School board

City of Newport News School Board

At large

Vote for: 1
Term: 4 years
Candidates: 2
Election: Nov 3, 2026

What this office does: The school board runs City of Newport News's public schools, hires the superintendent and adopts the school budget.

Candidates Compare by issue

Francis C. Jacobson

No party listed

Police officer, Virginia Peninsula Community College; pastor

The gist

Proposes prevention-focused approach starting in early childhood.
Supports clear guidelines for classroom cell phones.
Supports resources for children with special needs.

More about Francis

View sources (2)

Proposes prevention-focused approach starting in early childhood.
Meet the candidates: Newport News School Board
Candidate questionnaire · The Daily Press and The Virginian-Pilot (via Yahoo News) · yahoo.com
“My approach will be prevention-focused. We need to identify challenges early, beginning with early childhood education”
Supports clear guidelines for classroom cell phones.
Meet the candidates: Newport News School Board
Candidate questionnaire · The Daily Press and The Virginian-Pilot (via Yahoo News) · yahoo.com
“schools should establish clear and consistent guidelines for the use of cell phones and other technology in the classroom”
Supports resources for children with special needs.
Candidate Profile: Francis C. Jacobson (Newport News School Board, At Large)
Candidate questionnaire · WAVY-TV 10 (via Yahoo News) · yahoo.com
“We must also ensure that children with special needs have access to the resources, support, services, and opportunities they need”

Gary B. Hunter

No party listedIncumbent

Newport News School Board member; senior director, Hampton University

The gist

Supports a 4% raise for educators next year.
Supports the bell-to-bell cell phone ban.
Supports comprehensive teaching of American history.

More about Gary

View sources (1)

Supports a 4% raise for educators next year.
Meet the candidates: Newport News School Board
Candidate questionnaire · The Daily Press and The Virginian-Pilot (via Yahoo News) · yahoo.com
“I have supported annual salary increases for our educators and support a 4% increase for the coming year.”
Supports the bell-to-bell cell phone ban.
Meet the candidates: Newport News School Board
Candidate questionnaire · The Daily Press and The Virginian-Pilot (via Yahoo News) · yahoo.com
“Newport News Public Schools has already taken an important step with its "no cell phones bell-to-bell" policy. I support that approach”
Supports comprehensive teaching of American history.
Meet the candidates: Newport News School Board
Candidate questionnaire · The Daily Press and The Virginian-Pilot (via Yahoo News) · yahoo.com
“an honest and comprehensive understanding of American history and the contributions of people from all backgrounds”

Challengers are listed first and incumbents last; otherwise candidates appear in ballot order. The Gist does not rank, rate or endorse candidates. Only positions backed by a cited source are shown; 1 issue covered in this race.