2022 Virginia Beach Elections: Questions for candidates in School Board District 2

Ed. — The following are responses to questions posed by The Independent News to candidates in the election for the District 2 seat on the 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 print edition containing our full voter guide is now on stands through this coming weekend. 

• News coverage about races in Virginia Beach is at this link.
• News coverage about voting system changes is at this link.
• Please reach John Doucette, the editor, with any questions or concerns via email.
• Find the main page for the complete 2022 voter guide at this link.

ALEXIS GERDES

• Residence: Pungo
• Age: 37
• Occupation: Respiratory Business Specialist
• Military Service/Education: Bachelor of Science, Cum Laude
• Endorsements: State Sen. Jen Kiggans, Virginia Beach Sheriff Ken Stolle and U.S. Rep. Dan Crenshaw
• Website: alexisgerdes.com
• Phone: (757) 971-2719
• Email: alexis@alexisgerdes.com
• Social Media: @alexisgerdesva on Facebook and Twitter and @alexisgerdes on Instagram

What are your specific qualifications for this office? As a military wife and working mother, I understand the challenges and stresses of military family life. Many Virginia Beach students come from military families and this perspective is important to bring to the School Board.

I earned a B.S. degree in Chemistry from Virginia Commonwealth University, where I competed as a Division I Cross Country/Track and Field athlete. I worked as a paralegal before transitioning into the medical sales industry. I have also volunteered in schools, from tutoring students to assisting teachers with school events. I am a former Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteer, serving the court system as a voice for abused or neglected children. I support the Navy Special Warfare (NSW) community as a Peer Mentor Network volunteer, fostering engagement throughout the east coast community to help strengthen the family support system. Our family attends Beach Fellowship Church and are actively involved in homeless outreach.  

What is the most important issue facing the city schools, and how will you address it in office? Empowering parents and community – As a parent, I know Gov. Youngkin was right when he stood up for parents. The School Board and community should work together toward the common goal of achieving the very best for our students. Parents, teachers and business leaders should have a voice in decisions that affect students and their ability to lead in the future workforce. This begins with transparent communication from our School Board.

What are your three main policy priorities for Virginia Beach schools?

• Academic Excellence: All students should be challenged to reach their highest potential. Curriculum content must be fact-based, without bias and designed to encourage critical and independent thinking. Teachers should be provided the necessary resources for each student to achieve academic excellence and be supported by a School Board who values them.
• School Safety: The safety of our students should come above all else! I am committed to funding all school resource officers. As a parent, I believe an emphasis on student character is essential toward empowered students and a positive school environment. Schools must partner with parents to develop responsible and respectful citizens. I believe character education should be the basis of a student’s academic success. 
• Fiscal Accountability: There is far too much administrative overhead in the school system and not enough reaching the classroom. Character is not just for students. One way to put character into action is by being accountable to the taxpayer. I will represent our community not only in voice, but also in my commitment to fiscal responsibility. Money should be dedicated to what matters most- the academic and personal success of our students.  

How can the city schools address concerns about equality and inclusion? Every student should have equality of opportunity and be included in every level of educational preparedness. One area where the School Board fell short – eliminating class rank, Valedictorians and Salutatorians so everyone can “feel” equal is not equality. That’s lowering the bar. When I competed in track, someone would win, and everyone else finished the best they could. Students must have high standards to strive for and be rewarded for their efforts.

Is the district doing enough to address school security and discipline? Virginia Beach has been at the forefront of school security, and we’ve had school resource officers long before many knew what they were. Discipline is another story, and from the teachers who spoke to me, it’s the leading reason why teachers are leaving the city or many times the profession. They feel like they are unsupported and that their safety is at risk if they attempt to enforce the rules. So, no, Virginia Beach is not doing enough to make sure everyone feels safe in every classroom.

How will you help the School Board prioritize the significant challenge of teacher retention and recruitment? This is a major reason why we need change on the School Board. Teachers feel unrewarded, unsupported and at-risk. The administrative burden, the infusion of politics at all levels of public education and the stagnant salaries make teaching a less than desirable profession to enter and a difficult one to remain in. New leadership that creates parent-teacher partnerships is the first step to making Virginia Beach schools a great place to work again.

