SUFFOLK, Va. — Seven candidates are vying for the three positions up for grabs on the Suffolk School Board this election season:
Nansemond Borough
- James Shores
- Valerie Fields
Sleepy Hole Borough
- Heather Howell (incumbent)
- Carly Bosco
Whaleyville Borough
Each candidate is offering a different approach to tackling challenges in the district. Their priorities reflect a range of concerns they've identified within Suffolk Public Schools, from improving student outcomes to enhancing school security.
Nansemond
Nansemond Borough seat candidate James Shores is a father of two boys and a retired Marine. He believes the school board should address policy enforcement and student conduct. Shores wants the board to provide more support for teachers and ensure that policies are in place to maintain a productive learning environment for all students.
"I know there’s some difference of opinions related to policies that are actually infringing on the board itself--most recently, just the ability for a school board member to even visit their schools, when law actually allows for that," Shores said. "Also... I found one of the number one concerns that parents and even bus drivers I've heard from [have] is behavioral issues and discipline, and not necessarily backing up teachers, kind of putting it on their shoulders to go through a step-by-step process-- which basically equates to, what I consider, appeasement of those behaviors."
In addition to his belief in disciplined education, Shores emphasized strong parental involvement, stating that parents should play an active role in their children's academic success.
"In order to be achievers, you [have to] first have the focus and discipline to put forth the rigor, the academic rigor, that your kids need to have. And you can't do that without parental involvement," Shores said. "But I'm also noticing... that, a lot of times, the parents aren't involved due to circumstances [that are] no fault of the child... So, they're not really getting the discipline at home."
His opponent, Valerie Fields, is a real estate agent and retired teacher. In a statement, she shared, in part, that she plans to prioritize advocacy and "communicating the accomplishments and challenges of the Suffolk Public Schools honestly and accurately to local, state, and federal legislators in hopes of securing needed fiscal and human resources to support the operations of Suffolk Public School Division."
She also expressed a commitment to addressing the evolving challenges in the school system and working with other board members to improve education.
"I believe that the issues confronting Suffolk Public Schools are ever changing," Fields' statement reads. "As a lifelong learner, and retired teacher, it is my responsibility to learn about the issues, and continue to serve the school system by collaborating with school board members in a manner that will ameliorate issues and promote excellence in education on a global level."
Sleepy Hole
In the Sleepy Hole Borough, Heather Howell is the only incumbent vying for reelection (Nansemond representative Dr. Judith Brooks-Buck and Whaleyville representative Phyllis Byrum decided not to seek reelection). The special education advocate and former teacher said in a statement, in part, that the school board should focus on "enhancing school safety, recruiting and retaining highly qualified teachers... ensuring that special education is a budget and policy priority, and continuing to encourage and enhance community engagement."
Part of Howell's statement goes into further detail about how she plans to achieve these goals, suggesting targeted funding strategies for safety initiatives and advocating for policies that bolster teacher support.
"Ideally, I’d like to have an SRO (School Resource Officer) designated to each of our 21 schools, as first suggested by board member Slingluff. Maintaining our current safety equipment and remaining abreast of new technology is necessary. I also feel it’s essential to tap into community resources as volunteer opportunities to promote school safety and security," Howell's statement reads, in part. "As for teacher recruitment and retention, competitive salaries are always important but not singularly so. Teachers must feel supported at the building level and by our administrative office team. Doing so through policies that support teachers’ classroom efforts, as well as policies that firm up discipline practices would be of great benefit to the morale of our teaching staff."
Her challenger, Carly Bosco, is a mother of three and works for an aerospace research and STEM education nonprofit. She agrees with the importance of teacher retention and believes that improving work environments is just as critical as pay.
"I think if we can take steps to show that we’re trying to increase the positive and supportive culture within the district, that that can help make teachers want to stay and want teachers from other areas or new teachers to join us," Bosco said.
She highlighted her personal investment in Suffolk Public Schools as a parent and believes that her firsthand experience gives her a valuable perspective to bring to the board.
"I don’t think everybody that’s on the school board has to have children or be users of the system," Bosco said. "But if you have children, I think you should be using the system if you want to be representing the system."
Whaleyville
Whaleyville Borough candidate Sean McGee has five children in Suffolk Public Schools. The Marine Corps veteran and former police officer wants to address recent security concerns.
"What we need to do is... do a risk assessment, a vulnerability assessment of all Suffolk Public Schools, list out weaknesses, and gaps, and look for ways to find and mitigate those threats," McGee said. "Another thing I think we ought to do is create a behavioral threat working group that would consist of law enforcement, psychiatrists, school social workers, seasoned teachers, and administrators of the school, where we can try to identify potential threats before incidents like what happened at Kilby Shores the last day of school in Suffolk occurred."
McGee also said he would advocate for a dedicated School Resource Officer in every Suffolk school, highlighting the importance of student safety and a secure learning environment.
Jonathan Rankin is also running in Whaleyville and is a parent in the school system. He currently serves as chair of the Suffolk Public Schools School Safety Audit Committee. Rankin shared, in part, in a statement that he aims to "improve student achievement by ensuring every child has access to high-quality education, regardless of background"-- noting stronger support for teachers, better education tools for students, and more involvement from parents and the community.
He cited his hope for every Suffolk child to succeed as a key motivation for running for the school board, stating that he aims to help create an environment where all students can reach their full potential.
"I have seen firsthand the challenges our schools face," Rankin's statement reads, in part. "I believe that with thoughtful leadership, we can overcome these challenges and give every child the opportunity to thrive."
Rankin and McGee face opposition from Thelma Hinton, a former Suffolk School Board member who is calling for infrastructure upgrades and improved communication methods to enhance school safety.
"I would love to make sure that schools that have open fields – and what I mean by open fields, like no fencing around that particular school – I would make sure that we fence those schools," Hinton said. "I would make sure that all of the hall monitors… I would love to see walkie-talkies for them as well."
With experience on several boards, including the Virginia Legal Aid Society Board of Directors, she also acknowledged the importance of accountability and fair treatment for every person involved in the education system.
"When I look at the staff, I’m not just looking at teachers. I am looking at cafeteria workers, bus drivers... I am equally fair," Hinton said. "As a team member, it doesn’t make any difference what party line that you may be on. But we all can disagree without being disagreeable."
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Suffolk's nonpartisan borough system divides the city into seven districts. Residents in each borough elect their school board and city council representatives, who serve four-year terms.
