News Flash

Hampton City Manager Mary Bunting on Wednesday recommended that the city hold off on discussing potential changes to the election of school board members until after the May 2014 elections, and Council concurred.

After several months of study, a panel that included former School Board members and other residents recommended in September eliminating the current two districts in favor of electing members at large.

Bunting explained that the "Hampton Way" of gathering public input "tends to be much more intensive than holding one public hearing." Given that the 2014 election process begins in January, Bunting said she didn't think there was enough time to fully consider a change before that. She said even holding public input discussions before the upcoming election could cause confusion about the timing of any school board change.

In the meantime, the city staff will plan a public outreach and input process, which is expected to begin after the May election.