Recovery school passes vote in Virginia Beach [Video]

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — The Virginia Beach School Board on Tuesday evening voted in favor of moving forward with a regional recovery school to assist students throughout Southside Hampton Roads suffering from substance abuse.

The school, tentatively named the Harbor Hope Center, would be a collaboration of all five South Hampton Roads school divisions. Students would enroll voluntarily and would receive daily therapeutic services alongside regular classroom instruction. Once they felt ready, they could transition back to their home school if they chose.

The meeting was an emotional one, with several public speakers at the beginning of the meeting sharing personal stories of being impacted by family members and friends suffering from substance abuse.

Members of the Virginia Beach School Board acknowledged the need for such a school, but some wanted more information before …