Burke County board elects Jackie Payton chair, Franklin Lane vice chair; sets 2026 meeting schedule

The Burke County Board of Education on Tuesday reorganized its leadership for 2026, electing Jackie Payton as chair and Franklin Lane as vice chair and appointing Ms. Jamie Vietman as the board's GSBA legislative liaison. The board also set its regular meeting schedule as the third Tuesday of each month at 5:00 p.m.

Nominations for chair produced a single nominee, Jackie Payton, who was elected by a unanimous vote (recorded as 5'to'0). Payton thanked colleagues after the vote, saying she appreciated the confidence and was "honored and I will try my best to serve you in the manner that you would love to be served." The board followed that action by electing Franklin Lane as vice chair by unanimous voice vote.

During the reorganization the board voted to name Ms. Jamie Vietman as the district's representative to the Georgia School Boards Association as legislative liaison and approved Miss Buxton as the alternate. The motion to adopt the board's calendar for 2026'keeping meetings on the third Tuesday at 5 p.m.'was moved, seconded and approved by show of hands.

Votes at a glance: minutes, financial and program reports (see separate coverage) and appointments were approved by unanimous votes recorded during the meeting. The board adjourned the open meeting and moved into executive session on personnel matters at the end of the agenda.

The reorganization ensures the board has designated leadership and a legislative point of contact for the year ahead; board members said the schedule was chosen in part to accommodate staff convenience and timely distribution of reports.