Board approves Title VI certification, superintendent contract; tables transportation vote

The Accomack County School Board approved a Title VI non-discrimination certification and the superintendent's contract and handled a series of routine personnel and student-discipline items at its April 15 meeting, while delaying a decision on transportation for student travel.

Why it matters: The Title VI certification is required for federal funding and the board's approval cleared that certification for submission. The board's approval of a contract for Dr. Jennifer Miller formalized the superintendent appointment the board discussed in closed session; Miller is set to begin June 1, the meeting recorded. Separately, the board approved several policies and routine personnel, readmission and discipline cases that the division presented.

Votes at a glance (motions recorded during the meeting and outcomes):

- Amend agenda: "I move that we amend the agenda for 05/2025 removing 8.04 to our next meeting." Outcome: approved (motion carried after voice vote with at least one recorded nay). Provenance: motion and voice vote at start of meeting.

- Convene closed session: Motion to go into closed session under the Code of Virginia for personnel and legal matters. Outcome: approved (voice vote). Provenance: motion and certification language later in meeting.

- Approve minutes (03/25/2025): Motion to approve prior minutes. Outcome: approved (voice vote).

- Pull policy 6.01 for separate review: Board agreed to remove policy 6.01 from the readings and review how its content was rolled into other policies at the next meeting (no final vote). Outcome: taken aside for future review.

- Approve policies 6.02–6.09 (first/readings as presented): Motion: "I move that we approve the policy 6.02 to 6.09." Outcome: approved (voice vote).

- Table Della's presentation: Motion to move Della's presentation to the next meeting. Outcome: approved (voice vote).

- Project contracting and advertisement: The board received project updates (auxiliary gyms at Pungateek and Nandua) and the division said it would advertise bids; no formal prohibition or additional board action recorded.

- Transportation for beta/competition travel: After receiving quotes for tour buses and Amtrak options, a motion to table the transportation decision to the next meeting was made and approved (voice vote). Outcome: tabled.

- Title VI certification (per Title I, ESEA and Civil Rights Act): Motion to approve the Title VI certification form and file it for federal funding. Outcome: approved (voice vote).

- Superintendent contract: Motion: "I move that we approve the contract for the superintendent as discussed." Outcome: approved (voice vote); Dr. Jennifer Miller was introduced and welcomed.

- Readmission cases (several named as 4-15-01, 3, 4, 5): Motion to approve listed readmission cases. Outcome: approved.

- Long-term suspensions: Motion to approve long-term suspension cases (multiple case numbers presented). Outcome: approved (voice votes; one abstention noted for case 9).

- Approval of GED list: Motion to approve GED candidates as presented. Outcome: approved.

- Personnel list: Motion to approve the personnel list as presented. Outcome: approved.

- Vouchers: Motion to approve vouchers as presented. Outcome: approved.

- Adjourn: Motion to adjourn carried.

The meeting also included the required certification after closed session that the topics discussed in private were those listed in the motion to convene closed session; the board certified the closed session by voice vote.

Ending: Several board members used their closing remarks to welcome Dr. Miller and to thank staff for presentations; the transportation decision was explicitly postponed until the next meeting so the board could collect additional insurance and cost details.