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Botetourt County School Board reorganizes leadership, approves capital plan and routine business
Summary
At its Jan. 8 meeting the Botetourt County School Board elected Anna Weddle chair and Matt East vice chair, adopted a capital improvement plan, approved the consent agenda including multiple student trips and vendor payments, and took actions stemming from a closed session on personnel and student discipline.
Fincastle, Va. — The Botetourt County School Board reorganized its leadership and completed several routine and formal actions at its regular meeting on Jan. 8, 2026.
Anna L. Weddle was elected chair of the board in the annual organization portion of the meeting; the motion to elect her passed unanimously after being moved by Matt East and seconded by Dana McCaleb. The board then nominated and approved Matt East as vice chair on a motion by McCaleb and second by Jenny P. Wilson. Susan M. Albert was confirmed as clerk and Emily Schaeffer as deputy clerk; Jordan Pinkard, assistant superintendent, was designated to act for the superintendent in the superintendent's absence for meeting attendance and signing documents. Dr. Janet L. Womack and Brandon Lee were named agent and deputy agent, respectively, to examine and approve claims.
The board adopted Robert's Rules as its procedure for conducting meetings and approved the Virginia School Boards Association code of conduct for members and clerks. The board also confirmed its regular meeting schedule: second Thursday of each month at 5:30 p.m. at the Central Administration Office, 143 Poor Farm Road, Fincastle.
During the meeting the board moved into a closed session to discuss appointments, resignations, retirement, salary adjustments and transfers of personnel and student matters under the cited provisions of the Code of Virginia. After reconvening at 6:29 p.m., the board certified that only the matters identified in the motion were discussed. The board voted to uphold administration recommendations on unspecified personnel matters (motion by Matt East, second Jenny P. Wilson). On a separate vote, the board did not uphold the administration's recommendation for one student's expulsion and instead recommended a long-term suspension through the 2025-26 school year (motion by Tim Davidick, second Dana McCaleb). The board also upheld the administration's recommendation for a student transfer request (motion by Jenny P. Wilson, second Matt East).
The consent agenda was approved as presented, covering acceptance of bills, authorization for the superintendent to fill vacancies between Jan. 8 and Feb. 12, 2026, approval of minutes from the Dec. 11, 2025 meeting, approval of multiple student field trips (Lord Botetourt High School, Reed Mountain Middle School, James River High School) and payment authorizations for FY26 vendors. Most consent motions were recorded as moved by Matt East and seconded by Dana McCaleb.
On a motion by Tim Davidick, seconded by Matt East, the board adopted the capital improvement plan as presented.
The meeting closed after brief recognitions and announcements. The board scheduled a governance and planning retreat for Jan. 9, 2026 and a work session on Jan. 16, 2026; the next regular meeting is set for Feb. 12, 2026 at 5:30 p.m.
