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Candidates for the school board gathered on Tuesday, Sept. 3, at the Hilton Garden Inn Suffolk Riverfront to answer questions and share their platforms ahead of early voting for the November election. Nansemond Burrough candidate Valerie Fields declined the invitation, stating only that she would not be attending. All other candidates on the ballot were present.

The forum was moderated by Boone Newsmedia Inc. President/CEO and Smithfield Times Publisher Steve Stewart, who was also the publisher of the Suffolk News-Herald from 2012 to 2015.

The topics of the night included Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s Executive Order 33 for cellphone-free education, teacher retention, and SPS SOL scores.

Teacher retention in SPS was discussed from several perspectives. Hinton emphasized listening to teachers and aligning with neighboring divisions. McGee advocated for overtime pay, as teachers are often expected to work extra hours without compensation. Rankin said he believes insufficient pay is a major factor in high turnover. Bosco highlighted staffing challenges, noting that 70 of the 190 new hires were long-term substitutes. She stressed the need for more support staff, such as paraprofessionals, to assist teachers in managing large classes.

Howell pointed out that consistent discipline policies and adequate pay are crucial to improving teacher morale. Shores suggested retention policies should aim to attract high-quality teachers. Both agreed that a lack of building support and clear discipline practices contributes to teacher burnout.

On the topic of improving SPS SOL scores, which have risen but remain below pre-pandemic levels, McGee emphasized the need for more teacher support in the classroom, noting that classroom management is a problem. Rankin hopes to allocate more attention and funds to the Special Education department, as 17% of students scored in the 30th percentile.

“The rest of the school division is doing fairly decently. We are above the curve, but that 17% is bringing SPS down as a whole. So, I think if we can raise those scores in the SPED department, we’ll see our overall scores improve,” Rankin said.

Bosco agreed with Rankin on the gap between SPED learners and mainstream students. She also raised concerns about students being promoted when they are not ready.

“That’s part of what brings down the overall scores. You have a fourth-grader who is not ready to progress beyond the third-grade level,” Bosco said. “We need to put some rigor in place and not worry about retention rates. That can affect accreditation, but the wrong drivers are being prioritized.”

Howell discussed the importance of taking a community-based approach to education. She reflected on tutoring at recreation centers and neighborhood clubhouses, where parents also learned how to support their children at home.

“We are given five hours a day with these children, who may get their only meal or meals at school, and who may or may not have electricity to do their homework,” Howell said. “What’s important in closing this gap is that we build partnerships with families again, teaching and transferring skills to the community and home, so learning extends beyond the school day.”

Shores noted that while scores are trending upward, it is unacceptable that SOL scores are below the 50% mark across the commonwealth. He believes the administration, as an oversight body, is responsible for improving those scores.

“Serving on the board years ago, I was on the Special Education Advisory Board and the Disciplinary Board. I understand the distraction of the children—as they say, one bad apple spoils the bunch,” Hinton said. “Children come from different socioeconomic classes, and I feel strongly that we need to ensure our Title One schools are well-served.”

After the forum, each candidate was given three minutes for closing remarks, where they expressed their dedication to serving and their willingness to devote time to improving the SPS community.

Mayoral Forum can be viewed here.

City Council Forum can be viewed here.