Albemarle school board elects Kate Acuff chair, names committee assignments and sets timeline to fill vacant Rio seat

The Albemarle County School Board on Jan. 9 elected Dr. Kate Acuff chair for 2025 and chose Dr. Rebecca Berlin as vice chair as part of the board’s organizational business conducted during an electronic meeting.

The moves follow the board’s established organizational procedure for the calendar year. The board also reappointed Christine Thompson as clerk of the board and reviewed and confirmed committee assignments for the year, including placement of members on the Albemarle County Environmental Sustainability advisory (ACES), audit, discipline, diversity and equity, communications and several regional and foundation liaisons.

The board’s organizational roll call and nominations occurred after the meeting opened remotely because of hazardous road conditions and a state of emergency. Judy Lee nominated Acuff for chair; a motion to elect Acuff was seconded and carried. Members then nominated and confirmed Berlin as vice chair; Berlin announced an abstention on her own confirmation vote.

Board members discussed committee staffing at length. Assignments confirmed during the meeting included representation on ACES (Judy Lee among those serving), the audit committee, the discipline committee (Graham Page, Allison Spellman and Judy Lee as members, with Rebecca Berlin and Ellen Osborne as alternates), and the communications and diversity/equity committees. Several advisory and regional liaison spots were discussed but left open for the board’s new member.

The board also announced it will fill the now-vacant Rio District seat on an interim basis under Virginia law. The board said state code requires appointment within 45 days of a vacancy; the board has received seven applications by its deadline. The board scheduled interviews of candidates for Jan. 16 at 6:30 p.m. and a public hearing on Jan. 23 during a regularly scheduled working meeting; after the hearing the board will convene in closed session to deliberate and then return to public session to announce its choice. The selected appointee’s first regular meeting will be Feb. 13. Information about applicants will be posted online.

Board members and staff emphasized that many standing advisory groups and committees are active and meet at varying cadences (monthly, quarterly or as needed). Several members urged careful coordination with county partners and school staff to reduce duplication, and asked staff to research models used by other divisions to inform potential structural changes to school board-facing advisory committees.

The board moved on to other business after completing the organizational items and committee assignments.