Powhatan school board elects Susan Smith as chair after contested nominations

Susan Smith was elected chair of the Powhatan County School Board on Jan. 13 after a contested nomination process that included nominations for Vicky Hart. The board debated leadership, communication with the county Board of Supervisors and how to present a united front during an upcoming difficult budget cycle before taking a roll‑call vote that elevated Smith to the chair seat.

The vote followed an extended discussion in which Michelle Ward nominated Vicky Hart and board members described a need for fresh perspective and improved relations with the board of supervisors. Board members raised concerns about past communications, evaluation timing and meeting schedules; some argued a new chair could help repair working relationships. "I think it would be really good for us to have a different perspective and leadership for this oncoming year," said Michelle Ward during nominations.

After nominations, the board proceeded to elect a vice chair and to name Stacy Pafford as board clerk and Laura McFarlane as deputy clerk. The board approved the superintendent’s designees — Dr. Angela Stewart as chief academic officer, Courtney Jarman as chief schools officer and Debbie Holloway as chief financial officer — by roll call.

The leadership decisions set the board’s governance structure for the year and preceded a packed agenda that included grants, awards and a large discussion of the capital improvement plan. The board paused work to enter a closed session for personnel and a student discipline report as authorized by state statute and then returned to open session to approve the personnel docket and continue legal representation for pending litigation.