African wood” that was to last 50 years was again an excessive cost- Bricks for Glenwood Ele. That was later determined to be a sick school w/ failure to have adequate ventilation, excessive CO2, last generations & are US made! The wood is now pulling etc. etc. There were HVAC fixes offered by the Co. who away from the building because the screws are not holding. initially put in Glenwood’s HVAC system to Central Admin (50 years obviously not!) The cement catch basins ‘cisterns’ at the time of Glenwood’s issues but these were rejected placed around the sidewalks to catch rain water don’t work- because staff was more concerned w/ their job security. When the rain water flows over the basins & the other downspouts are not extended far enough away from the building to take 140 Virginia Beach City Public Schools - Community Dialogue #1 Results 140 QUESTION 6

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the rain water away from the building resulting in standing architects that have never been a classroom educator allowed water causing dampness odors; how far away is mold/ to ignore the practical and educationally based mildew. Several of the catch basins are located in the middle recommendations and build monuments that fail to meet of doorway exits thus causing traffic jams during fire drills/ student needs? evacuations. Many of the filters for the HVAC are often • The new facilities are fantastic and I believe that they foster located under the Promethean projectors resulting in the filter pride and a greater sense of empowerment. I realize that they replacement having to be folded into 2 to 4 parts & flattened can't all be done instantly, however, but personally feel that a to be inserted obviously compromising their effectiveness. newer nicer HS might influence the kids to stay in school and The floor to ceiling windows throughout the building were perform better. Of course this is my lay opinion, and I would identified as a problem the 1st year but NO shades were suspect that there is scientific evidence that has shown where provided until teachers documented that the Promethean these projects would have the most impact. This survey is board lessons & the announcements could not be seen by nice, but should bow to what a peer reviewed scientific study students due to glare. Safety is another factor in the floor to has shown. Thank you. ceiling windows, has the promotor of LEEDS design never • The new Kellam high school was built WAY too small to seen the increase in armed intruders attacking schools. accommodate growth. Landstowne High school is already at Signage for Kellum HS was ordered incorrectly & had to be capacity, and OceanLakes accommodates a busy academy. redone at the costs of thousands of dollars. White boards are Where is the new growth going to attend? Should we rip installed at White Oaks Ele. 1 year and the next year existing citizens away from their schools to accommodate Promethean boards were purchased & some of which were brand new residents? NO! A new high school should have mounted OVER the white boards. VBCPS new construction been built in Pungo YEARS AGO. Our city only sees tax & renovation costs are out of control! There appears to be revenue dollars without considering the costs of minimal oversight and the subcontractors obviously do not accommodating new residents' children. Banishing existing have access to plans of i.e. HVAC mechanics and vice versa. citizens from their school districts is not the answer. Please Where is the site engineer when these errors occur? Why are 141 Virginia Beach City Public Schools - Community Dialogue #1 Results 141 QUESTION 6

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work on a more permanent solution NOW. Straw bridge Career Education Center. elementary is over crowded. There are 26 students in a • The oldest buildings need to be modernized to accommodate classroom not designed for 26 students. Southern virginia the new technology. Also, the kitchens need more space for beach is busting at the seams with NO effective help from the storage and to accommodate the required amount of products city! to prepare. • The new old donation school is so nice while schools like • The oldest high schools should be renovated first (PA, FC, bayside still have cockroaches. We need to prioritize schools Bayside) that need help and not schools that house gifted students. Its • The oldest, most out of date schools should be replaced. It not fair that smart students get a better education while seems like there are a lot of politics involved regarding the highschoolers around Virginia beach have to stick to the most recent school rebuilds. cheapest option • The one problem I see in the schools is meals. Schools should • The newer schools offer many more opportunities for go back to preparing their own meals and have a full Kitchen. students and those students in the older schools lose out. The meals I have seen are not appealing to me. The food looks • the Old Donation School facility and capability far surpasses like its warmed over food. It food was more appealing less anything else in the city and is truly an example of over would end up in the trash. We talk about healthy lunches. If indulgence for some students and neglect for others its not eaten its not healthy. If it doesn't look good its not • The Older facilities that my kids go to need additional healthy. parking • The only problem is you send the kids across the city during • the older schools in comparison to the newer schools look so renovations which causes problems with parents and extra much worse. The newer schools with all the new technology curriculars & amenities for the students including athletic field upgrades, • The order at which spaces are renovated is very unjust. really show up the older schools Students who are in more affluent areas (Kellam HS) were • The oldest building in the system may be the Technical and given a 20 million dollar building while there are much older

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buildings in the school division that are literally falling apart future enhancements to the classroom even in our new that go unmodified. The school division needs to be fair about schools. How we present material and evaluate progress will how these renovations are taken into the consideration. The continue to evolve and innovation will become a constant, not fair way is to do it by building age. a "school by school" initiative. • The pace at which certain schools have been modernized is • The performing arts facilities in the new schools are excellent. too slow. We have many students and teachers in spaces that Please continue including black box theaters in the designs as are not suitable environments for learning. Transition areas they benefit not only theatre students but also other students such as Bayside 6 are not suitable because the rodents and in the school. A large auditorium is also extremely valuable as cockroaches. It takes far too long for building to "get on the a school attribute. However, including windows on the side of list" to be renovated. a theater has not worked out well. • The pace of reconstruction is awfully slow, plus the top • The phased, multi year approach to rebuilding the JBD priority schools in my opinion are a little skewed. High elementary school is ridiculous, and I suspect more costly and schools like green run and bayside need to be redone, there disruptive than if it were done on a normal construction are rats and roaches crawling the school. The conditions of schedule. This was a nice attempt to avoid student disruption both schools are deplorable. Meanwhile students at Kellam but has backfired completely - there will be students who are having luxury while Bayside and Green Run students are attend a construction zone for more than 3 of their 5-6 years in suffering. With a better learning space comes better grades. the school. • The pace of technological advance including electronic • The Plaza Annex host many learning opportunities for staff. hardware and software, virtual environments and AI is There isn't adequate parking for the number of people that increasing exponentially. We need our high schools to be in attend. The back parking lot is a hazard as many staff good condition and proper capacity but it is just as important members have fallen or tripped over the broken asphalt. that they are flexible and adaptable to technological • The process takes too long. Promises haven't been kept to advancement. We need to be careful to set aside funding for schools anxiously waiting.

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• The progress has been slow and many old schools have still means, lets spend millions of dollars on buildings, because been neglected. As a result, there are often not adequate that's where the problem lies... facilities/classrooms for itinerants, specialists, etc., at many • The reason for the ratings in Q5 are due to the current VBCPS schools (especially elementary schools) where kids need an building statuses. A majority of the Elementary Schools and appropriate, enriching environment in order to learn. most of the High Schools are newer and/or fully renovated • The public school system as a whole entity is completely buildings. Most of the Middle Schools are older buildings underfunded (and always will be) and unsustainable. and not all of them had any major or full renovations. Other Particularly with regard to Virginia Beach's City Council than asbestos being present in some of the older buildings in which seems to have no problem finding funding for arenas, the system, which can be removed, most of these older new Council chambers and light rail studies, but then says we buildings seem to be stronger in foundation than the newer must raise taxes to pay for critical infrastructure and buildings due to the fact that most of the outer and internal education, the emphasis in this City is not focused on walls were built with cement, bricks, cinderblocks, and steel. education and facilities management for schools. In order to I feel it would benefit the system in keeping these buildings keep up with (or stay ahead of) national benchmarks for but perform complete renovations of them. For example, learning and keeping quality teachers in the system, the replacement of the roofing, replacing plexiglass windows schools must understand that they operate as a Ponzi scheme. with thick glass windows that are being used in newer You require more workers and more families to pay taxes to buildings today, complete removal and rewiring of all support the pensioners and retirees, plus provide competitive electrical, telephony, and network cabling, outlets, switches, salaries and benefits to incoming professionals. And you and circuit breaker panels, and complete removal and don't. In the past five years you have increased teacher replacement of all HVAC ductwork just to name a few. I also workload, reduced benefits, and driven dedicated think that a few things to take into consideration would be (1) professionals either to other districts or out of the profession installation of an enclosed and keyed entry control room at entirely because they cannot support their families. But by all the backend of auditoriums that currently do not have one

