Board completes organizational appointments; remands disciplinary action and approves religious exemption
Summary
At its organizational meeting Jan. 12, the Clark County School Board elected Katie Kerherbert as chair and Clay Brownback as vice chair, appointed clerks and committee members, moved to remand a disciplinary action to staff, and approved a student's religious‑exemption request after a brief closed-session review.
The Clark County School Board used its Jan. 12 organizational meeting to make leadership and committee appointments, take formal action on a personnel matter arising from a closed session, and approve a religious‑exemption request.
The lede: The board elected Katie Kerherbert as chair and Clay Brownback as vice chair, approved routine organizational appointments (clerk, deputy clerk, fiscal agent, committee members and designees), remanded a disciplinary matter back to staff after a closed session, and approved a request to release a student from compulsory attendance for religious reasons.
What happened: Early in the meeting the board completed required certifications on the legality of prior closed-session discussion and then voted to remand a disciplinary action to staff for further action. At the organizational portion, Renee Weir was appointed clerk and Dr. Rick Bowling deputy clerk and fiscal agent. The board approved the calendar of 2026 meeting dates and filled the Budget & Finance committee membership after an initial motion failed for lack of a second and a subsequent motion passed. Several other standing committee and designee appointments were adopted by voice vote.
Closed-session actions: The board convened a closed session later in the meeting under Code of Virginia §2.2‑3711 subsections to discuss personal matters, appointments and a religious‑exemption request. After reconvening, the board voted to approve the religious-exemption request as presented.
Votes and procedure: Most routine appointments and motions were adopted by voice vote with affirmative 'Aye' responses recorded; some motions lacked explicit roll-call tallies in the transcript. The motion remanding disciplinary action back to staff was moved, seconded and approved by voice vote.
Next steps: Staff will handle the remanded disciplinary matter and will bring any formal personnel actions back to the board if required; committee appointees will begin work in their assigned roles per the calendar and committee schedules.
