Sara Gregory
The Virginian-Pilot
Norfolk, VA, United States
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Past articles by Sara:
Profanity, screaming, threats: Hampton Roads school boards become battleground
The vitriol reached a fever pitch this summer across the country and in Hampton Roads, where police have investigated threats to shoot Virginia Beach School Board members and several meetings have been gaveled into recess after speakers either screamed profanities or made profane gestures. → Read More
Norfolk Public Schools will require employees to be vaccinated or test weekly
The School Board voted unanimously to adopt a COVID-19 vaccine mandate Wednesday. With an exceptions of a disability and religious beliefs, all Norfolk school employees must adhere to these guidelines or risk termination, according to a news release from Norfolk Public Schools. → Read More
Police are investigating multiple threats to schools in Hampton Roads
Only one school is in lockdown because of a safety concern unrelated to the school. → Read More
Heritage High shooting left parents asking ‘where are the metal detectors?’ But would they help?
Experts say metal detectors in schools create enormous logistical challenges and aren't shown to be more effective than other preventative strategies. Instead, some recommend training teachers, students, parents and community members to help identify people who may be at risk for committing acts of violence. → Read More
Virginia Beach School Board approves transgender policy that would put protections in place
All Virginia school districts were required to adopt such policies before the start of the school year but the region’s largest district started the year last week without comprehensive policies in place. The policy was approved on a 7-3 vote, with one member encouraging people to challenge it in court. → Read More
Chesapeake disregards state law, fails to create policies to protect trans students
Chesapeake School Board members won’t adopt policies to protect transgender students that must be in place by the start of the school year. → Read More
Virginia Beach School Board votes to make masks mandatory for students, staff
The decision follows the advice of public health officials and Gov. Ralph Northam. → Read More
Schools must follow CDC guidelines, Northam says. For now, that means requiring masks.
The basis for Northam’s pronouncement is the law that requires schools to open fully in-person this fall. A provision of it also requires schools to follow guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to the “maximum extent possible.” → Read More
Group of teens is conducting a housing segregation study. And they want to talk to Norfolk residents.
The teens are part of a group run by Clever Communities in Action, a Norfolk nonprofit that aims to boost literacy in the Black community. Inspired by Richard Rothstein’s book "The Color of Law," members plan to interview current and former Norfolk residents about their first-hand experiences with systemic inequity. → Read More
Norfolk school board member says St. Paul’s plan makes it harder to serve children
Former vice chairman Rodney Jordan is siding with plaintiffs in a lawsuit who say Norfolk's plan to move people out of public housing will further divide the city. → Read More
Norfolk’s aging schools badly need repairs. Officials want to use pandemic money.
School officials have come up with an ambitious effort to repair aging schools — a pressing need before the pandemic, but one that didn’t have funding before now. → Read More
What is critical race theory? And why has it received so much attention in Virginia?
As battles flare across Hampton Roads, here are some answers about what critical race theory is — and what’s behind the political war that has engulfed American schools. → Read More
Virginia Beach teachers end the school year and kick off summer with can-can tradition
For decades, Kempsville Elementary School teachers have been dancing the can-can on the last day of school. They revived the tradition Friday after a pandemic hiatus last year. → Read More
Why some gas stations in Hampton Roads are having a hard time getting fuel
“While the Department of Transportation has relieved some of the restrictions for tanker drivers so that they can drive longer hours and more days in a row to deliver fuel, we have a shortage of some of those drivers,” said Holly Collins Dalby, a spokeswoman from AAA Tidewater Virginia. “It’s a matter of getting the fuel to the station.” → Read More
No, Virginia isn’t eliminating advanced math courses. But some proposed changes are drawing fire.
A Fox News headline and social media chatter make it sound like the changes are a done deal, but they're not. Here's what's really going on. → Read More
Protesters, family call for release of body camera footage from fatal shooting of Elizabeth City Black man
Officials from North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper to Elizabeth City Mayor Bettie Parker have called for the release of body camera footage, but under a 2016 state law, that requires a court order. → Read More
Norfolk has been talking for years about closing or rebuilding schools. But little has been done.
The public is invited to weigh in on different options the district is considering at two upcoming forums. → Read More
Norfolk School Board met in person for the first time in a year, but didn’t tell the public
Chairwoman Adale Martin said the public was welcome to attend, but the board chose not to announce the in-person meeting because a budget hearing could have drawn a large crowd. → Read More
Portsmouth to bring back elementary school students for in-person classes in April
Portsmouth students in pre-K through sixth grade have the option to return for in-person classes April 12. The plan approved by the School Board in a 6-3 vote is scaled back from the superintendent's proposal. → Read More
How should Norfolk schools spend money for the next year? You can weigh in tonight.
Superintendent Sharon Byrdsong’s proposed budget is being unveiled in full tonight. → Read More