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like this, (2) installation of an actual keyed and/or pin- eligible for our services. We need classroom space. I would numbered entry security office/room for the VBPD SRO, also like to add that the building where the Preschool VBCPS security, and in-house security assistants along with Assessment Center is housed, is disgusting. We have mold the security system and monitoring control systems, (3) and mildew in our carpets, on our walls and on our ceilings. installation of keyed entry PWD rooms, or Premises Wire We have critters running around in the ceiling. This is where Distribution rooms for network/telephony hardware devices many parents are first introduced to the VB school system. It and connections such as switches, routers, punch-panels, etc. is not a great first impression. While powers that be have instead of them currently attached to walls out in the open, made sure that the front lobby and 2 wings of the building and finally (4) installation of a secure DOT/TST office that have received new paint, lighting, etc., our wing has remained would be able to house the building's main PWD that would untouched. It is hard for me to promote the building of new include the building's incoming ISP connections/modem, school buildings when I spend every day in a building that is incoming telephony connections, incoming cable or satellite a health hazard. TV provider connections, the main servers with the main • the remodel of the old donation school looks fantastic, i really switches, the PBX system or similar telephony systems with wish they would Bayside high school. main punch-panels, the UPS systems, computer/electronics • The renovation of cox high school is not an immediate need at workbench, some storage space for technology items, and of this time but it will soon become a problem. course room for a full sized desk with a PC and printer. • The safety of the children is the most important factor to me. (However this is my opinion.) When constructing these buildings, please consider the • The reason I rated Elementary Schools at a 10, is because I changing weather patterns and how many tornado warnings work at the Preschool Assessment Center. When preschoolers have taken place in our area recently. The new schools seem are found eligible for our program, they are placed in to have more glass and a safe place to go during these elementary schools that house ECSE classrooms. Presently, weather conditions should also be factored into the we are quickly running out of space to place children who are construction (possibly stronger walls in the center of the

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buildings; like the hallways for all the staff and students to go really bad. And the profanity all the students use, they during these weather conditions). deserve soap in their mouths. They need their memory wiped • The school capacities cannot keep pace with the communities and i have been scarred from going to this school. ALSO YOU in their zoned areas. For example, multiple neighborhoods GUYS NEED BETTER JANITORS BECAUSE THOSE and apartment complexes have been built in the Kempsville BATHROOMS ARE NASTY. area and the schools have already had portables for years • The school is full of roaches and rodents. When it rains, it (Centerville and Brandon). These are supposed to be rains inside. It's a complete disaster. temporary fixtures not permanent. Build schools with room • The school is very outdated and too small for the number of for growth and anticipate community growth in areas that can students enrolled. Something needs to be done soon. support it. • The school system should be ashamed that students are still in • The school division is a forward thinking division; however, the building of Princess Anne High School. I personally have the facilities in much older schools have difficulty seen a rat run across the floor of a classroom while I stood accommodating the changes in educational programming. there. I don't understand why students on the other side of • The school division needs to make decisions faster based on town have beautiful, modern facilities and these students go school building age. without. Rodents are a health hazard! How many diseases are • The school has done nothing about threats and bullying in the being passed around the facility because of this problem? school. it happens right in front of teachers and it happens Though I have not been inside First Colonial High School in right underneath the cameras. A teacher in the history dept. some time, I know that it also is extremely old. Meanwhile, only tells the minority kids to stop not the majority (talking Great Neck Middle School looks like a palace! High school about in the world not school). However the administration is students must be prepared for world of work and college they nice i like how involved the administration is. Ms temple are about to enter. The high school facilities must be especially. all complaints are for Tallwood Highschool modernized first so our students are ready to face the • The school is a total mess and some of the teachers there are challenges that lay ahead. Please take this under consideration

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going forward. fountains at one time had brown water coming out of the • The school that I attend is Bayside High school and I am an fountains. The bathrooms are a mess with doors that are so 11th Grader in the health sciences academy and to say that I short that people can see your whole face over the door and am strongly dissatisfied doesn’t even cover how much I loath what privicy does that give us as a student body. Also the the current situation of the school. Over my past three years cafeteria is way to small and the school is just overpopulated. that I have been here I have seen more cockroaches and mice It was made to only hold 1200 students and we have almost then I need to. The hall ways in this school is completely over 2000 , we some where around 1950. I understand that money crowded and the fact that teaches need to share rooms and are plays an important factor and that even if we get nice things constantly in the halls ways having to pickup all of their that their are people in this school that we still treat in things and move all the way across the school just because worngfully but I still believe that we deserve more than we they do not have enough room. That is unfair to the tearchers have right at this moment. I am almost embarrassed to say and the the students because the hallways have no room to that I go to bayside and bring my family to the school and walk and students such as myself are late to classes because have them see how out of date it is. their are huge clumps of crowdes I’m the hallways. This • The schools that are in the richer areas are being prioritized school is 54 years old and it has multiple safety hazards as more than those that are not. Just because those students are well. There is not a fire sprinkler in all classes and if a fire was "richer" or "better off" it doesn't mean that they deserve to to start in the classrooms then there would be no way to put it have the new building more than those of less fortunate out and even in the Hallways there is not a single sprinkle in backgrounds. the halls . I am also concerned about the health condition in • the schools are paramount to the success and desirability of the school, I am almost 100% certain that there in MOLD in the area - these projects are more useful and crucial to the area every crack and Conner in this school and due to the fact that than an arena or new government buildings I have asthma , I have never been to a school were my asthma • tHE SCHOOLS ARE DIRTY. has been triggered almost every month. Also the water • The schools are wasting money on the LEED program.

147 Virginia Beach City Public Schools - Community Dialogue #1 Results 147 QUESTION 6

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Drawings and spec could be sustainable and green without classes. Overall I'm pretty with the school system, my family the added cost of LEED. A lot of money is being wasted- lives here for the schools, but always room to improve. spent to put a plaque on the wall. Also, although the new Thinking everything is good is complacency. buildings are great architectural works, too much money is • The schools have horrible bathrooms being spent on aesthetics. Our schools need to be functional • The schools in the district have been inequitable since 1983. and durable not monuments to the architects. The new Old More than thirty years later the progress that has been made Donation School has every conceivable material used within for the schools have not benefitted our students. From the the building. Totally unnecessary. Aren’t the decision Ocean Lakes Flag pole to Kellam's costly building there are makers accountable to anyone? problems with the effectiveness of our school buildings. • The schools have academies across the division. And we have Somehow, the city needs to find the best for the students at a long term detention type school, which I think is a the least cost. Maybe changing the process that they buy necessary. Why is there no academy type school for the high items, complete studies and secure contractors and builders achievers? My understanding is that the "Evil Empire" also need to be changed. known as the SOL has a grip on the school system purse • The schools in the low income areas in Virginia Beach are strings. Making the schools have to make academies in all the looked at last. Alot of these facilities are old and needs to be high schools to help achieve SOL certification. I believe it renovated. The millions of dollars put into the Renaissance would be more cost efficient to have a stand alone academy, Academy and Old Donation should have been used to update that way higher end course studies are under one roof. schools that are older. Currently the school has to manage, find appropriate • The schools in the riches neighborhoods are the focus, not the teachers, implement studies into all the schools instead of one. schools with problems. No way, Kellam should have been With one academy under one roof students in a regular study done before PA, Renaissance should have waited as well. that would need a high end study for what ever reason could Those kids don't even want to be in school. Why rush to do it have a shuttle (I know, cost) to the academy for that class or when schools that are infested with rats still don't have a

148 Virginia Beach City Public Schools - Community Dialogue #1 Results 148 QUESTION 6

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decent building. And the money spent to do OCS, could have need to be made through well thought out decisions in completed 2 different schools. consideration of all students throughout the beach. The • The schools that are dilapidated, cock roach infested, full of condition of a student's school facility can have a strong effect mold, and so outdated / overcrowded the children must walk on their mentals and their work ethic in the classroom, and as outside and be crammed in portibles at the top of the list. a progressive school system, this is unacceptable to inhibit • The schools that are the oldest in the district should receive any student's ability to learn and receive a good education. priority in modernization and/or replacement. For example, it • The schools that are the oldest really do not meet the needs of is unsettling to see that the oldest school in the district, children with disabilities. They are also a health concern due Princess Anne High School, has yet to receive a new facility, to the mold and the air units . while younger schools have received priority over them. It is • The schools that have been replaced, needed it also disturbing to see that schools in more affluent areas of • The secondary schools that were built in the 1960's should town have received renovations over the others. For instance, have the first priority when considering the replacement or Kellam High School, which is located in a predominately modernization of those buildings. wealthier area, received a new facility over schools like • The spaces that are being renovated are ones that don’t need Bayside High School or, as before mentioned, Princess Anne it. There are middle schools that have mold, peeling paint, High School; both of which are in need of new buildings. In ancient wiring, and no ability for retrofitting new equipment. support of this point, the old Kellam High School building Some middle schools even have classrooms that barely was transitioned into Princess Anne Middle School, hinting at contain the number of students, let alone the necessary its capability to serve as an adequate facility. Although this instructional materials. The buildings that are oldest need to may have served to better Princess Anne Middle School due be replaced. The money spent on a state of the art gifted to the condition of their building; why couldn't a new school was wasted. The general population of students building have been built for the middle school? In conclusion, deserves to go to a school as updated as the gifted children. many Virginia Beach Schools are in need of new facilities and • The Special Education Annex is in dire need of replacement.

