Mathews County School Board moves into closed session to discuss personnel

The Mathews County School Board voted Tuesday to move into a closed meeting under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act to discuss personnel matters, the board chair announced.

Board member Missus Hodges made the motion, reciting the statutory basis: “I make a motion to enter into closed meeting in accordance with the Virginia Freedom of Information Act, section 2.2-3711(A)(1) ... for discussion or consideration of personnel matters, professional staff appointment, support staff appointment ... professional staff resignation ... coach and volunteer coach appointments, winter coach appointment.” The motion also cited Section 22.1-254(B)(1) as an exemption related to compulsory attendance for religious reasons.

The chair called roll prior to the motion. Attendance recorded during roll call included Ms. Bohannon Stewart, Missus Hodges, Mr. Morgan and Dr. Gibbs as present. After the motion, the board recorded a second (thanked to Ms. Bohannon Stewart), the chair asked if there was any discussion and, hearing none, announced the body was entering closed session.

The motion named a broad set of personnel issues that may be discussed in closed session — appointments, reassignments and resignations of professional and support staff and coach appointments — but the board did not disclose additional public details before adjourning into closed session. No vote tally was recorded in the public transcript and no formal action beyond moving into closed session was reported on the public record.

The statutes cited — the Virginia Freedom of Information Act, Va. Code §2.2-3711(A)(1), and Va. Code §22.1-254(B)(1) regarding attendance exemptions — provide legal authority for local school boards to deliberate personnel and certain attendance-exemption matters privately. The board did not state whether any final personnel decisions would be made during the closed session or when the board would report any outcomes publicly.