COURTHOUSE — The School Board selected new leadership during an organizational meeting, and Kim Melnyk will serve as the body’s chairperson with Jennifer Franklin as vice chairperson.
The leadership changes came on Tuesday, Jan. 9, during two votes among members of the the divided board. Previously, Board Members Trenace Riggs and Carolyn Weems served as chairperson and vice chairperson, respectively.
Melnyk, who represents District 2 and was first elected to the board in 2014, said in a statement released by the schools that she is honored to serve.
During an interview, she said she will focus on the upcoming budget process, which has seen schools leadership preparing for a range of scenarios, as well as the search for a permanent superintendent and her work with colleagues.
“My goal is to work collaboratively with my colleagues, to navigate the challenges and celebrate the successes,” said Melnyk during a telephone interview.
Franklin, in a statement released by the city schools, promised “to do everything I can to bring positivity, passion and unity” to the division.
“I’m so incredibly proud to be a part of this amazing community and division,” she added in the statement, “and am so grateful for all who work every day to make this division the best in our region, the state and the country.”
Franklin is in the final year of her first term on the board and is seeking reelection to the District 1 seat. She defeated former longtime School Board Chairperson Dan Edwards in the Kempsville District in 2020.
Melnyk said members of the board felt a change in leadership was appropriate after a number of stakeholders responding to a survey for the superintendent search noted divisiveness on the board.
That came up in discussions during the selection of the new board leadership on Tuesday, Jan. 9.
School Board Member Mike Callan nominated Weems for chairperson, and he said he did so due to community concerns.
“My thinking is let’s shuffle the deck a little bit and see if we can create an atmosphere and a sense of congeniality and working together that might resonate with the community,” Callan said during remarks.
School Board Member Jessica Owens thanked both Riggs and Weems for their service as chair and vice chair this past year. Owens said she, too, has taken in the comments about the board’s workings.
“I hope that we’ll commit to moving forward on a better path this year,” Owens said. “With that in mind, I think that having a clean slate for leadership is the first step toward moving forward with a new team.”
Owens nominated Melnyk to be chairperson.
“I think we need a clean slate, but I also think we need somebody who has some previous board leadership experience,” Owens said. Melnyk, a former teacher, previously served as vice chairperson of the board.
Before the vote, Weems agreed the board has been criticized by the public, and she said she would bring calm, steady leadership. She also said she would improve communication with all members.
School Board Member Victoria Manning, during remarks, noted that some members of the board have felt left out when it comes to receiving information. “Hopefully, that will change with new leadership,” she said.
School Board Members Beverly Anderson, Franklin, Staci Martin, Melnyk, Owens and Riggs voted for Melnyk. School Board Members Kathleen Brown, Callan, David Culpepper, Manning and Weems voted in the minority.
After Melnyk took her place at the center of the dais, she accepted nominations for vice chairperson.
Owens nominated Franklin, echoing her earlier comments.
“I do believe that Ms. Franklin is open to hearing from everybody on the board,” Owens said, “and has been willing to work with all members of the board.”
Culpepper nominated Brown. “While it is her first year on the board, I have known no other member to do their homework quite so thoroughly as she does,” he said.
Anderson, Franklin, Martin, Melnyk, Owens and Riggs voted for Franklin. Brown, Callan, Culpepper, Manning and Weems voted in the minority.
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