149 Virginia Beach City Public Schools - Community Dialogue #1 Results 149 QUESTION 6

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It is low on the priority list because it does not house students. • The students and technology used during schools and at However, it houses the district preschool Assessment center, home are advancing so should the schools so that it can fit the where well over 1000 families per year come to have their needs of the changing minds of students. children evaluated for special education services. For many of • The system prefers replacement instead of upgrades. If a these young families, this is their first connection with the building has been built with solid bones, then renovation VBCPS. They come into a building that is decades past being would be the optimum solution rather than razing and inhabitable. Critters can be heard scurrying around inside the building from scratch. ceiling, mold grows throughout the building, and water pours • The Technical Carrer and Education Center provides students through the windows at each heavy rain. Sinks lack hot water, with an opportunity to obtain licensure in chosen career a necessity for washing hands when working with students paths. Unfortunately, the building does not provide adequate all day. The building is currently getting a facelift, but none of space for much needed new and improved equipment to these underlying issues are being addressed. These can only effectively teach students. Nor does he building have enough be solved by relocation to a facility with workable conditions. space to provide a cafeteria or to house even more students • The speed at which space is disappearing in VB worries me. that would like to attend. The building does not have the We will need more schools or some kind of schedule capacity to ensure all students are meeting the levels of accommodation soon...no place to build in areas of need. required technology. It’s time for the Technical Career and • The state of the city's athletic fields is well below standards. Education Center to avoid being overlooked as it has been for The tracks are hard to run on. The football fields are a joke. so many years. It’s time for a much needed improvement. And the baseball fields are undefined with no lights. Growing • The two oldest high schools, Kempsville and Princess Anne, up in a different state than Virginia I had better are in HORRIBLE condition - PA I know has mold, bugs, bad accommodations then this back in the 80s. With a city as heating/cooling systems, etc., and I'm sure Kempsville is modern is Virginia Beach it amazes me how far behind we are similar. These schools are UNHEALTHY to be in and MUST in this part of our facilities. be replaced ASAP!!

150 Virginia Beach City Public Schools - Community Dialogue #1 Results 150 QUESTION 6

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• The Visual and Performing Arts Academy was placed into a blessing and I just want to ensure you will keep this facility building that was not built to support such a program. when you rebuild PAHS. Portables are used for theatre, a dance studio is dangerously • There appears to be a strong tilt towards renovating in small, art is spread out across the building, and music is affluent areas vs. based on actual state of the facilities. In taught is traditional classrooms. The auditorium can not addition, although the ODC/Kemps building is beautiful, it is support seven performance based programs, thus allowing over the top in what is needed. for minimal time for each group to use an actual performance • There are currently several secondary buildings that are space for practice. The majority of high schools in VB have unable to accommodate the technical requirements for a three performance based programs. The facilitates at the modern facility, both in power and computer/wireless needs. VBCPS Elementary and Middle school level for advanced arts As a result there have been situations where breakers are far exceed the Visual and Performing Arts Academy. The being tripped, and students cannot access online information program has managed to be successful even with faculties because it takes too long. Replacing older buildings, vs simply that do not meet basic requirements for an arts program. I "updating" them should be the number one priority to deal propose a facility use study be done for the Visual and with this issue. In the long run it would be the most cost Performing Arts Academy at Salem HS. effective. • The West Wing of PAHS is the gem of special education. • There are definitely some schools that needed renovation Please consider implementing state of the art facilities to before others but were put back on the list because of the state accommodate their needs but please do not change or of the students. So now they are falling into disrepair because eliminate this extension of PAHS. The programs offered there of the neglect of the school board to notice which schools far exceed the programs offered in any other building/high should be a priority. For an example, making Kellam High school. The amount of students attending there allows for School a priority over the others because of its increased depth of social engagement, academic learning, and extra- population, while leaving Bayside, Kempsville, and First curricular activities for the students who attend. It is a Colonial because of its growing population, instead of

151 Virginia Beach City Public Schools - Community Dialogue #1 Results 151 QUESTION 6

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repairing one of those three buildings which look identical to 3 in desperate need of new or renovations. Can you add each other. improve current schools that have portables not is bad shape • There are high schools that have rats in the locker rooms and or newer by adding on or providing better portables? FC cock roaches running around the school. Then there are High portables and parking lot are terrible newer beautiful buildings (mostly in the more affluent areas). • There are many schools across the city in need of renovation All within the same district. Certain schools have more or complete demolition. Instead of building extremely high- advanced IT equipment for the students while others have tech, expensive schools while other buildings are falling apart, sub par and outdated equipment. Again with the same the city should allocate money for annual minor district. That doesn't make sense to me. There is definitely a improvements to a large number of schools. The cost and trickle-down effect. When it is obvious (starting at the top) sophistication of certain projects such as Kellam or the Old the Superintendent, school board, principal and "leaders" in Donation School should be reduced, and the money should be the school don't care about the school, the students don't distributed to other schools in need of revamping. The most either. important update needed is in the bathrooms, specifically the • There are many new well equipped buildings but also some sinks. in ill repair and in need of renovation or replacing. It seems • There are many schools in the division which need to be to be across the board... some of each in each level. renovated or replaced. • There are many older buildings in VBCPS. As long as staff, • There are many schools that are in desperate need of renewal, parents, and students know that the division is working to particularly to accommodate growing technology needs and keep it equitable with newer buildings, we can be patient with class sizes. The oldest buildings should be the highest aging infrastructure. However, water, mold, and electrical priority. Any other formula for choosing which buildings to grid wiring need top priority. renovate is an I equity because it puts students in bigger, • there are many older schools that need renovation vs more affluent zones above others. portables. You have Bayside, FC, Great Neck Middle to name • There are many schools that are multiple decades old that

152 Virginia Beach City Public Schools - Community Dialogue #1 Results 152 QUESTION 6

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have not undergone any major renovations or replacement. growth in that area had much to do with prioritizing Kellam At the very least, schools should be clean environments (free and PA Middle, from an outsider's view point, it seems as if of mold, vermin, etc.). From what I have seen, teachers' the city is putting all of its money where the new money is. concerns about these problems have been largely ignored. If Additionally, Lynnhaven Middle and Bayside Middle are also the budget is not there to build a new school, then the effort terribly old and in need of modernization. I believe the five should be made to preserve the school for the next few years. schools mentioned--Bayside, Kempsville, and FC High • There are many schools that need new lockers, better internet Schools and Bayside and Lynnhaven Middle Schools should connections and overall revamping. exist as the top priority. I do understand that many • There are schools that are infested with bugs and roaches. elementary schools are in need of updating, but I don't like Those schools should be top priority. Especially for the safety the idea of providing top of the line technology and building of the children. space to the little ones then sending them on to building that can't even support multiple power strips being used at the • There are schools that could use some improvement. Even a partial improvement where things such as windows and same time without blowing a circuit. Elementary can still insulation are concerned. We are wasting a lot of money by exist in a very hands on world of physical creations not paying attention to things such as weatherizing doors, augmented and infused with technology to demonstrate and updating hvac systems for efficiency. mastery, but at the secondary level, working with the technology is so much more a part of college and career • There are schools that were very poorly planned and built (i.e. readiness. The secondary need for an upgraded technology Salem HS). Please keep that in mind when designing a plan to infrastructure and an environment that allows for more modernize. flexible learning is essential to the continued success of • There are several high schools in VB that have been woefully VBCPS. ignored--Bayside, Kempsville, and First Colonial--while the • There are several schools like Lynnhaven Middle and First school board appears to be focusing it's time and energy on Colonial High School that are over do for updating. the south end of the city. While I'm sure the exponential

153 Virginia Beach City Public Schools - Community Dialogue #1 Results 153 QUESTION 6

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• There are so many schools that need renovation. I feel the School System. The time it takes to plan, design and build pace of facility modernization needs to be quicker. needs to be compressed, with what needs to be done, and • There are some elementary schools and high schools that need what's in progress, is way behind current standards and area to be renovated or replaced. Some schools in need of growth. Especially in the 23456 zip and adjacent areas renovation are Bayside High School, Bayside Middle School, • There are some wonderful facilities across the city and it is Rosemont Elementary, Green Run Elementary and High clear that work is being done to update the older and more School, College Park Elementary School, Bettie F Williams outdated sites. I have children in the elementary schools and Elementary School, Holland Elementary School, Shelton Park because of my work with the city, I visit the schools regularly. Elementary, and First Colonial High School. Based on what I have seen, my priorities are to first focus next • There are some middle schools that were built in the 1970s on sites that are old or most in need of repair with an equal and they are lacking the electronic capability to handle one to weight given to addressing space issues (capacity to one computer usage. These same schools also lack comfortably house student body). auditoriums that could be used for extra curricular activities • There are still far too many antiquated facilities in our (concerts and other arts). Some of the schools' properties have community. These facilities do not support new technology, plenty of room for new construction while continuing to run 21st Century classroom, collaborative/group teaching, team the old buildings. teaching, etc. My youngest is now in high school at Kellam, • There are some schools that have major health concerns such which is an amazing facility. However, he attended North as rodents and insect infestations. These kinds of things need Landing ES - and though it has an amazing staff, the facility is to be addressed. These schools tend to be aging buildings and very old. In comparison my oldest attended New Castle ES, have been having problems for years. It’s frustrating to live in which was almost new when he started there. The New Castle a zone that has aging schools with RATS only to see the nicer facility was great - though we really liked the size of North facilities in other zones. Landing when it came to building community among the kids • There are some terrible old buildings in the Virginia Beach and neighbors. For elementary that is important.