How do you plan to work effectively and fairly on a sometimes divided board? T-E-A-M. As a team athlete, you discover how to work with people from many different backgrounds with varying skillsets and learn to move in a positive direction. The toxicity of the School Board with a Superintendent screaming at School Board members is embarrassing. I would insist upon a level of professionalism and deference at all public meetings and from there, build a working relationship that can supersede divisions. I respect the way our great Delegate Barry Knight handled the state budget negotiations in such an effective manner.

Should the School Board take a more active role than it has in the past in coming discussions about our local voting system following the recent appeals court decision in Holloway v. Virginia Beach? Although the School Board really doesn’t have a say in the local voting system, I would always want an active and vocal role in participating in the decisions made that impact how the board is elected. Everyone has a voice to be heard and that includes the members of the School Board.

KIM MELNYK

• Residence: Christopher Farms
• Age: 55
• Occupation: Vice Chair, Virginia Beach School Board
• Military Service/Education: Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education,  Longwood University
• Endorsements: Virginia Beach Education Association (VBEA-PACE)
• Phone: (757) 619-3811
• Email: kimberlyamelnyk@gmail.com
• Social Media: Kimberly O’Connor Melnyk on Facebook 

What are your specific qualifications for this office? I have proudly served on the Virginia Beach School Board since 2014 and currently serve as vice-chair. I graduated from Longwood University in 1990 and taught for Virginia Beach Public Schools for 17 years. My husband, George, and I own Premier Millwork and Lumber Company in Virginia Beach. As a business owner, I understand the importance of fiscal responsibility, employee/customer relations and working hard for the success of an organization.

I have lived in Virginia Beach for 47 years and am a product of Virginia Beach schools. My three children also attended and graduated from Virginia Beach Public Schools. I am very active in the community and participate in several organizations and sit on numerous boards.

What is the most important issue facing the city schools, and how will you address it? I believe the most important issue facing ALL schools is recovering from learning loss caused by COVID. VBCPS has a strong leadership team and world class teachers who are facing this global problem head on. The job of the School Board is to support their efforts as they continue to focus on improvement and meeting the needs of all students. Fortunately, those efforts are not going unnoticed as VBCPS is projected to be 100% accredited again this year, outperforming all local districts in reading, writing, math and science.

What are your three main policy priorities for Virginia Beach schools?

• Cell Phone Policy: I believe cell phones should not be used during instruction. High school students should be allowed to use phones during class changes and lunch. Teachers should not have to police cell phone usage during precious instructional time.
• Learning Loss: Continue to support the Division’s efforts to rebound academically from COVID learning loss. Sadly, African American males, special education and English learner gaps have widened, so additional attention must be paid to these groups (before COVID we were beginning to see those gaps narrow).
• Teacher Attraction and Retention: Teachers are leaving the profession at an alarming rate citing pay, benefits, management and private sector opportunities as their main reasons. As a Board, it is incumbent upon members to strengthen relationships with City Council and state legislators. The long overdue conversations about teacher salary must take place before it is too late. VBCPS has many programs that are in jeopardy if we cannot continue to attract and retain teachers. Teachers must also feel supported at the building and division levels, including by their School Board.

How can the city schools address concerns about equality and inclusion? I support VBCPS’s diversity, equity and inclusion efforts. Virginia Beach is a wonderfully diverse community and it is our job as educators to ensure that every child has the tools they need to be successful in the most inclusive environment.

Is the district doing enough to address school security and discipline? Yes. In April 2018 VBCPS established the Blue Ribbon Panel on School Safety and Security. The collaborative efforts of our community, the Virginia Beach Police Department and NAS Oceana praised the division’s emergency preparedness, the visitor check in process, the strong partnership with Virginia Beach Police and the great care and knowledge VBCPS employees have for student safety, protocols and action. The panel brought forward recommendations and school administration developed, implemented and expanded long term protocols and procedures. The progress of that work is documented and reported to the community on an ongoing basis.

