Chatham County Board of Education elects Gary Leonard chair, Delcinea Turner vice chair; approves agendas, enters closed session

The Chatham County Board of Education on Dec. 9, 2024 swore in David Ham and reorganized its leadership, electing Gary Leonard as chair and Delcinea Turner as vice chair, approved the meeting agenda and routine personnel and consent items and voted to enter a closed session.

Judge Cave administered the oath of office to David Ham, who said, “I do,” when asked if he would “support and maintain the Constitution and laws of the United States and the Constitution and laws of North Carolina not inconsistent therewith.” Judge Cave added, “I just wanna thank the board for everything you do.”

The reorganization portion of the meeting was opened under school board policy 22100. A board member nominated Gary Leonard for chair; with no other nominations the board proceeded to a voice vote and the chair declared Leonard elected. Gary Leonard said, “Thank you all for having faith in me. I appreciate that. I hope I live up to that.” The board then opened nominations for vice chair and, after a single nomination, elected Delcinea Turner by voice vote.

The board approved the meeting agenda, the personnel agenda and the consent agenda by voice votes. The board also approved a motion to go into closed session for the items listed on the agenda; members moved and seconded the motion and the chair announced it carried by voice vote.

The board noted that Anna Carlson, who was sworn in last Monday as the board's newest member, was absent from the Dec. 9 meeting because of work obligations and is expected to attend the next meeting. Superintendent Dr. Jackson deferred a longer set of superintendent announcements to a future meeting and referred the public to the written report in the meeting packet and on the district website.

No individual roll-call vote tallies were recorded in the transcript; the transcript records outcomes as voice votes declared by the chair.

Votes at a glance - Elect Gary Leonard as chair of the Chatham County Board of Education — one nominee; elected by voice vote (motion and second not specified). - Elect Delcinea Turner as vice chair — one nominee; elected by voice vote (motion and second not specified). - Adopt meeting agenda — approved by voice vote (mover/second not specified). - Approve personnel agenda — approved by voice vote (mover/second not specified). - Approve consent agenda — approved by voice vote (mover/second not specified). - Enter closed session for listed agenda items — motion carried by voice vote (mover/second not specified).