154 Virginia Beach City Public Schools - Community Dialogue #1 Results 154 QUESTION 6

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• There are still schools in the system that contain asbestos. it is needed to alleviate staff and student chronic illnesses. Replacing schools contain asbestos should be the highest • There is a leak/hole in my classroom at the moment. priority to protect children and staff from harm. • There is major inequities among the buildings with power • There are too many buildings that are old and not best suited and also age. to meet the needs of our children. • There is much inequity across the division in regard to • There has been great improvement in the higher grade levels technology and building space utilization. but the elementary schools seem to be last on the list. I live in • There is no doubt that Princess Anne high school should be a high tax bracket area and have two very old elementary, the next school to be modernized! It has been put off for way and I do not believe Lynnhaven or First Colonial have been too long and it is 64 years old and is ready to be replaced! remodeled in decades. • There is no reason to spend millions and millions of dollars, • There has been too much prioritization on the gifted facility at making one school state of the art with all of the bells and the expense of other facilities. whistles, while other students sit in portables. A budget • There has to be a way that new furniture can be bought should be created for ALL schools and then the money relatively inexpensively. shop around. distributed equally, even if it means more basic schools. Strip • There have been some "growing pains" that have been a little the designs back, rebuild more schools, and then leave space disruptive. Overall, the vision is positive and am looking for adding the extra things students may need or would like forward to seeing the improvements. in the future. The oldest schools should be rebuilt to • There is a definite need to prioritize schools that provide accommodate students and their needs. dangerous environmental hazards (ie MOLD) and put them • There is too much wasted space in the new designs that are at the top of any capital improvement plan. I honestly not necessary for educational purposes. Simpler designs that believe that the money being spent needs to be spread out - include up-to-date technology would better serve students instead of spending 100 million dollars on buildings with and teachers. Get back to basics. imported tile breezeways, save that money and place it where • There is tremendous disparity in VB. There are amazing state 155 Virginia Beach City Public Schools - Community Dialogue #1 Results 155 QUESTION 6

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of the art schools and there are dumps. And the dumps serve impact on the other and does not include whether any the poorest stakeholders. It’s wrong. You need to fix the modernization has taken place and if proper maintenance and falling apart schools in VB. upkeep have been performed. A 60 year-old building may • There should be a minimum acceptable condition and when seem old but not in other countries that still use buildings those conditions are not met, that school prioritized. hundreds of years old. Age also creates an impression of • These kids need to be one to one with computers and we need tradition and legacy conditions that can also have an impact a network/wifi system that can support that in every corner of on student morale. every room in every building. • Thoroughgood Elementary is going to be rebuilt next year. I • These things cost a lot of money. However, to be continually do NOT think it's smart to house the students in trailers at improving all the time is important. The fact that there is a Hermitage Elementary for two years. It's chaos. school being done all the time is about what we can do unless • Thoroughgood Elementary School was over populated to the there is more money available, which there isn't, so we have point where the teacher workroom had to be converted to a to deal with what we have. classroom. Additionally a class had to meet on the stage in the • They are doing a great job! cafeteria and work around lunch times. A closet was converted to the reading specialist classroom. • They should also allocate money for increase in teacher salaries. They are falling behind. • Throughout the community, Our High schools are some of the oldest building and need replacement or system upgrades • They should start looking at school older than 40 to modernize and reduce operating cost. Once the new PA • this is great, this is great mIddle is built The old Kellam site which has been rehabbed • This process of improvement will take so long that my family will make a nice transition build for Schools to relocate so will not personally be affected as my kids will be out of existing sites can be removed and updated without disruption school. to learning. • This questionnaire is loaded in the sense that age and physical • Throwing money in to just one school renovation (i.e. Kellam) condition are grouped in one question. One may not have any 156 Virginia Beach City Public Schools - Community Dialogue #1 Results 156 QUESTION 6

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with all of its "high end technology" instead of spreading the academy programs, such as the one at Salem, have outgrown funding out to upgrade additional schools is not good. You the capacity of the building for programming needs and need have kids attending a real nice high school but then you have additional space. It's impractical and nearly impossible to kids attending schools that are in dire need of upgrades. The house five fine arts magnet programs in one building in city should strive to come up with a plan to do away with the addition to the existing Fine arts program for the school itself. need for trailers. Who can learn anything sitting in a trailer The student body suffers due to lack of rehearsal and with a window unit a/c? performance space and many of the programs mentioned are • To consider: Working at Corporate Landing Middle School, I forced to cut back on their enrichment activities as a result. can say that the layout of CLMS and Larkspur Middle are the • to much politics. most effective I have experienced. Having one hallway per • To whom it may concern, We are fairly new to this school grade-level and offices on the hallways allows me to have district and state on a whole, which unfortunately does not constant access to my students, and allows us to transition allow for much feedback on the schools' infrastructure/capital from each grade-level seamlessly. I feel it improves our projects importance level. However, I am appreciative of the ability to support students and teachers, and the exposure opportunity to be able to provide my opinion as far. alone helps me to build relationships with students • Too many schools are outdated and need attention. tremendously. I would recommend looking at this layout for • too much money is spent on one school (Brickle Academy) all grade-levels when possible. and not spread among the oldest of schools with health • To date, modernization and/or replacement has been concerns... mold, poor air quality haphazard and decision making not done in the best interest • Too much money was spent on the new schools. Many of student needs. There are facilities such as Princess Anne colleges don’t look as nice as they do. While we have other High School that are badly in need of replacement that have students going to class in portables. People call Kellem U of K been constantly shifted later and later. That facility is old, by we don’t need a high school like that. We are just giving our any standard and needs attention. Additionally, many children a safe place to learn. Save money make them all the

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same. • Us students are working in old classrooms and using • Totally understand that money can be tight. Do think that restrooms that are falling apart. prioritizing the secondary schools takes precedence as these • Using Charter Bonds as part of the finance package for a new are years where best use of modern facilities can help the facility for gifted students, yet pushing down the list Princess most kids and allow most efficient use. Anne Higb School's replacement can be considered • Toxicity, related to asbestos, lead, mold, or whatever may be inequitable at best. That school is in dire need of replacement lurking in an older building's walls, is the most important and houses the districts most disabled population of students. factor when deciding which schools to replace or modernize. They deserve the same consideration for a state of the art • Traffic flow also needs to be a consideration. facility. It's time to do the right thing. • Two of our high schools recently turned 50 years old: Bayside • VB spends a lot of taxpayer money on flashy buildings and and Kempsville. I hope that they are both at the top of the puts looks over function. Go back to the new schools a few priority list to be rebuilt. years after they open and you see that a lot of the fancy fixtures are not used like they were promised. Great Neck • Unfortunately, schools most in need of space and modernization have not been considered for replacement in ended up with a lawsuit and traffic is a mess! Imagine what Virginia Beach. There is an obvious discrepancy in allotment will happen when Dey is done. Kellum had beanbag chairs of funds among zoned schools. Specifically this is based on for a bunch of high school kids because it looked cool and those areas' economic/ taxable income base through home- colorful but ended up being used in closets for noneducation. We'll see what happens with Old Donation Center, parking ownership/value. Homeowner's taxes contribute more to and traffic is a mess right now. At least they will get a chef local funding, which in turn prioritizes them above lower economic/ taxable income base. Bayside high School is an soon because that makes sense to spend money for a chef and example of this disparity. baker. More money not for teachers. Its like it is more about the people who made the building than the people who have • Update the buildings to accommodate for the next decade of to work in it. Look at the brass plate in front and it tells you improvements in education.

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who they think is important. Its got 25 plus names on it Century. How can we truly create 21st Century learners in including the schools inspector but doesn't even recognize the spaces that are designed for 1960's classrooms? principal or her staff that lived through the move every day. • VBCPS leaves out the 75% that fall in between. Kellam HS is Simpler buildings can still be nice, but it seems like we build in a rather wealthy area and College Park is in the poorest of fancy, spend a lot of money, and then try to one up with the areas. From testing and scores to highest/lowest tax base next building. When does it end? VBCPS caters. It’s wrong ethically AND morally. This district • VBCPS does not need to spend so much on its facility should accommodate ALL kids EQUALLY!! Virginia Beach replacement program. They spend a substantial amount on should have money in the bank from all the real estate the "wants" versus the "needs." There are other areas that developers!!! Here , 1 acre of land gets purchased and 200 could benefit from the money spent on the "wants." Just apartments end up here. But NO MONEY for schools or because the money is in the budget doesn't necessarily mean improvement!!! it should be spent on all the "wants." Maybe redirecting to • VBCPS needs to present a solid business case for any school another project would be more beneficial. renovation or replacement. Then, base the schedule and • VBCPS is making leaps in bounds in terms of technology funding on a prioritized program. integration and the 1:1 implementation...however, the • Vbcps needs to start recycling infrastructure is sorely lacking and has yet to be addressed. • Very unhappy with First Colonial. There are way too many As a parent of VBCPS students and as a VBCPS teacher students for the building and the building is too old. At the married to another VBCPS teacher, I am very aware of the very least, you should get rid of the tennis courts and create issues that are faced in buildings across the city. Wifi is more parking spaces for students. It is disgraceful that FC is frequently an issue, Promethean Boards are always on the the only high school where students can't even drive to school fritz, and buildings are just simply in poor condition. because of limited parking. Cape Henry uses the track. Why Buildings need to be addressed by the age factor first -- can't FC use those courts? update the older buildings, make them ready for the 21st • Virginia Beach appears to have a very proactive plan for

