We, the undersigned parents, grandparents, military families, and community members of Norfolk, strongly oppose the proposed closure of St. Helena Elementary or the relocation of its students to Southside STEM Academy at Campostella.

Our Concerns
Academic Support: St. Helena provides the IEPs and 504s that our children need to thrive. Southside STEM is already understaffed and cannot provide adequate services for special education students.
Discipline: Southside STEM issued 429 out-of-school suspensions last year, far above district and state averages. Relocating St. Helena’s children into this environment puts their progress and well-being at risk.
Unsafe Commute: The walk from the Craig Street neighborhood to Southside STEM is nearly two miles (36 minutes), along routes already labeled “hazardous” by Norfolk Public Schools—passing bridge construction, heavy traffic, and a freeway on-ramp.
Safety Risks: The 23523 zip code has 52 registered sex offenders, including several living directly along the likely walking path. Forcing children to travel this route is unacceptable.
Equity: Most St. Helena families do not own vehicles. Without reliable school buses, this relocation unfairly punishes families at or below the poverty line and military families who already sacrifice for our country.
Our Request
We urge Mayor Kenneth Cooper Alexander and the Norfolk City Council to:

Stop the closure or relocation of St. Helena Elementary students.
Conduct a complete child-impact assessment before making any decisions—examining transportation, safety, staffing levels, and IEP/504 service continuity.
Our children are not numbers—they are Norfolk’s future. We must invest in their education, not abandon them.