The Virginia Beach City School Board is an 11-member group of citizens directly elected to serve four-year overlapping terms. The City of Virginia Beach's charter designates the composition of the School Board to consist of one member from among the residents of each of the city’s seven residence districts, with four additional at-large members.
Both chairman and vice chairman are elected by their fellow School Board members; act as moderators for School Board meetings; and serve as representatives of the membership at official and ceremonial events. The chairman is paid $7,100 per year; all other members are paid $6,000 per year for their services.
School Board Duties
Among the general powers and duties of the School Board, the following are some of the most notable:
- Appointing and evaluating the division superintendent
- Developing and adopting on behalf of the Superintendent criteria and procedures for evaluating the school division’s administrative and instructional personnel
- Establishing policy
- Formulating and administering rules and regulations governing School Board procedures
- Securing, by visitation or otherwise, information about the conduct of the schools in the division to determine if they are operated efficiently and in accordance with the law
- Monitoring school finances to include, but not be limited to, examining and approving the budget and capital outlays, awarding contracts, fixing salary schedules and wages, overseeing all business transactions, and regular auditing of all accounts
- Managing school division property and providing for the construction, maintenance, furnishings and equipment, and operations of school buildings
- Determining the length of the school term, the annual calendar and hours, and the curricula to be offered
- Providing for the consolidation of schools, redistricting of school boundaries, and adoption of pupil assignment plans
- Overseeing employment placement, duties, and other matters related to personnel on recommendation of the Superintendent
- Acting as a “court of appeals” for employees and laymen citizens who have grievances and students who have disciplinary matters that have already been heard by the proper administrative official(s) without satisfactory resolution
- Presenting the needs of the schools to the City Council of Virginia Beach
- Representing the school division before the public
School Board members are available as guest speakers for civic groups and organizations. If you would like to request a School Board member to speak at your next meeting, contact the clerk of the School Board at 757.263.1201 or e-mail dpalexan@vbschools.com.