VIRGINIA BEACH — Two candidates have filed paperwork to run for the School Board in the newly created District 10.
They are Kim Bentley, the board president of the Green Run Homes Association who previously ran for city treasurer, and Kathleen Brown, a figure skating coach who lives in the Landstown area and who is seeking public office for the first time.
Bentley is a native of upstate New York, and he lived in other parts of the country before coming to Virginia. He has 20 years of experience in the information technology industry. He has taken college course, most recently from Tidewater Community College, but he does not hold a degree.
Bentley has one young child who will attend city schools, and he has lived in Green Run for five years, serving as the president of the board of directors of the largest homeowner’s association in the region.
Bentley said he first sought office in 2017 in the treasurer’s race because then-incumbent John Atkinson had been in office for decades, often running without opposition. As an independent candidate, Bentley placed third among three candidates.
“Everyone is really good about complaining about things online, but turning them into action always falls short,” Bentley said, explaining why he decided to seek office.
He wants to serve because he said he values results, not politics. “There’s a sea change coming, just how politics has reached its end stage of being this spectator sport where you choose your team and support your team regardless of what they support,” he said. “I don’t like that.”
He wants to ensure consistency of quality education throughout the city, including improved school infrastructure. And he wants to ensure the city recognizes the struggles educators face and supports them.
“A big problem we’re going to be facing soon is the number of teachers who have just packed up and actually left,” he said.
Brown, a Virginia native, has lived in Virginia Beach since 2009. She has three school-aged children, two in city schools and another who is home schooled. She holds an associate’s degree from Tidewater Community College and a business administration degree from Liberty University.
As a parent and in working with young athletes, she said she is out in the community and has seen how decisions the School Board makes impacts families.
“I’ve really felt as a constituent the past few years, voices have not been heard by the School Board, and I feel like I can do a better job,” Brown said during an interview this past month. “There are lots of kids who can’t speak for themselves.”
She said the School Board, which has clear divisions between its majority and minority blocs, has not done enough to communicate with families. The majority votes “lock step,” she said.
“One of my top things right now is transparency from School Board to constituents,” Brown said. “I do not feel they are forthcoming with their information, and it seems like sometimes they are not disclosing information when they have it.”
Key issues for Brown include preparing children for college, offering vocational opportunities and ensuring public comments are considered before decisions are made.
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Hi I am resident and Green Run area and I would like for Mr. Kim Bentley to please contact me back by email or phone number email is cullipher612@gmail.com and my phone number is 7572380560 I have some matters that I would like to discuss with him