How will you help the School Board prioritize the significant challenge of teacher retention and recruitment? The VBCPS Human Resources Department is a 24 hour a day operation. Their efforts, supported by the Board, are extensive and ongoing. I will continue to support their initiatives to establish innovative recruitment and retention strategies with an emphasis on “difficult to staff” positions. We have frequent updates from Human Resources and have approved measures (i.e. stipends, signing bonuses) in an effort to attract teachers.

How do you plan to work effectively and fairly on a sometimes divided Board? The most important thing a School Board member can do to work effectively and fairly on a (sometimes) divided Board is to not be polarizing on issues. Monolithic thought has no place on a public School Board. Your job includes policy decisions for ALL students. Virginia Beach Schools are nationally recognized for our programs and educational innovation. We must keep that in mind as we work to improve and grow as educators and leaders. School Board members must set the example for our employees and students even when we disagree.

Should the School Board take a more active role than it has in the past in coming discussions about our local voting system following the recent appeals court decision in Holloway v. Virginia Beach? I have always believed that communication is key – especially with our City Council counterparts. However, the City Charter states that the School Board must mirror the City Council election process which minimizes our input.

AMY SOLARES

• Residence: Salem area
• Age: 52
• Occupation: Self-Employed
• Military Service/Education: B.S., Florida State University; J.D., Widener University School of Law
• Endorsements: Virginia Beach School Board Members Laura Hughes, Vicky Manning and Carolyn Weems
• Website: amysolares.com
• Phone: (757)529-1499
• Email: alsol2021@yahoo.com
• Social Media: @solaresforschoolboard on Facebook

What are your specific qualifications for this office? I am stepping up to help fight for our children to receive a good quality education free from political and social agendas. I was born and raised in Virginia Beach. I have a bachelors degree in psychology and a Juris Doctor from Widener University School of Law. I have one child who recently graduated from the Virginia Beach City Public Schools and one child still enrolled. I live, work, volunteer and play here and have always felt a desire to give back to my city to make it the best it can be. I know the issues and am focused on productive solutions. I have the knowledge and the passion as I have felt the animosity from the current school board towards parents. I am reasonable and strong and have a long history of serving my community. 

What is the most important issue facing the city schools? The most important issue facing our city schools is declining standards. We should be preparing our children for whatever path they choose in and after high school and right now we are not. 

What are your three main policy priorities for Virginia Beach schools? 

• One main policy priority is to bring parents and community members back into the discussion of our children’s education. We need to make everyone feel welcome in our schools and give everyone a voice because parental involvement is vital to student success.
• A second priority is to get social agendas out of the classrooms and out of teacher development/training. We need to let our teachers teach.
• A third main priority is to get back to personal responsibility when it pertains to the grading and discipline policies. 

How can the city schools address concerns about equality and inclusion? Children have different needs and often benefit from different learning styles. Teachers are trained to differentiate these different learning styles. Teachers being allowed to provide diversity of learning styles creates an inclusive environment as each child thrives at his or her own level. 

Is the district doing enough to address school security and discipline? The district is doing well with school security but we can always do better. Recently, a number of our School Resource Officers was pulled from our schools to cover the oceanfront. This was alarming to many parents and students. We should have an SRO at every school. Currently there is a push for retired police and military veterans to help with school security which I support.

The district is not doing enough to address discipline. I have heard over and over about teachers not being able to teach because of behavioral disturbances in their classrooms and no support from administration to help deal with these students. 

How will you help the School Board prioritize the significant challenge of teacher retention and recruitment? Teacher recruitment and retention can be helped by creating a budget where our teachers and students are the top priorities. Our money should go to support our teachers and students, not miscellaneous items that don’t add to a quality education. In addition, addressing the disciplinary issues would inevitably lead to greater job satisfaction and retention.

How do you plan to work effectively and fairly on a sometimes divided board? I’m a reasonable person who can and will listen to everyone’s perspective. I don’t get flustered or distracted and can focus on the task at hand.

Should the School Board take a more active role than it has in the past in coming discussions about our local voting system following the recent appeals court decision in Holloway v. Virginia Beach? The school board should take a more active role in the local voting system discussions since it affects them as well.

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