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building modernization compared to other districts in the by the condition of some of the buildings if I were in charge. area. All of the high schools should be able to run the advanced • Virginia Beach is spending too much money building new programs needed for our students to be successful. Students schools. Other school systems are building schools for much should not have to be bused off campus for special less. Virginia Beach needs to prioritize salaries over capital programming. There are students at every school who would improvement!!! I am a single teacher who has been teaching benefit from the programs at Vo-Tech and the ATC, but only for over twenty years, and I am no better off financially today those that apply have access to the courses if they are than when I started teaching. We need larger increases in admitted in to the program. What about the other students salary to compensate for the ever increasing cost of insurance who would like to have access to the programs? They do not coverage and retirement deductions. get the training they need for their futures? Every school • We are a "tech" academy, not a sports academy. should have a STEAM committee and focus. As a country we are behind the rest of the world in the areas of math, science, • We are a long standing program in this school, but each time we need the facilities for an event, we are given the last and technology. One reason is the lack of focus in these priority to use the facility. Certainly there are other schools programs from the top. Only certain schools may have a one that do not have the programs that we have here, so the other to one ratio with technology, or the most up to date school facilities should be available for use by some of the equipment. Why? Do the middle school kids at Great Neck groups here. Since this school is an "academy", the academy Middle deserve the one to one ratio, but the ones at Lynnhaven don't? I know we may not be able to do all seems to take precedence over all activities scheduled here. children at once, but then make it based on need, so students • We are building new schools when many we have need who do not have the money can have access to a laptop, not updating. Update, then build. just certain schools. We need to invest in the future of our • We are supposed to a pillar of education, yet we have schools children. Up to date buildings that provide spaces for up to that are so out of date and over run with roaches, our students date curriculum and job force are key. A math, technology, do not even notice them any more. I would be embarrassed and science wing should be the spotlight of the building if we 160 Virginia Beach City Public Schools - Community Dialogue #1 Results 160 QUESTION 6

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want to empower our children in 21st century skills and to do • We do not need to spend so much on fancy stuff that is not so, all high schools should be up to date with the latest tested. Having classrooms in the hallways just makes it equipment, classrooms, and materials. Most science budgets harder on students with learning issues. go to replacement equipment, leaving little for teachers to buy • We go to Creeds and love the fact it’s an older building. The supplies for the students. Where departments like English do facilities are still great and can’t imagine it being torn down not have any expenses for their money and they can buy desk and replaced. supplies. • We have a lot of schools that are outdated and need to be • We are supposed to be educating 21st century learners yet modernized. A lot of the schools have bug and rodent there are schools with multiple portable classrooms which problems as well as tiles falling from the ceiling and other means they may not have reliable internet access. We are things that hinder a child while in school. I have supposed to be educating 21st century learners but our grandchildren who would not eat food in the cafeteria buildings do not accommodate their needs. We need to bring because of the roaches crawling on the walls at Larkspur ALL of our buildings out of the middle of the 20th century Middle and that building is not as old as some of the other and into the 21st, not just selected buildings in areas that seem ones. I think we could have reduced spending on some of the like they have more money than others. EVERY student in recently built schools and spread the money around so that VBCPS is entitled to the best education that we can offer, let’s more schools are redone a lot quicker. The older schools are a upgrade the schools to enable our students to become the health hazzard to the students and staff. successful people they can be. • We have been building schools to look "pretty". We spend too • We are very happy with Linkhorn and VB Middle. I do think much money to" please the public" instead of building schools that Cox and Beach FC have an issue with the managing the # for functionality to educate our future generations. It is not of students now and in the future in the current space. Our what the school looks like, but whether the desk is 6th grade class is the biggest VB Middle has seen in a long comfortable and warm or cool. Students can not concentrate time.... that trend is only going to continue. when the room temperature is 77 degrees and the air is not

161 Virginia Beach City Public Schools - Community Dialogue #1 Results 161 QUESTION 6

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moving. ( OPTIMAL learning temperature has always been 60 schools are not built for the connectivity that we need in a 1:1 -72 degrees) Our job is to teach, not line the pockets of environment. Network drops and WIFI hotspots are contractors with city tax payers money. insufficient for our needs resulting in dead zones, slow data • We have been slow to make the necessary changes to transfer, and frustrated teachers and students. If we want accommodate programming needs and to bring our schools teachers and students to move toward personalized and into the 21st Century. For some, the buildings and equipment transformation learning with 1:1 devices, we need to provide within those buildings put them at a distinct competitive the resources and environment to support them. Retrofitting advantage or disadvantage. old schools will cost more in the long term in terms of • We have buildings that are SO old that they cannot maintenance, upgrades, and inefficiencies than building new accommodate our push toward a one-to-one environment. schools that are optimized for modern schooling. Of course, The network infrastructure, electrical, and classrooms are not the most egregious issue is the inequity that exists when you capable of supporting this initiative. For example, have 40 year old schools right down the road from schools classrooms in older building are built with very few electrical that are less than 5 years old. The differences in resources, outlets, poor lighting, bulky desks (no flexible seating), and environment, and overall comfort level between these schools they are too small for the extremely large classes that are is enormous and unacceptable. We can't expect parents and regularly held in these rooms. New flat panel monitors, students to want to send their child to a school so old and computers that need charging, document cameras, and other inferior to these other schools that are literally less than 3 electronic devices put too much of a load on the electrical miles down the road. Either rebuild them or close them capacity of these older buildings. Insufficient space for down and distribute the students to the newer schools. The furniture and students along with 1:1 devices increases the worst thing you can do is try to retrofit old schools to keep likelihood of damage to the devices as well as difficulty for them open. This is very short- sighted and it WILL NOT teachers who would like to change their seating arrangements WORK. Spending the money upfront will save TONS of to fit their lessons (rows, groups of 4, circles, etc..) These old money over time. Do the right thing!

162 Virginia Beach City Public Schools - Community Dialogue #1 Results 162 QUESTION 6

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• We have old high schools that cannot keep up with the Performing Arts Academy introduction night. Very modern tech demands! impressive Teachers and staff but as I listened to the Visual • We have several schools that are in desperate need of Arts presentation I looked up and saw peeling paint. LOTS renovation, modernization. I'm specifically speaking of Bettie OF IT. It is ridiculous that we are not maintaining our F. Williams and Newtown Elementary, and Bayside MS. All buildings and providing a good learning environment for students should learn in an environment that fosters students and teachers to interact in. Peeling paint, loud and collaborative, flexible, and personalized learning. However, faulty HVAC systems are below the standard that VBPS states our students who live in the highest areas of poverty seem to is their goal. Overall I think VBPS misses the mark when it be stuck with the most outdated buildings. comes to facility management and upkeep. Please do better • We have several very old, decrepit high schools in the midst for the teachers and students. of others that are rather palatial. I do not believe schools need • We live in the Kempsville area and there is a need for to be palatial for students to learn but need accommodate all elementary, Kempsville Middle, and Kempsville High to have students comfortable without trailers, be equipped with the priority in future renovations due to the ages of the schools in latest technology and have the most knowledgeable teachers this area that have not been updated. and counselors. • WE moved from the J.B.Blayton/Hornsby/Jamestown District • We have so many schools that need updates! Many of them in Williamsburg, Virginia. I was shocked to discover how should just be demolished. the cost of the needed dated and technologically behind the VB schools are here improvements verses the ages of the buildings makes compared to where we moved from. While RedMill and PA spending the money now a good investment for our children. middle have wonderful teachers the classrooms are small, the • We have spent too much money on recent projects. We could buildings are extremely dated and they lack the resources that modernize existing buildings or build new ones at a faster are required for digital age instruction. I hope that the city pace if we spent less money on each individual project. will revamp the districts aging schools at a faster pace Also, I was recently at Salem HS for the Visual and otherwise we will definitely begin to see long term

