Red Clay board elects Beth Tortoise president, Najma Landis vice president and confirms committee assignments

The Red Clay Consolidated School District Board of Education elected Beth Tortoise as board president and Najma Landis as vice president for the 2026–27 school year at the board’s July 8 organizational meeting.

Ajay English nominated Tortoise for president and Jose Matthews seconded; the motion passed unanimously after roll-call voting. Matthews then moved to nominate Najma Landis for vice president; that motion also passed unanimously. President Tortoise thanked her colleagues for the trust and noted the responsibility that comes with the role.

The board then reviewed and filled committee assignments for the year. Committees and representatives announced included: attendance zone and restructuring (Landis, Sander), board policy review (Tortoise, Matthews, Hinson), Citizens Budget Oversight Committee (Sander, Tortoise, Landis), Delaware School Boards Association (board director and alternate), DSBA legislative and facilities representation, the Red Clay Education Foundation appointment, and the Wilmington Learning Collaborative representative and alternate. Members who were not present when assignments were first discussed were given an opportunity to volunteer before the board approved the final list.

During committee discussion, members raised scheduling conflicts with CBOC meeting dates and agreed to finalize workshop topics and exact dates at a retreat or subsequent meeting.

The committee assignments were approved as part of the consent agenda later in the meeting.