Prince Edward School Board elects officers, keeps meetings on Wednesdays

Lucy Carson was elected chair of the Prince Edward County School Board on a voice vote Tuesday, and the board approved a slate of officers, committee assignments and meeting logistics while asking staff to study alternatives to Wednesday meetings and the current venue.

The board voted to confirm Stacy Peppard as board clerk and to authorize a deputy clerk; members also approved committee rosters for student affairs, finance and policy and delegated routine administrative authorities to the superintendent.

The organizational items were presented and passed near the start of the meeting. "Lucy Carson nominated as chair," a board member said during the roll call of nominations; the chair then asked for a second and called for a voice vote. The board also confirmed a vice chair nomination and other officer appointments in separate motions that passed by voice votes.

Board members discussed the day and time for regular meetings at length. Several members urged reconsideration of the traditional Wednesday schedule, citing conflicts with church activities and other community events. "There's a lot of activities in the community, church and other types of activities that occur," one member said, asking the board to consider Tuesday or Monday. Dr. Corbett, a practicing physician, opposed moving meetings to Monday or Tuesday because those days are busy in his practice and would force schedule changes.

After discussion the board made a motion and approved keeping regular meetings on Wednesdays, with a start time of 4:30 p.m., while directing staff to research alternative days and larger venues for meetings that include student recognitions. The board also approved language empowering the Student Affairs Committee to act on behalf of the board in discipline referrals and approved that committee's membership.

Motions on routine organizational matters were handled as separate votes. Several items were recorded as motions, seconded and approved by voice vote; no roll-call tallies were recorded in the minutes for these organizational votes.

Board members said they want to increase public access when the district schedules events to recognize students and asked the superintendent to identify larger alternate locations for some meetings so families can safely attend and photograph honorees.

The board adjourned the organizational portion after approving the committees and other routine items.