163 Virginia Beach City Public Schools - Community Dialogue #1 Results 163 QUESTION 6

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ramifications from our student's college and career will not keep up with housing growth in the Landstown area placements. with all the condos and housing in Pungo. Middle schools • we need a new building. need smaller class sizes and smaller schools. It is difficult • WE NEED A NEW SCHOOL AT BAYSIDE AS FAST AS years for children and they need more support with smaller POSSIBLE!!! IT IS DISGUSTING AND MANY FIGHTS schools and smaller class size. HAPPEN IN THE SMALL HALLWAYS THAT ARE NOT • We need better sidewalks and shoulders to facilitate walking BIG ENOUGH TO FIT THE LARGE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE and/or bicycling to school. As an example, Princess Anne AT THE SCHOOL!!!!!!! Elementary and the former Princess Anne Middle School sites • WE NEED A NEW SCHOOL AT BAYSIDE!!! Our school is are right in the middle of five neighborhoods however would very small for the amount of people that attend it, we have a require extremely dangerous transits down and across lot of roaches and our sports equipment and weight room is Seaboard Road. Our high schools should especially TRASH!!! I believe we deserve a new school because the one encourage cycling to cut down on the need for parking. that we are in right now was built in 1964. WE JUST NEED A • We need every school to be like the new ODC!!! NEW SCHOOL PLEASE!!!. • WE NEED SPANISH 2+ ONLINE HELP LIKE KHAN • We need a new school at Bayside. The school is way to small ACADEMY and the hallways turn into mobs during the day. Many fights • We need the accelerate the pace because we will reach a break out because of this. critical mass in just a few short years. We may need to temper • We need a new tech center and we need to combine that with the architectural gems that we have recently built and forego the ATC. Create a technical highschool like northern Virginia. some ambiance and comfort for accommodation. This would reduce busing costs. • We need to stop using poor contractors. In some of the • We need an additional Middle School in the Kellam/Pungo buildings, the most recent paint is peeling after two years, and district. Developers are building very quickly and the schools the AC replacement has left the building worse than it was are becoming over crowded. Think about Creeds Middle. We before - terrible hot, humid days, and extremely cold days

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inside the classrooms. The cheapest work is rarely the best, any VB schools be improving safety and security. and the corrections become more costly than doing it right in • We seem to give a large role in the design process to a school's the initial construction or replacement. current staff. I feel the division should have set guidelines for • We need to worry about the overcrowded classrooms before what each level school needs. we worry about new facilities. It is still miserable to be in a • We should build schools with function and safety as first brand new building if there is not enough room for all the priorities. Architectural beauty and inspirational settings students and desks. don’t have to be unreasonably expensive. A safe and • We really need to get rid of the trailers at the schools. That inspiring learning environment doesn’t have to be cost should be a high priority, in my opinion, regardless of which prohibitive. Please keep the hardworking families who pay school. Students and staff should be in the buildings. If the for everything in mind when designing and constructing our building is under construction it’s understandable, but if the schools. trailers are a regular feature to the schools year after year, • We should really have all of the schools reevaluated for their then we have a problem. TCI before continuing any plans. The schools on the worst • We recently moved from Northern Virginia where out conditions need to come first before any other schools are daughter attended Woodson HS in Fairfax county. We considered. Most of the Virginia Beach Schools are beyond understand the taxes and cost of living are outrageous in outdated and their poor conditions are inexcusable. Northern VA but the HS and facilities were in much better • We should stop building ultra fancy and individually condition than Princess Anne HS. Parking and the traffic plan designed buildings. We should develop a model that can be for Princess Anne is also horrible. Whatever it takes a rear or used for a decade and use that blueprint. We spend way to alternate entrance should be made. This is important for many $$ on one school when we have so many pressing safety, security and general convenience. From an emergency needs. Every new building doesn't need to be the taj mahal management perspective it is not good To have only one • We spend too much money and time on specialty schools like access point. Recommend first priority for Princess Anne or RA and ODS, not on the general population. We have several

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high schools that need work and are not conducive to a good not to repeat the mistake of the current Cox high. This is one learning environment. building in the system that design leans heavily toward a “ • We still have a good number of older buildings that need sick” environment. Not being able to get fresh air circulation replacement. The capital improvement has slowed quite a bit is huge. in the last decade and older buildings are requiring more • When building new schools, they should be built with future upgrades to keep up with technology and more maintenance. requirements in mind. Far to often we design school to meet A lot of emphasis was put on elementary and less on todays standards, which mean they are far too quickly secondary. In the future they need to be on equal footing. outdated. This is simply poor planning and a waste of • What are some schools overlooked? It seems there are some taxpayers money. disparencies between school. The condition of bayside middle • When considering design specifications for building systems, vs VB middle for instance. great care should be given to the selection of systems that will • What is the plan for Schools being built beyond the greenline likely require regular safety inspections, service and/or parts. now that there are more subdivisions in this area what are the Systems should be selected where the manufacturer is not long-term budget goals for this area of Virginia Beach. likely to discontinue that system and parts become • What necessary steps are being taken as the division moves unavailable or scarce. Unique and proprietary systems should towards full day kindergarten to accommodate the increase in be avoided. classrooms? • When designing an elementary school the builders should get • When adding an academy you "over populate" thr school. For input from the teachers. I taught at College Park right after it every 3 academy's you should add a new high school. was built. The school was beautiful but so many things were not functional for small children. The doors to the classrooms • When aging schools have cockroaches and rats, it is hard for students to feel school pride, especially at the high school were so heavy that the students couldn't open them. The sink level. in the classroom was so small that we never used it and only used the one located in the bathroom. They put the • When approving designs I hope careful consideration is made 166 Virginia Beach City Public Schools - Community Dialogue #1 Results 166 QUESTION 6

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promethean boards on the wall direct sunlight so the students our school system and I think that the work that has been couldn't see anything on the board. The solution was to give done is amazing. Just wanted to share the two concerns. us blinds from Great Neck that only covered 3/4's of the • When looking at any type of facility replacement I feel safety window. The toilets in the bathroom were automatic and is always the concern. If you walk into a school and see flushed all day even when someone was not in there! I did cracked tiles or moldy ceilings than that should take priority. love the storage in the classroom and the size of the rooms. I would suggest having your schools come up with a list of Each classroom had lots of natural light. maintenance items that is most needed to "it would be nice" • When designing these buildings, architecture and "bragging and fix the ones that present a hazard first and then focus on rights," of having special features are seeming to take more age next. priority than safe school needs and overall functionality of the • When looking at which building should be renovated first, spaces created. The new Kellam for example.. The building you must also consider the technology inferstructure of the has less of a footprint, the field is turf, there is use of special buildings to bring it up to current standards to not interrupt geothermal HVAC and water collection systems. Yet, many the educational process. of the classrooms are very exposed in the terms of glass walls • When new schools are built, they school design and and the cafeteria is right at the main entrance. These features, capabilities of the building itself create inequities for the while very "state of the art," could be very dangerous should students left behind in the old buildings. For instance if your an unwanted person enter the building. Landstown HS has child went to Bayside High as opposed to going to Kellam, oddly shaped rooms that, while the architecture is beautiful, the "playing" field is not equitable. limits the classroom capacity and functionality. When these • When planning a new facility, please take true class sizes into schools are built, consideration needs to be given on how long consideration. Using the student to teacher ratio is quite these buildings will be in place and how the spaces that are misleading as counselors teach in a classroom and special created will need to shift to accommodate new programs, education teachers, by law, have a much lower ratio. styles of instruction, and school safety as years pass by. I love • When planning for facility modernization/replacement, there

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needs to be some consideration for parking, class sizes, and • When renovating or replacing facilities please take important the technology usage at the schools. The parking lots need to consideration into making an independent therapy room for be large enough to accommodate staff parking as well as our special needs students! We should not have to provide parking for parents and visitors. At my school, there isn't therapy to our fragile students on the (unsafe) stage or tiny enough parking to accommodate all of the staff. Staff closets! members, parents, and visitors are then forced to park in the • When renovating,rebuilding, or building a new facility for grass along the parking lot or across the street due to the educational purposes the facility should be safe and should limited amount of parking we currently have. When also try and be up to date with new buildings. replacing older schools with newer ones, the size of the • When students and teachers do not have adequate quality classroom should be considered. The classrooms themselves space for teaching and learning, education is compromised should be larger to accommodate class sizes. We can have an because of heightened stress and lack of opportunities. average of 25 students per class, depending on the grade Teachers struggle to implement best practices for 21st century level. Since teachers are moving away from sitting in straight education, and learners are at a disadvantage from their rows, the classrooms with large amounts of students struggle peers. Also, health and wellness are compromised by old to have enough space to accommodate 25 desks when they're buildings that lack adequate ventilation and light. arranged in a way to enhance group work. More storage • When we look at the capital projects, take in account the area space for student belongings and classroom belonging would of the schools and the population they serve. also be beneficial. The technology in the buildings should • Where do salaries factor into the budget? While buildings also be considered. We're moving towards each student and capital improvements are very important, you must also having their own device. The wi-fi/internet should be able to consider faculty/staff and what they need. You are adding handle a large capacity of students accessing the internet/ more and more stress/requirements, while increasing class programs at one time. The lack of connectivity at my school size but no significant salary increases. Personnel being has been an issue for a while, and we're not one-to-one yet. adequately and appropriately paid should be the top priority.

