Tracy Ridpath, a first‑grade teacher who said she has worked in Colonial Heights schools for almost 31 years, told the board on Nov. 18 that the division needs a fourth elementary school and more equitable class sizes to better serve students.

"With a fourth elementary school, we could more adequately meet the needs of our CHPS students," Ridpath said during the public‑comment period, citing wide disparities in first‑grade class sizes across the district. "There's no reason that 1 school, Tussing, has 23, 24, and 25 in first grade while another school has 12, 13, 14." She proposed an annual review of enrollments and moving teachers from low‑enrollment schools to high‑enrollment schools to balance classes.

The board did not adopt a facilities plan at the meeting but discussed next steps. Doctor Cox, a board member, said he would like to see a trend analysis and added that the board could place the item on a work session agenda for further study: "I would be very interested to kinda get a little free to trend on class sizes." Staff replied that the district already collects enrollment data and could provide clarifying reports on class sizes and support structures at each school.

Why it matters: Ridpath framed the issue as both a staffing and student‑learning concern, saying large classes stretch teacher capacity and reduce time for individualized instruction. Board members signaled interest in data rather than immediate policy changes; no formal vote or redistricting decision occurred at the meeting.

Next steps: Board members asked staff to bring class‑size trend data and information on school‑level supports to a future work session so the board can assess options, including whether building a fourth elementary should be prioritized in the five‑year capital improvement plan.