Shavonda Fernandez elected board chair; Matt Percival named vice chair
Summary
At its Jan. 5 meeting, the Richmond School Board elected Shavonda Fernandez as chair and Matt Percival as vice chair by unanimous roll‑call votes. The board also adopted the 2026 meeting schedule and carried routine procedural business.
Shavonda Fernandez was elected chair of the Richmond City Public Schools Board on Monday, following a nomination from board member Matt Percival and a roll‑call vote.
The board then confirmed Matt Percival as vice chair. Both elections were moved, seconded and approved by unanimous yes votes.
The reorganizational votes were followed by routine business: the board adopted the posted 2026 meeting and committee schedule, and the superintendent’s recommendations appointing Sherina Chang as agent, Ranesha Parks as deputy agent, Patrice Richardson as clerk and Maryam Azias as deputy clerk were approved.
The actions were procedural and carried without recorded opposition. Chair Fernandez opened the meeting after her election and outlined the board’s plans for the year.
The board next moved into several presentations on accountability, facilities and services and ultimately voted to convene in closed session later in the meeting to discuss personnel and legal matters.
