Chesapeake School Board votes to enter closed session on personnel and student disciplinary matters, approves remote attorney participation

The Chesapeake School Board voted to convene a closed session to discuss personnel matters, including interviews for a vacant school board seat and administrative appointments, and student disciplinary matters, and approved remote participation by Sands Anderson attorney Nikki Chook for the closed session.

Dr. Smith, superintendent, told the board that there were no amendments to the agenda but said, “we will need a closed session for personnel matters and student matters.” Kim Scott, vice chair, moved the motion to convene in closed session, citing Code of Virginia §2.2-3711 subsections (a)(1) and (a)(2); Mike Lemonia seconded the motion and the board voted in favor. The motion carried with all board members voting yes.

Before the closed session began, the board approved remote participation by Nikki Chook of the law firm Sands Anderson so she could join the closed discussion. Mike Lemonia moved the remote-participation motion; Scott seconded it and the board approved the request with an affirmative vote from all board members.

The board’s stated legal basis for closing the meeting referenced Code of Virginia §2.2-3711(a)(1) (personnel) and (a)(2) (interviews and appointments) and the board also cited bylaw 2-33 when authorizing remote participation. After the votes, a board member said, “We are now in closed session,” and the meeting proceeded to the closed portion.

The actions taken at the open meeting were procedural: adopting the agenda, approving the closed-session motion, and approving remote participation by outside counsel. No disciplinary outcomes, personnel hires, or appointment decisions were announced in the open portion of the meeting.