Ed. — Archived from the Sunday, Nov. 17, print edition.
COURTHOUSE — The incumbent vice chairperson lost their reelection bid, a past member will return and several new candidates won in an election that means change for the Virginia Beach School Board.
In District 1, challenger Rose Dwyer defeated School Board Vice Chairperson Jennifer Franklin, according to unofficial returns reported this past week by the state elections department from the Tuesday, Nov. 5, election.
Former Board Member Sharon Felton, who two years ago lost a seat in the first election under the 10-district voting system, won soundly in a citywide race for the only at-large seat on the School Board. Under the local voting system first used in 2022, district seats are selected only by people living within the respective districts.
Dwyer and Felton will be joined by several new faces on the next School Board, including Dr. Alveta Green, a retired administrator and educator who defeated School Board Member Shannon Kendrick in a special election for the District 4 seat.
Kendrick temporarily was appointed to the board earlier this year following the resignation of Staci Martin. Green won nearly 49 percent of the vote, defeating Kendrick and a third candidate, Anissa Bowden, in the race, unofficial returns show.
Three other first-time candidates soon will join the board — Mark Bohenstiel in District 3, Melinda Rogers in District 5 and Matt Cummings in District 7, according to unofficial returns for the Tuesday, Nov. 5, elections.
Franklin was the only elected incumbent running for School Board in 2024. She was first elected to the former Kempsville District seat in 2000.
Dwyer is a first-time candidate who previously served as an appointed school board member in another community.
“I’m hoping we can come to common ground to do what’s best in the interest of this next generation and, of course, teachers and parents,” Dwyer said during an interview.
Though local elections are nonpartisan, Dwyer’s endorsement by the local GOP may have been a factor in the victory.
Franklin congratulated Dwyer and said she hoped the incoming board member will be passionate about the schools and maintaining the division’s excellence.
“That’s really what this should be about — making sure we continue to focus on creating amazing citizens, amazing future leaders,” Franklin said this past week. “I think right now we are doing that, and we’ll continue doing that.”
In the at-large race, Felton earned just over 60 percent of the vote to defeat Monty Ashliman Jr.
“I am honored that the citizens of Virginia Beach chose to place me back on the School Board,” Felton said during an interview this past week.
“I know how important and valuable a vote is, and I certainly appreciate them even considering me to come back,” she said.
“I look forward to serving both the Virginia Beach Public Schools and my community,” she added.
Under the 10-district voting system, the board has one at-large seat because School Board and City Council seats correspond. The at-large representative is not the chairperson, however, as that position and the vice chair are selected by the board from among its membership.
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