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Future of Norfolk school system to be decided by voters

Posted at 8:34 AM, Nov 04, 2014
and last updated 2014-11-04 11:43:47-05

Norfolk, Va. - It's Election Day, and millions of voters will head to the polls today.

The results of today's election could determine which party controls the United States Senate.

Here in Hampton Roads the future of a local school system will be decided by voters.

Norfolk Public Schools are some of the worst performing in the state, based on the Standards of Learning tests.

Many blame the appointed school board and believe the city's school board should be elected like every other city in Southside Hampton Roads.

Today voters will decide if the city's school board should be elected or continue to be appointed by City Council.

After years of taking action several folks living in the Mermaid City finally got results with enough signatures on a petition to get it on this year's ballot.

"I'm like a war veteran coming back from the front."

Rickey Ross was a teacher in Norfolk for 19 years.

He says elected school board members would be more accountable to parents and students.

Opponents claim an elected school board would be too political, and also stress that a school board in the Commonwealth can't raise taxes and would still depend on funding from the City Council.