Hampton City School Board elects Dr. Richard Mason chair, names officers for 2026

The Hampton City School Board unanimously elected Dr. Richard Mason as chair and Stephanie Afongia Jackson as vice chair during its Jan. 7 organizational meeting.

The nominations and votes were part of the board’s annual organizational agenda. Dr. Tina Banks Gray nominated Mason; the board recorded a unanimous roll‑call vote to elect him chair. Members likewise approved the nomination of Stephanie Afongia Jackson for vice chair, with a unanimous roll‑call vote.

The board also approved several routine appointments on the superintendent’s recommendation. Elizabeth Penny was appointed clerk of the board and George Charbonneau was appointed deputy clerk; Kelly Goral was named the division’s freedom of information (FOIA) officer. The board appointed Dr. John Caggiano as the superintendent’s designee to represent the superintendent in his absence. The board approved the posted meeting schedule for the coming year and carried the consent agenda, which included the personnel report, minutes of the Dec. 3, 2025 meeting, the certification of the closed session from Dec. 3, 2025, expulsion case 2025‑059, and releases from compulsory attendance and religious‑exemption requests. All motions were approved by unanimous roll‑call votes.

Those actions were presented as part of the meeting’s organizational items; board members offered brief remarks thanking outgoing and incoming officers and recognizing the administrative staff who keep meeting operations on schedule. Chair Mason thanked colleagues and noted plans for continued student engagement and division priorities under his leadership.

Votes at a glance: - Adopt agenda (mover: Mr. Kilgore; second: Mr. Samuels) — approved, unanimous. - Elect chair: Dr. Richard Mason (nominator: Dr. Banks Gray; second: Mr. Kilgore) — approved, unanimous. - Elect vice chair: Stephanie Afongia Jackson (nominator recorded in meeting) — approved, unanimous. - Appoint Elizabeth Penny, clerk — approved, unanimous. - Appoint George Charbonneau, deputy clerk — approved, unanimous. - Appoint Dr. John Caggiano, superintendent’s designee — approved, unanimous. - Appoint Kelly Goral, FOIA officer — approved, unanimous. - Approve annual meeting schedule — approved, unanimous. - Approve consent agenda (personnel report; meeting minutes; closed session certification; expulsion 2025‑059; attendance/exemption items) — approved, unanimous.

The board adjourned after routine business and scheduling announcements.