Board elects Chris Cope chairman after contested vote; Jarvis Johnson receives one vote

At its reorganization session, the Moore County Board of Education elected Chris Cope chairman following a ballot vote and selected a vice chair and ethics committee for the coming year.

The board took two nominations for chair — Jarvis Johnson and Chris Cope — and completed a raised‑hand ballot. Meeting records show Cope received four votes and Johnson received one. Following the tally, a motion and second to confirm Cope as chair passed by voice vote.

The board also nominated and confirmed a vice chair (Mister Brown) and agreed to appoint the chair and vice chair to the board’s ethics committee; the board adopted the code of ethics policy without objection.

During the nomination discussion several board members spoke about traditions and leadership rotation; some argued for passing the chair position to less‑tenured members to build experience, while others noted continuity and availability as considerations. No formal change to the board’s rotation practice was adopted.

Board secretary Dr. Wallace oversaw the ballot procedure per board practice; the board will reconvene with the new chair for future agendas.