SUFFOLK, Va. — School board members in Suffolk City Public Schools are considering rezoning several elementary schools.
Seven elementary schools within the division would be impacted. The schools include Booker T. Washington, Southwestern, Hillpoint, Kilby Shores, Elephant's Fork, Nansemond Parkway and Mack Benn Junior Elementary.
In March, school board members presented plans for the proposed change at a work session and provided school demographics.
Currently, at Booker T. Washington Elementary School, 14.3% of students are white, while 78.8% are black or African American. Meanwhile, at Southeastern Elementary School, 60.1% of the students are white, while 28.1% are black or African American.
Dr. John Gordon III, the division superintendent of Suffolk Schools, believes rezoning elementary schools would benefit the division.
"Suffolk public schools have been under a desegregation order for 54 years since 1970. We have put some programs into place, such as our M to M, Majority to Minority program, but it's just not sustainable," said Gordon.
The proposed change would also balance the schools' demographic makeup, aiming to achieve unitary status and eliminate the prior dual system of racial segregation.
Moreover, the proposed change will also impact population distribution, capacity, geographic boundaries and transportation.
"We've had situations where bus drivers have had to do what we call double backs. Kids are getting home between 5 and 6 o'clock because we may have a shortage of drivers that day," said Dr. Gordon.
Dr. Gordon said school board members may vote on the issue in June 2024. If the school division votes in favor of the proposed changes, they could take effect for the 2025-2026 school year.
The division will hold seven information sessions for parents from April through May. The first meeting will be on Thursday at 6 p.m. at Booker T. Washington and Southwestern elementary schools.