Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Board Elections topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
G.R. Gordon Ross elected board president; Bob Byers chosen vice president in 6-0 votes
Summary
The USD 497 Board of Education elected G.R. Gordon Ross president and Bob Byers vice president in unanimous 6-0 votes during an organizational meeting; the board also affirmed its consent agenda.
G.R. Gordon Ross was elected president of the Lawrence Public Schools Board of Education (USD 497) by a 6-0 vote during the board’s organizational meeting. Board member Bob Byers was affirmed as vice president later in the same meeting by a 6-0 vote.
The board opened nominations for president and received two names; one nominee declined, leaving G.R. Gordon Ross as the sole candidate. After a roll call, members Kadu Blackwood, Yolanda Franklin, Bob Byers, Kelly Jones, Kimball and Gordon Ross voted for Ross, and the board president moved to affirm the result. The motion to affirm Ross as president passed 6-0.
Board members later nominated and voted on the vice-presidency. Byers and Yolanda Franklin were nominated; both accepted their nominations. After roll-call votes, Byers received the majority and the board moved to affirm him as vice president; that motion passed 6-0.
At the same meeting the board approved its consent agenda by voice vote, recorded as passing 6-0.
Board members discussed the nomination process prior to voting; several members who had been nominated declined. The board paused briefly to reorganize seating and resumed with the newly elected officers presiding for the remainder of the meeting.
Votes at a glance - Election of board president: G.R. Gordon Ross — outcome: affirmed; tally: 6 yes, 0 no, 0 abstain. Recorded yes votes: Kadu Blackwood; Yolanda Franklin; Bob Byers; Kelly Jones; Kimball; G.R. Gordon Ross. - Election of vice president: Bob Byers — outcome: affirmed; tally: 6 yes, 0 no, 0 abstain. Recorded yes votes: Bob Byers; Kimball; Kadu Blackwood; Yolanda Franklin; G.R. Gordon Ross; Kelly Jones. - Consent agenda: outcome: approved; tally: recorded as 6-0.
The organizational votes concluded the board’s officer elections and allowed the board to continue with reports and administrative items under the new leadership.
