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School board deadlocks on chair vote; legal counsel advises postponement
Summary
A 3–3 split over nominations for board chair at the December 10 reorganization meeting led legal counsel to advise postponing the election until additional members can attend; the incumbent will remain chair until January.
At its Dec. 10 reorganization meeting, the school board could not break a 3–3 tie on nominations for board chair and moved to postpone selecting new officers until a later meeting.
Trustees nominated Jason Jenkins and Billy Fitzwater for the chair position. After a show-of-hands vote produced a tied result, legal counsel advised the board to delay reorganizing until the absent members could attend so a clear majority could decide. The board followed that advice and agreed the incumbent chair would continue in the role until the January reorganization.
Outgoing chair Trustee Manta Viji, who led the Pledge of Allegiance at the start of the meeting, thanked board members and staff for support during her two-year term and said she would not seek the chair position this cycle, citing family obligations.
Board members discussed tie-resolution options but concluded that postponing the vote was the fairest course because one nominee was not present and the board historically allows the chair to participate in votes. The matter will be revisited at the board’s next regular meeting, scheduled for Jan. 14, 2026.
No formal motion to install a new chair was adopted; the reorganization vote was recorded as tabled pending fuller attendance.