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• Where I work the heating and air conditioning don't work. great to see programming needs (flexible seating, wifi, etc.) When it is hot, the AC will cut on for a maximum of two and environmentally friendly features (rain water collectors, seconds. My students have made a game of estimating the solar panels, windows for open lighting, etc.). time it was on: "Half a second!" or "Almost a whole second!" • While everyone wants a new school, safety and Meanwhile, we all have a glaze of sweat on our faces. I have environmental conditions should always take priority. Then had bigger classes, but this year I have one class with 30 cost versus number of students. While some schools are very students, and the only way to fit everyone in is to put one attractive - how many students benefited? The areas of the student totally apart from everyone else. There is simply city with the highest growth thus serve the highest number of nowhere else to put the desk. I would love to get the Kellam students. treatment, but I recoil a bit at what it would take logistically • While I am fiscally conservative when it comes to saving the to teach for a year while new buildings are being constructed. taxpayers money, VBCPS has set the bar high with the quality But if it were my call, I'd say "Go for it!" I have no problem of Kellam High School and Old Donation Center. I certainly saying I teach at Princess Anne High, and absolutely love it hope that when other schools (i.e.- Bayside HS) are rebuilt, there, and hope to teach there till they kick me out. But we are they are of the same quality of Kellam. In my opinion, until the oldest high school in VBCPS, and deserve SOME sort of the City starts to help out schools more with monies to upgrade. That said (hold on for heresy), I think we are rebuild aging schools, we will get further and further behind. managing OK. If the upcoming removal of our portable units At the same time, Schools need to make sure they are using causes multiple teachers moving from class to class every their money wisely and doing their part to help out with block, I would say that is NOT acceptable. We are rebuilding efforts. professionals and deserve to be treated as such. • While I understand there is a reason to the madness, but I • While cost and disruption are important, I would hope the believe the schools such as Bayside High and Princess Anne number one priority is student health and therefore the High should be the next priority for new buildings and not condition/age of the facility. When renovating building, it is just "patching" the school's infrastructure problems.

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• While many Virginia beach schools have been renovated, which is counter to the one-to-one initiative. kempsville remains the same building it has been for 50 years. • While the newer buildings are supposedly eco-friendly, they The new introduction of the EBA academy has increased the also fail to complete actions. For example, the bathrooms at population and makes hallways crowded. Also, the design of the new ODS buildings sometimes fail to flush and it creates the school and EBA's need for technology has reduced the an unsanitary environment. Or, buildings are more decorative wifi speed to a very minimal amount. This restricts than functional as teachers double up in classrooms that don't Kempsville's role as a technology anchor school and necessarily need to be that large. interrupts many lesson plans. Instead of pushing the • While Thoroughgood Elementary needs to be replaced, renovation of kempsville back another 4 years, it should be housing the students in mobiles on the Hermitage playing brought to attention and dealt with. fields is a terrible idea. A better one would be to have Bayside • While school buildings are definitely the highest priority, 6 re-join Bayside Middle for the duration of the construction, please keep making improvements to Plaza Annex. It is not a and have the Thoroughgood students use the current Bayside productive work environment. The parking situation is 6 building. Or house Bayside 6 in mobiles since it's a much abysmal, especially when there are additional staff there for smaller number of students... 1 grade level as opposed to 6, training, meetings, etc. and older students who are far more self-sufficient when it • While some of the buildings are in affluent neighborhoods, comes to being in mobiles exclusively. The idea of housing the physical layouts & amenities are woefully inadequate. Thoroughgood Elementary in its entirety in mobiles on First Colonial, Cox Alanton & Lynnhaven are located in "high another school's property is ludicrous. How will these rent" neighborhoods, yet the schools are incapable of meeting children as young as 4-5 years old be able to use the restrooms the goals in the Compass plan. From the HVAC to the safe as needed, and travel inside the Hermitage building? What schools components, all of these buildings need at the least an about when the weather is bad? Making inconveniences like overhaul. At Cox, the technology is laughable. Internet this work with a few mobiles is one thing, but when the entire connection is nigh impossible in certain areas of the school, school is in mobiles, it becomes completely different and more

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unsafe. How will two schools utilize one cafeteria? One for the kids. And improve the building that is very well need gymnasium? No playing fields? What about parking for the it. staff? Parking is already a problem at Hermitage, as is the • Who does the master planning for VBCPS? Why is this not traffic in the morning on Pleasure House Rd. Please do not do more widely socialized? The importance of our cities this. educational facilities to be on the cutting edge of technology • While we all understand that budget constraints will play a and ahead of growth cycles is much too important to be a factor in the modernization of our city schools, it should not mere whisper throughout the city. Building security seems be the sole factor for determining how to modernize the lacking and/or outdated at the elementary school level. Two schools. As indicated in govtech's article of the 2017 digital sets of doors and one person is all that stands between cities, Virginia Beach ranked #1 in cities with pop. 250,000 to outsiders and the students at KMES. Main entry doors remain 499,000. Therefore, it is imperative that our school system unprotected from potential vehicular damage when simple begin to adapt to our emerging and growing city. and aesthetically pleasing means to discourage such traffic are • While we have many different technologies in use at these abundant. As a licensed architect in the Commonwealth I am schools, there isn't enough being done to maintain the astounded that the school system that two of my children equipment that we are expected to use and there are concerns attend cannot make the connection to reach out reach out to that if things such as Promethean/Smart boards break, that the resources of its own community. they will not be fixed. • Why are non-instructional spaces not included in this • While you spend so much like Kellam High School. I think survey? you can make great improvements to others School instead of • Why build a few elaborate schools, when funds could be only one every 15 years. Bayside High School have the better spent on more buildings that are less fancy. Are Academy. The cafeteria is not enough for the amount of kids. schools for show or learning. The building need improvement over all. I will love to see • Why has Princess Anne which has cramped classes tons of some improvements starting this year with the food service add on outbuildings not been upgraded as it is the oldest

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school in the district?? schools in the district and has no set update until 2025. Some • Why hasn't Bettie F. Williams Elementary School been razed other schools will have been updated or renovated now and rebuilt? It makes no sense to have seen Diamond Springs multiple times before Williams Elementary has even had a built from scratch and Newtown Road rebuilt. Where are the single update. The building has mold issues and constant priorities and why are these 4-5th graders going from new electrical issues, classrooms are too small for the large class schools to a tired old school plant? Makes no sense. sizes they need to accommodate. Williams elementary • Why hasn't First Colonial high school been updated yet? deserves to get an update/renovation within the next 3 years given the strong need. It is unfair for the students and staff • Why is PA Middle, which opened in 1974, being rebuilt prior to schoolsthat opened earlier? Why was Kellam replaced there to wait until they are last in line. Other schools needs are prior to PAHS? It appears that schools with wealthier and cosmetic, that school needs more structural support. whiter patrons are being rebuilt prior to schools in lower • Williams Elementary should have been on the chopping block economic areas. a long time ago. If the school cannot be rebuilt at least gut it out and renovate the inside of it. It rains inside the building • Why is your oldest high school in VB constantly put on the back burner? There are rats and roaches all over the building. all kind of bugs, insects and rats are in the building. Birds in If they go to the one lunch, why would have students eating the ceiling. The school also have plumbing problems. Always all over the rat infested building losing power. School also has asbestos. • With all of the new schools being built, I just cannot fathom • Why were disproportionate funds used for Brickell? Why do why Bayside High School, with it being the Health Sciences both Great Neck Middle and John B Dey receive significant Academy, is not on the list for either a major overhaul or a funds for new construction? Have you recently toured antiquated Lynnhaven Middle? Alanton? Why are Alanton brand new facility. How long will it take before you see that a ES and Lynnhaven Middle zones drawn that way? Look at new Bayside is needed? the zones and look at who gets the construction dollars. • With an increased need across the nation for skilled employees, there should be great emphasis placed on the • Williams Elementary school is one of the oldest elementary

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need to update our current Virginia Beach Technical and interested in doing. My son is a culinary student there. While Career Education Center. If the students are expected to is still aspires to go to college, he is confident in being able to perform learn skills to ready them for industry, then they earn a good wage while going to school because of the should be provided the current tools and technology that will industry certifications he has earned. He does not want to be a prepare them. There is no reason the largest school division in chef for life, but he now has a respect for the industry and is southeastern Virginia should have an outdated building and very interested in running a restaurant. He was to get a outdated resources within that building to house such degree in business. I thank his teachers at the school for needed technical programs in the community. We cannot giving him the guidance he needed to find a future focus. I expect our students to outperform in the work place in would have liked for my son to learn using the most updated today's society when given decades old materials and equipment and technology found in new restaurants, but his resources on which to learn. The research and data is clear teachers, like all good teachers, used the resources available to that the United States is facing a critical shortage in skilled the best of their ability. Our city can and should do better. I labor as the push over the last few years has been to get a can only imagine how outdated the materials are in the rest of college education. There is nothing wrong with learning a the schools programs. I am certain there are many ways in skill and being a productive member of society. In fact, it is which to bring the Technical and Career Center into the our skilled labor that is the backbone of our nation. Where forefront and on the cutting edge. Please put the school at will we be when there is no one to build new homes, fix our the top of the list. I know there have been many graduates of cable, find the clink in the car, style our hair, or even provide the school that have gone on to great career within their us a meal on a night out. The students at the Technical and industry. Call them back and seek their advice. Career Education Center need to be learning on the cutting • With as old as some of the schools are in Virginia Beach, I edge equipment of their industry to be at the top of their field think they should be updated more than they are. Especially upon graduation. Those students are not the ones that can't with these academies in Virginia Beach, they bring in students learn in the regular classroom, many just want to get a start and funding, so we should be updating to keep up with these on making a living. They have a grasp of what they are 173 Virginia Beach City Public Schools - Community Dialogue #1 Results 173 QUESTION 6

