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Preston County Board swears in four members, elects Lucas Tatum president and approves personnel and policy updates
Summary
At its July 6 meeting the Preston County Board of Education administered oaths to three returning members and one newly appointed member, elected Lucas Tatum president and Cross Kisner vice president, and approved personnel agendas, a revised meeting calendar and two policy updates on first reading.
Preston County Board of Education — The Preston County Board of Education on July 6 administered oaths to three returning members and one newly appointed member, then moved quickly through officer elections, personnel approvals and first readings of two policy updates.
Magistrate P.L. Grimm administered the oath of office to Elizabeth Noss, Cross Kisner and Lucas Tatum and to new board member Amanda Alexander; the board record shows most terms run from July 2026 through June 2030, with Tatum filling an unexpired term ending June 2028. After the swearing-in, Cross Kisner moved to keep Lucas Tatum as board president: "I would nominate Mr. Tatum to continue as president," Kisner said. The motion passed in an electronic vote, 5–0, naming Tatum president through 06/30/2028.
Elizabeth Noss nominated Cross Kisner for vice president; that voice vote passed 4–0 with one abstention. The minutes record Amanda Alexander abstained from the vice-presidential voice vote because she had not been a member for the prior meeting.
The board also discussed committee assignments for three standing committees — the Economic Development Authority, the CTE Craft Advisory committee and the Extension Service — and members volunteered or indicated continued interest. Alexander expressed interest in representing the board on a state-level special education committee and said she hopes to pursue a special-education bill in 2027.
On the calendar, the board amended its proposed 2026–27 meeting schedule to move the July meeting to Friday, July 24, with the exact time to be determined after staff confirm availability for a scheduled student retention hearing; the amendment vote passed 5–0. The full calendar was then approved 5–0.
Votes at a glance: the board approved the minutes of the June 22, 2026 meeting (motion passed 4–0 with member Amanda Alexander recorded as abstaining); approved the service personnel agenda (motion passed 5–0); approved the professional personnel agenda — including a recommended hire for a CTE assistant principal at Preston High School — (motion passed 5–0); approved revisions to Preston County Schools Policy 1‑7 on first reading to eliminate secret-ballot language for officer elections (motion passed 5–0, final approval scheduled for 07/13/2026); and approved Policy 8‑39‑9 on first reading to allow retired teachers with full credentials to serve in identified critical-need substitute roles without jeopardizing retirement status if employed in that role (motion passed 5–0). According to district staff, the CTE assistant-principal position is funded with federal Title funds and renewal depends on annual funding levels.
The board closed the meeting after accepting agenda items for the July 13 meeting and reminding members about the process for submitting agenda requests and email etiquette to avoid inadvertent quorum communications. The meeting adjourned at 9:38 a.m.
Next steps: the board scheduled final consideration of Policy 1‑7 on July 13 and will confirm the July 24 meeting time after the superintendent's office contacts involved parties about the retention hearing.
