Class is back in session throughout the city of Norfolk

NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — Monday marks the first day of class for young students in Norfolk. At Richard Bowling Elementary, the school day started with a little birthday celebration.

The first day of class just so happens to be the birthday for principal Yukita Boone. She said there were some reservations about starting school a week earlier than normal on her birthday.

But the birthday girl eagerly showed up with a crown pinned to her hair, walking in the building to the tune of teachers singing her happy birthday.

Boone has a lot to celebrate this year. Teachers are getting a pay bump as part of the $672 million budget approved by the school board earlier this year, which includes a roughly 8% raise for teachers, and a nearly 6% pay boost for administrators.

Outside of teacher pay, Norfolk is also throwing in money to support students with special needs. Programs for mental health services, English learners, and possibly turning Lake Taylor High into a career school are included too.

At Richard Bowling, the young minds showed up ready to learn. Their teachers and staff are just as excited.

“We don’t know what they’re coming from when they come into our schools, from their homes,” Boone said. “So it is just it is a passion of mine to make sure that we make our students better every day. I want to make them better today than the way that they were yesterday.”

As a reminder for drivers, the school zone speeding cameras they put up a few months ago are now active since school is back in session.

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