Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Organizational Meeting topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Norfolk school board elects Sarah DeCalleggero as chair; Alfreda Thomas named vice chair
Summary
After multiple nomination rounds, the newly constituted Norfolk Public Schools board selected Sarah DeCalleggero as chair and Alfreda Thomas as vice chair. The board confirmed Karen Tanner as clerk and approved superintendent designees by roll call.
The City of Norfolk School Board completed its organizational business on Jan. 8, 2025, electing leadership for the coming year and confirming several administrative appointments.
After nominations and multiple ballots, the board selected Sarah DeCalleggero to serve as chair for the 2025 term. The transcript records an earlier tie between candidates (Adele Martin and Tiffany Moore Buffalo) and later rounds of nominations; the final announcement recognized DeCalleggero as chair. The board then elected Alfreda Thomas as vice chair; a roll call reported that Thomas received four votes while Tiffany Moore Buffalo received two in the vice-chair tally.
The board also confirmed Karen Tanner to serve as school board clerk for the 2025 calendar year; the clerk’s appointment was approved by roll call. Superintendent Adam Birdsong (referenced in the meeting as Dr. Birdsong) presented and the board approved his recommended designees: Dr. Michael Cataldo (chief student safety support and information officer), James Pohl (Chief Academic Officer) and Dr. Doritha White (Chief Strategy, Innovation and Community Engagement Officer). Those recommendations were approved by roll call during the organizational meeting.
Board members debated nominations before the final votes; some members urged continuity and experience, while others cited collaborative leadership and transparency as reasons to support different candidates. Following the selection of chair and vice chair, the meeting recessed briefly and reconvened under newly elected leadership.
No formal motions to change policy were taken during this organizational segment beyond the appointments and elections; the board moved on to scheduled agenda items after staffing confirmations.
