Howell elected chair; board approves pay raise, twice‑monthly meetings and committee slate

Heather Howell was elected chair of the Suffolk Public Schools Board at the district’s 2025 organizational meeting, and Sean McGee was selected as vice chair, the board announced during its swearing‑in and organizational business session.

The board also approved several housekeeping and governance items, including appointments to standing committees and foundation boards, designation of two superintendent designees, a motion to appoint the clerk and deputy clerk, a $5,000 increase in board member salaries with an additional $1,400 stipend for the chair, and a change to the board’s meeting cadence to include a second monthly meeting beginning March 2025.

Board elections and leadership picks occur every organizational meeting. The new leadership will preside over the district as it finalizes planning for an Innovation Center and a STEM Academy the superintendent said the division plans to launch in the fall.

In nominations and the chair election, Karen Jenkins nominated Heather Howell for chair; another board member nominated Sean McGee. After the roll call, Howell was selected chair and McGee was chosen vice chair. The board clerk conducted votes and announced the results.

On administrative appointments, the board approved a motion to appoint the clerk and deputy clerk; the transcript explicitly names Keisha Johnson as deputy clerk. The record of the clerk appointment did not specify the clerk’s name in the motion text on the record.

The board voted to increase member pay by $5,000, raising the base from $10,000 to $15,000 per year, and to add a $1,400 additional stipend for the chair. The board’s attorney and meeting staff clarified on the record that any change in board salary would not take effect until July 1 of the next election cycle (the board was told that means July 1, 2026). The motion to raise pay, as amended on the floor to make the $1,400 stipend for the chair only, passed on a recorded roll call.

The board also voted to add a second monthly meeting each month beginning March 2025, keeping the regular business meeting on the second Thursday and adding an additional date (work session or second business meeting) to be scheduled; members said the extra meeting will be canceled when not needed. The motion to schedule a second monthly meeting passed on a recorded vote.

Committee and foundation appointments listed by the board clerk were approved by motion and vote. The record lists members for the policy review committee, finance committee, legislative committee and several external boards (for example, the Governor’s School for the Arts representative and WHRO Education Advisory Board seat). The superintendent’s designees to act on his behalf in his absence—Dr. Akima Branch (chief academic officer) and Dr. Rodney Brown (chief of administrative services)—were presented and approved.

Votes at a glance: • Chair selection — Heather Howell selected as chair (outcome announced by roll call). • Vice chair selection — Sean McGee selected as vice chair (outcome announced by roll call). • Clerk/deputy clerk appointment — Motion to appoint clerk and deputy clerk (deputy clerk named on record as Keisha Johnson); motion passed. • Board salary increase — Motion to increase board member pay from $10,000 to $15,000 and to provide a $1,400 stipend for the chair only; passed on roll call. Effective date: July 1, 2026, as stated on the record. • Meeting cadence change — Motion to adopt a second monthly meeting beginning March 2025; motion passed on roll call. • Committee and foundation appointments — Slate presented by the clerk; motion to approve passed. • Superintendent designees — Dr. Akima Branch and Dr. Rodney Brown approved as designees.

What the votes mean: board members who supported the motions said the changes respond to travel and meeting burdens, give the board more flexibility to handle lengthy agendas and appeals, and align member pay more closely with peer divisions. Members discussed implementation logistics (facility availability for additional meetings, notice requirements and the clerk’s scheduling role) and agreed to set specific dates with administration at a later meeting.

The meeting record includes a small number of scheduling items and information items the board was asked to review prior to the next business meeting, including planning for an Innovation Center and an SPS teacher‑pathways initiative; those items were presented as informational and scheduled for fuller discussion at the board’s next meeting.

The board adjourned after completing organizational business.