NNPS to Conduct Efficiency Study
Posted: February 16, 2026
Newport News Public Schools plans to partner with an outside consulting company over the next several months to conduct an efficiency study of the entire school division.
The intent of the study is to assess the enrollment, building capacity, staffing, attendance zones, transportation services, instructional programing, support services, and locations in Newport News Public Schools, according to the School Board and Superintendent Dr. Michele Mitchell.
Newport News Public Schools will use the results of the study to make data-driven decisions that enhance operational efficiency along with instructional and programmatic priorities.
The Newport News School Board decided to ask the superintendent and her staff to find a firm to conduct the study and to look at every opportunity to increase operational efficiency and improve schools to ensure quality instruction at every location.
"This charge by the School Board was made with keeping the entire school division in focus as a whole," Mitchell said.
The School Board challenged the division to continue providing quality, holistic instruction and increasing the performance expected of the schools, while meeting state-mandated requirements and facing the declining and shifting enrollment numbers that are tied to funding.
Independent data provided by outside professionals will be assessed and used by the School Board to make decisions, according to board members.
"We will take the efficiency recommendations that come from this study and apply them in ways that make sense for NNPS," said Chief Operations Officer Rusty Fairheart. "We could see changes in the division with the 2027-2028 school year."
Requests for proposals to select the company to conduct the study are currently being finalized in the procurement department and results are expected to be ready for analysis in the fall, he added.
