Parents, educators, and students alike in Virginia Beach City Public Schools (VBCPS) have been caught off guard by a decision that disrupts daily routines and plans. On March 24th, the VBCPS School Board voted to add 10 extra minutes to the school day, providing families and staff less than 20 days to adjust their lives to fit this new schedule. This abrupt decision has caused confusion, stress, and frustration among those it affects the most.

Families rely on well-coordinated schedules to juggle work, school, and other essential activities. Arbitraily adding time disrupts this balance, impacting child care, after-school programs, and family time. Teachers and educators face similar challenges as they work tirelessly to plan lessons and manage their personal responsibilities.

While the intention behind extending the school day might be to enhance educational outcomes, the approach has been hasty and ill-considered. Without thorough consultation and input from parents and teachers, it undermines the community's trust in the school board's decisions. Research indicates that any change in school schedules should involve stakeholders' input and be implemented at a pace that allows acclimatization, ensuring the intended benefits are realized without undue strain on families and staff.

Furthermore, a sudden change like this poses logistical challenges that schools are not prepared to address in such a short timeframe. From transportation adjustments to availability of after-school services, the implications ripple through various facets of school operations and family routines. It's crucial that the decision-makers take a step back and reassess the decision in collaboration with the community.

We demand the VBCPS School Board call for a special meeting prior to April 13 for the purpose of reconsidering their vote at the March 24, 2026 meeting on adjustments to the fourth quarter calendar and to suspend policy 6-13 to allow the use of instructional seat hours to be the method of counting the 2025-2026 school calendar.

Sign this petition to call on the VBCPS School Board to reconsider and engage with the community they serve.