York County School Board elects Kimberly Goodwin chair, hears AG-office opinion saying chair may not be removed midterm

Kimberly Goodwin was elected chair of the York County School Board on Jan. 13, 2025, and Richard Richardson was elected vice chair as the board conducted its annual organizational business and adopted Resolution 2501 setting the board—s calendar and organizational procedures for the year.

The reorganizational votes came after the chair read the York County School Division mission statement and after the board received a written memorandum from Amanda McGuire, opinions counsel in the Virginia Attorney General—s Office, responding to a request about whether a school board may remove its chair or vice chair before the one-year term specified in Va. Code § 22.1-76. The memo concluded that a local school board does not have that authority.

Why it matters: The attorney—s-office memo was cited at the meeting as addressing a prior May removal of leadership positions; board members and speakers debated whether the memo was an official attorney-general opinion or an individual counsel—s view and raised questions about timing and agenda notice. Board members also discussed transparency and public access to materials after a later agenda-item dispute over whether a document distributed to the board had been posted for the public consistent with the Virginia Freedom of Information Act.

Goodwin won the chair nomination on a 4-1 recorded vote. The motion to nominate Goodwin was made by Robert (Bob) Schaffer and seconded by Richard Richardson; the roll call recorded four yes votes and one no. The board then nominated and elected Richardson as vice chair; that motion passed 4-1. The board approved Resolution 2501, the 2025 organizational business calendar and related attachments, by a 5-0 vote.

On the attorney-office memo: The document read into the record quoted Va. Code § 22.1-76 and argued the statute uses mandatory language that fixes the chair, vice chair and clerk terms at one year and does not confer authority to remove an elected chair midterm. The memo was presented at the start of the meeting, and members of the board discussed that it had been received by some members only recently; staff said they would consult with legal counsel about follow-up.

On public-records and agenda materials: Shortly before adjournment, a board member raised a concern about a handout provided to board members earlier in the meeting that had not been posted to the public materials repository at the same time. Staff acknowledged that the document had not been posted contemporaneously and said the item would be posted the next business day; staff and the board discussed FOIA timing requirements (Va. Code § 2.2-3707(G) was cited at the meeting) and noted the risk that a member of the public could file a complaint if materials provided to the board are not made available for public inspection at the same time.

Votes at a glance: Motion to nominate Kimberly Goodwin as chair (mover: Robert Schaffer; seconder: Richard Richardson) — vote recorded 4 yes, 1 no; motion passes. Motion to nominate Richard Richardson as vice chair (mover: Robert Schaffer; seconder: Kimberly Goodwin) — vote recorded 4 yes, 1 no; motion passes. Motion to approve Resolution 2501 (mover: Richard Richardson; seconder: Robert Schaffer) — vote recorded 5 yes, 0 no; motion passes. Motion to convene closed session under Va. Code § 2.2-3711(A)(1) (mover: Robert Schaffer; seconder: [M.] Pajevic) — vote recorded 5 yes, 0 no; motion passes.

What—s next: Board members said staff and legal counsel would follow up on the attorney-office memo—s implications and on the FOIA posting lapse; no board action to remove or replace officers occurred at the meeting.