I

Fig. I

John B Dey .I
Fig

Elementary Venu
s

~ September 1956 ~
Principal
Beth Bianchi
Assistant
Principal
Christa Markert
LOCATION MAP

1900 N Great Neck Rd, Virginia Beach, VA 23454

SCHOOL FLOOR PLAN - MODERNIZATION

Building Facts
Milestones
● Original Building Opened: 1956
● Groundbreaking: June 9, 2017
● Construction Start Date: Spring, 2017
● Projected Completion: Spring, 2020
● Current Building Capacity: 860
● Current Student Membership: 842
● New Building Size: 107,210 sq. ft.
● Total CIP Project Cost: $25.9 million
● Architect: HBA Architecture
● General Contractor: McKenzie
Construction Corporation
 SCHOOL HISTORY
→ Opening Date: 1956
First Principal: Joseph J. Owens Jr.
Interesting Facts: John B. Dey Elementary School received its name from a former Princess Anne County School Board
Chairman who resided less than one mile from the school.
→ Overview
John B. Dey Elementary was built in September 1956. During the first year, however, it housed only grades five through seven
to alleviate crowded conditions at Little Creek Elementary. The following year John B. Dey began to function as a complete
elementary school including grades one through eight.
The school was contracted to be built in 1955 with a maximum capacity of 850 students the original school had. A self-contained
sewer system, hot water (oil) heat, no air-conditioning and consisted of 48,585 square feet. It was designed without a physical
education room. It had a 1,000 barrel bus refueling facility. Over 13 acres of land on Great Neck Road were purchased from the
James Farm by the Princess Anne County School Board. On this site the school was constructed.
Increased population in the area made it necessary to construct an annex of ten rooms, a storage room and two restrooms in
1960. In 1963, the annex housed some eighth graders to help the crowded conditions in the neighboring secondary school.
With the Virginia Beach population expanding, in September 1972, two mobile classrooms were added to aid congestion. Two
kindergarten classes were added 1973. The school gymnasium was completed and opened for the students during the 1978-1979
school year. The much anticipated air-conditioning was installed in the summer of 1986. An addition was added in 1995 that
included seven classrooms, a new media center, art room, computer lab and updated office spaces.
 SCHOOL HISTORY
→ The Story of John B. Dey
John B. Dey, who died at the age of 83, on December 10, 1957, was a truck farmer by vocation and lived in one of the most
picturesque homes in Princess Anne County. The home was the Broad Bay Manor, which was built in 1640. Mr. Dey lived
in the home at the time of his death. The 415 acre estate and the manor house and the life of the master of the manor
presented the pleasant picture that can be summed up in phrase, “noblesse oblige.” The landed gentleman lived up to
noble obligations.
He had a fine sense of loyalty to the community obligations he assumed and there were many. An example, and perhaps
the outstanding one, was his 17-year chairmanship of the Princess Anne County School Board. He became chairman of
that important board in 1940 and retired in June 1957, at which time he was honored by its members for his foresight and
wisdom in planning for the county schools.
Mr. Dey was a member of the Princess Anne Board of Supervisors, the Norfolk City Council (during a period of residence
in that city) and the State House of Delegates. He was a delegate to several state Democratic conventions and to the
national Democratic convention in Houston in 1928 that nominated Alfred E. Smith for the presidency. He also served as a
longtime director of the Tidewater Automobile Association.
Mr. Dey's unselfish devotion to community causes like the schools stood out most strongly. He was born in Princess Anne
County, but was educated in the public schools of Norfolk County.
SCHOOL MASCOT

THE Fig. I

SEAGULLS

Pluto
ETHNIC DIVERSITY STATS
Fig. VI

White: 79.9%

Fig. VII Two or more races: 6.4%

Hispanic: 5.9%

African American: 4.1%

Asian: 3.2%

Pacific Islander: 0.4%

Venus
American Indian: 0.1%
 John B Dey VA State Average

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SOCIOECONOMIC DIVERSITY STATS

Welcomes over 800 students
and 50 teachers
Grades K - 5th
SCHOOL AWARDS/ACHIEVEMENTS
VIRGINIA BEACH
SCHOOLS GARNER
THE MOST Over the past three years,
VIRGINIA BEACH EXEMPLAR we have received 13
SCHOOL EARNS Educational Innovation
PERFORMANCE grants from the Virginia
NATIONAL SCHOOL AWARDS IN Beach Education
COUNSELING HAMPTON ROADS Foundation totaling more
EXCELLENCE $15,000. These grants
AWARD focused on science,
technology, engineering,
math, and literacy.