Culpeper County School Board elects Brown chair, Pearson vice chair; adopts rules and calendar

The Culpeper County School Board on Jan. 12 elected Barbara Brown chair and Kelley Pearson vice chair for 2026 and approved a slate of administrative designees, meeting procedures and its 2026 calendar.

Patricia Baker nominated Barbara Brown for chair; no other nominations were offered and Brown won by acclamation. Christina Burnett nominated Kelley Pearson for vice-chair; Pearson was elected by acclamation. The board later appointed Neal Deane as clerk and Sara Morand as deputy clerk through the January 2027 reorganization meeting in a motion by Patricia Baker and a second by Elizabeth Hutchins; the motion carried with all members recorded as "Aye." The board also approved Michelle Metzgar to attend meetings in the superintendent’s absence and designated Neal Deane, Dr. Russell Houck, Robert T. Hauman III and Dr. Donovan O’Brien as signatories for documents when the superintendent is absent.

In procedural votes, the board adopted Roberts Rules for conducting meetings and approved the CCSB 2026 meeting calendar and committee schedule. The board agreed to sign the Virginia School Boards Association Code of Conduct for School Board members and approved the CCSB bylaws and rules of procedure. Each of these motions carried with the full board voting in the affirmative.

Board members who were recorded as voting "Aye" on motions throughout the evening were Patricia Baker, Barbara Brown, Christina Burnett, Elizabeth Hutchins, Kelley Pearson, Elizabeth Smith and Toni G. Sheads.

The actions set the board’s leadership and administrative structure for the year and clarified lines of temporary authority for superintendent absences; the board adopted its calendar and procedures for 2026 to guide upcoming committee meetings and work sessions.