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academies and the overall maintenance of these schools. charging/use needs without worry of breakers going down or • With PAHS being one of the oldest schools and having great power giving out. On another note. I also believe all school academic programs, I'd like to see PAHS move to the top of grounds should provide a safe environment for all students your priority list. Thanks! and staff. I have seen many grounds where even something • With the amount of money we put into one school, if we as minor, but used daily, the sidewalks. So many sidewalks delay the next modernization/replacement & provide updated have major cracks and variances in the level of the walking furniture/technology for all the schools while they are waiting surface. This is a safety issue. All walking/playing surfaces for their turn on the list for update we can at least even the on all grounds should be safe for anyone to traverse on playing field (at least internally) as we make our way around without worry of tripping and falling. to the exteriors. My student is telling me that there are not • With the implementation of full day kindergarten elementary enough computers for their use in class and he is an academy? schools are losing classroom space. Additional classrooms are I don't like to hear that when I see these massive school needed for art, music and adequate space to meet special buildings going up for just a small percentage of the students. education student needs. Not everyone can have a new building, but they should be • With the potential for more elementary school to transition to entitled to a bug free, technology infused, well lit/powered, full day kindergarten, they need to be updated as a priority as clean, and comfortable classroom to learn in. many of our buildings do not have extra classrooms or space • With the exception of the Renaissance Academy, it appears that allow for the type of learning that is best for students. that schools with more affluent populations get prioritized. Small rooms, no learning labs, etc. is not suitable for building • With the implementation and working towards 1:1 the foundation of education. technology for students all buildings especially older • With the push for transformational learning, there is NO buildings, need at minimum their electrical updated to equity among high schools and the buildings needed to house accommodate these. If technology is the way of the future, all many of the programs that seem to be on the horizon. buildings must be able to support these items and their • Wondering if it would be a better use of resources, financial,

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and physical, to keep up with maintenance of schools and • You continue to build new schools, but we still have 4 very modernizing existing facilities, instead of starting from old high schools...Princess Anne, Bayside, Kempsville and scratch First Colonial. When do these kids get new schools? • Work continues to be completed on time and at or below • You have the top high school which houses the only IB budget. Furthermore, the sustainable, energy saving designs program infested and full of decades old fixtures and paint show good stewardship to taxpayers and the earth. and mold while the students who don’t even want to attend • Would be good I’d replacement could happen faster. Also it’s school had a state of the art green school built just a few miles very painful to have a lot of disruption for construction to away? The city is taking advantage of those students who will occur. It would be better if there was a central swing space be at the top of their class no matter the gross look of the that was maintained for housing disrupted schools. school in that they assume their environment doesn’t • Would have liked to see First Colonial HS renovated. My son matter,but it does. What examples are you setting for these graduated from that school in 2011, and it was in sad shape kids? I would like their school rank and hard work to reflect a with many portables. school they can be proud of and would gladly come back to be a part of as they become titans in the work force. The only • Would like to maybe see expansions to schools instead of portable buildings. reason PAHS is not up first for renovation is that a mere part of the building was set fire to long ago, but what about the • Would love to see full-day kindergarten implementation other dark dingy low ceilings and cave like lighting in the included in the facility discussion. “old” half ? Town Center is now adjacent to PAHS but for all • WWES is my sole point of reference. The school was recently its beautiful buildings it cannot detract from the look of decay renovated (last 10 yrs) and I believe it works well. I went to at PAHS which says to all that visit Town Center that our city the original WWES (in the 70s) my stepdaughter was at refuses to invest in its youth and that business is where their WWES thru the transition. The majority of building took priorities lie. It’s so very obvious yet these students overcome place during the summer months and the prep up to was only crowding and poor cafeteria facilities and everything else I’ve mildly disruptive to the classes in the year prior.

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mentioned because the IB Academy is more desirable to Achievable Dreams kids will go to Cox. Can't wait to see how colleges , but ask yourselves why should they have to struggle that goes over at the North End! at school. Sinply put, no child at that level should have to work and learn in such poor conditions. The city should be ashamed of themselves. • You have totally disregarded Alanton, Lynnhaven and First Colonial. My kids will never attend a renovated school. Yet when Thoroughgood and Dey are done all Cox kids will be in totally renovated schools for their entire k 12 education. Really? How fair is that. And then you add Achievable Dreams to Lynnhaven. Can't wait to see how Cox reacts when this cones. Poor and inequitable planning. There have been 2 fires at Alanton over the past 2 years. The pa system at Lynnhaven does not work. First Colonial is a dump! • You have unfairly renovated feeder schools to high schools that are less than 50 years old. First Colonial, and Lynnhaven have been ignored. Glad to know that I live in one of the most expensive areas of the city and my kids go to nasty schools. Nice that all feeders to Cox are new. Is this the second time you have made improvements to JB Dey? And how about PAMS being renovated for kids zoned for Kellam? Also, when were Lynnhaven parents asked about Achievable Dreams? Wow. Two schools in one filthy school. At least the

176 Virginia Beach City Public Schools - Community Dialogue #1 Results 176 DEMOGRAPHICS

What is your affiliation to Virginia Beach City Public Schools? Please check all that apply.

Web Question 7 Paper Web • Alumni Parent/Guardian 21 2,299 • Aunt (2) Employee 14 1,577 • Board Member Current Student 13 323 • Former Student 10 674 Business Owner Community Member 16 616 • City employee (2)

Other 4 76 • Former Employee (10)

Total 78 5,565 • Former parent (6)

• Former school board member

• Former substitute Please Specify Other: • Former teacher (7)

• Grandparent (11) Paper • PTA member/former member (3) • Academy student (out of zone) • Rec League President • Grandmother • Spouse of employee (6) • President of VB Star K Education Association • Substitute teacher (6) • PTSA President • Taxpayer (3) • Volunteer • Volunteer (4)

177 Virginia Beach City Public Schools - Community Dialogue #1 Results 177 DEMOGRAPHICS

Are you a resident of Virginia Beach?

Question 8 Paper Web Yes 48 3,372 No 2 227 Total 50 3,599

178 Virginia Beach City Public Schools - Community Dialogue #1 Results 178 DEMOGRAPHICS

Which school(s) / program(s) are you affiliated with? Question 9 Paper Web Question 9 Paper Web Question 9 Paper Web Alanton ES 2 109 John B. Dey ES 1 112 Princess Anne ES 1 84 Arrowhead ES 0 50 Kellam HS 4 272 Princess Anne HS 14 489 Bayside ES 1 41 Kempsville ES 0 79 Princess Anne MS 3 251 Bayside HS 4 316 Kempsville HS 1 271 Providence ES 1 58 Bayside MS 2 92 Kempsville Meadows ES 0 59 Red Mill ES 1 87 Bayside 6th 0 42 Kempsville MS 1 158 Renaissance Academy HS 0 43 Birdneck ES 0 45 King's Grant ES 1 75 Renaissance Academy MS 0 26 Brandon MS 0 147 Kingston ES 3 96 Rosemont ES 0 45 Brookwood ES 0 40 Landstown ES 0 64 Rosemont Forest ES 0 49 Centerville ES 0 55 Landstown HS 1 182 Salem ES 0 41 Christopher Farms ES 1 56 Landstown MS 4 134 Salem HS 1 171 College Park ES 0 36 Larkspur MS 1 127 Salem MS 3 128 Cooke ES 1 58 Linkhorn Park ES 1 71 Seatack ES 0 21 Corporate Landing ES 0 43 Luxford ES 0 46 Shelton Park ES 0 34 Corporate Landing MS 0 121 Lynnhaven ES 0 32 Strawbridge ES 0 70 Cox HS 1 234 Lynnhaven MS 5 226 Tallwood ES 0 53 Creeds ES 0 32 Malibu ES 0 50 Tallwood HS 0 168 Diamond Springs ES 0 31 New Castle ES 5 61 Thalia ES 1 62 Fairfield ES 0 76 Newtown ES 0 29 Thoroughgood ES 3 102 First Colonial HS 10 385 North Landing ES 0 64 Three Oaks ES 1 71 Glenwood ES 0 74 Ocean Lakes ES 0 49 Trantwood ES 0 71 Great Neck MS 0 158 Ocean Lakes HS 2 203 Virginia Beach MS 0 117 Green Run ES 0 46 Old Donation School ES 5 171 White Oaks ES 0 35 Green Run HS 2 108 Old Donation School MS 4 138 Williams ES 0 32 Green Run Collegiate 1 44 Parkway ES 0 23 Windsor Oaks ES 0 42 Hermitage ES 0 52 Pembroke ES 0 50 Windsor Woods ES 0 53 Holland ES 2 50 Pembroke Meadows ES 1 58 Woodstock ES 0 70 Independence MS 5 198 Plaza MS 1 205 All 4 85 Indian Lakes ES 0 55 Point O'View ES 0 60 None 1 44 Total 107 8,561 179 Virginia Beach City Public Schools - Community Dialogue #1 Results 179