THE INDEPENDENT NEWS
Ed. — The following are responses to questions posed by The Independent News to candidates for the District 3 seat on Virginia Beach School Board. Answers to our questions in this series generally are not edited, aside from obvious punctuation issues, spacing and formatting, or for clarity. The Sunday, Sept. 22, voter guide edition is still available on some of our secondary racks until Election Day.
Only voters who live within District 3 vote in this election.
MARK BOHENSTIEL
Residence: Pinewood Gardens
Age: 67
Occupation: Small Business Owner
Education: High School
Endorsements: Students First Va, Mayor Bobby Dyer and School Board Member Kathleen Brown
Website: mark4vbschoolboard.com
Email: mark4vbschoolboard@gmail.com
Social Media: Mark Bohenstiel for Virginia Beach School Board on Facebook
What are your specific qualifications for this office? I am deeply committed to our community and positive academic outcomes for all students. As a proud resident of Virginia Beach for over 30 years, I have dedicated myself to service through various volunteer roles including coaching little league, supporting nursing home residents, Special Needs Ministry, and assisting community organizations such as PIN ministries. I currently serve on the Mayor’s advisory board for Beaches and Waterways.
I am a business owner, not a career government administrator. I will bring a fresh perspective to the School Board as a representative who will ask hard questions, challenge the status quo, and ensure that decisions are made in the best interests of District 3 and our community; I will not merely rubber-stamp an administrative agenda.
What is the most important issue facing the city schools, and how will you address it in office? One of the most pressing issues facing the school board is aging infrastructure and competing needs within the division’s capital improvement program. The new board will immediately need to make tough, innovative decisions to address the division’s 86 school buildings. Responsibly managing the $1.2 billion budget will be critical in balancing the division’s infrastructure needs while maintaining a focus on high-quality education. By prioritizing needs over wants and focusing on sustainable renovation solutions, the school board meets the challenges of aging facilities while protecting taxpayer dollars and the long-term interests of our community.
What are your three main policy priorities for Virginia Beach schools?
- Reading recovery/academic achievement: A significant percentage of Virginia Beach students are not reading at grade level. As a school board member, I will prioritize academic achievement over political issues. While students impacted by COVID virtual learning are improving, many are still catching up. The Governor’s emphasis on additional resources for reading instruction and tutors is a positive step, but more must be done locally. Reading recovery and academic excellence must be top priorities to ensure all students have the tools to succeed.
- Safe Schools: Families should feel confident their children are protected from external/internal threats, and classrooms must remain free from bullying and distractions. I will prioritize practical safety measures to include funding Student Resource Officers.
- Workforce development: Not every student is destined for college, nor is it always the best fit. Recent efforts to expand workforce programs like welding are a step in the right direction—but we must do more. Progress shouldn’t be stalled by bureaucracy. As a small business owner who took the workforce route, I understand the value of vocational opportunities. I am committed to ensuring Virginia Beach schools prepare students for differing pathways—whether that’s college, entering the workforce, or serving in the military.
How can the city schools address concerns about equality and inclusion? I am a strong advocate for equality and believe that creating divisions and placing limits on opportunities weakens true equality. My goal is to uplift everyone, not divide. Schools must embrace and include all backgrounds, opinions and abilities to create an environment where every student can thrive. While the school board has policies in place to promote equality, it is essential that the board ensures the Superintendent has staff properly executing these policies that support all students.
Is the district doing enough to address school security and discipline? There have been positive strides in security—but improvements are still needed. The school board must continually evaluate and improve existing security measures and explore new options to prioritize student safety. Parents, grandparents, and caregivers must feel confident that their children are safe from classroom bullying and will return home safely with more knowledge each day. Currently, Virginia Beach elementary schools share SROs; funding and increasing the presence of School Resource Officers (SROs) during the entire school year is a top priority.
How will you help the School Board prioritize the significant challenge of teacher retention and recruitment? To address the challenges of teacher retention and recruitment, I will work on streamlining administrative tasks that can create unnecessary busy work for teachers. Although Virginia Beach has fewer teacher vacancies than neighboring districts, we must continue to enhance our appeal as the best workplace. Teachers’ time, effort, creativity and professionalism must be valued. By improving starting compensation to be competitive with neighboring districts, supporting teachers with disruptive students, and reducing bureaucratic burdens, we can ensure Virginia Beach is the preferred choice for educators.
Do you support collective bargaining? I do not support collective bargaining. Instead, I believe the school board needs to ensure there is an environment where all parties can openly discuss their concerns and collaborate on creating a positive working environment. While compensation and benefits are important topics, it is essential that School Board members remain accountable for these issues. If a school board member fails to address working conditions effectively, voters should hold them accountable at the ballot box.
Arguably, the School Board has been more effected by district voting than the City Council, which has faced challenges in court this year. Do you support the 10-district voting system? Why? I recognize that both the district and at-large voting systems have their advantages and disadvantages. As a candidate, I focus on engaging with as many District 3 voters as possible. I understand that district-based representation has the potential to lead to divisions among representatives where there may be a focus on prioritizing the interests of the district they represent over the city as a whole. Since the School Board has no authority over the voting system, I respect the process and will await the outcome of legal challenges.
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