Spotsylvania school board approves personnel packet 4-2 amid concerns about background-check timing

The Spotsylvania County School Board voted 4-2 on July 31 to accept a personnel packet required to staff schools for the upcoming year, after a heated exchange about the timeliness of background checks and two board members disclosed family employment ties to the division.

The motion to accept the personnel packet was made and seconded and carried by voice vote after debate. April Gillespie and Miss Phelps said they could not support the packet because some background checks were not complete through the central registry and could take "3 to 4, sometimes 6 months" to return. "I wouldn't put my own child around these people," Miss Phelps said, explaining her repeated votes against HR packets. "We just go ahead and hire them and hope that all is well," April Gillespie added, saying she had been voting no for that reason.

Board members who opposed the packet framed their objections around safety and the thoroughness of vetting. Gillespie formally disclosed a personal interest, saying, "I, April Gillespie, declare that I have a personal interest in a transaction of the Spotsylvania County Public School Division due to my family's employment by the school board," and asked that the statement be recorded in the minutes. Dr. Carol Medawar made a similar oral disclosure, citing a family member's employment and requesting that her statement be included in the minutes.

Other board members defended the hiring process and HR work. Miss Cole said the claims about the packet were "not true" and that the board now receives more information than before about prospective employees. Dr. Carol Medawar, a longtime educator, said she was "comfortable" with the candidates and emphasized that the board makes hiring decisions based on the information available and would consider any additional information that emerges. Miss Rodos thanked HR staff for recruiting and onboarding and noted the division had added another packet of hires since Monday to ensure staff would be in place for the start of school.

Earlier in the special meeting, the board convened a closed session to discuss prospective candidates and personnel matters under the authority cited by the clerk; the board later certified in open session that the closed meeting had been conducted in conformity with the Virginia Freedom of Information Act. The certification vote was recorded as passing 6-0. The meeting concluded after the personnel packet vote when the board adjourned.

The personnel packet passed by a 4-2 margin; the record indicates the board used a combination of a screen vote and voice vote. The dissenting members stated they would continue to scrutinize HR packets and emphasized concerns about timing and completeness of registry checks. The board did not announce further follow-up or additional investigative steps during the meeting.