New Leaders for City School Board

Fredericksburg's School Board is under new leadership for the next year, with Rev. Jarvis Bailey elected to take the chairman's gavel with vice-chair Barbara Miller-Richards.

Bailey, an at-large member of the school board in his third year, says that he looks forward to serving as the chair. He served as the vice-chair during this past year, and his promotion sees him replacing Ward 1 board member Pat Green, who held the chair this past year. 

"The main issue is ensuring that all of our children have the best opportunity to learn," said Bailey after the meeting. "One of the ways we do that is by having small, adequate classroom sizes, have all of our position staffed with the best, most qualified teachers we can have."

Miller Richards, a member of the school board since 1998 serving Ward 2, said that her overriding concern would be student acheivement "in all areas." 

"It's an added responsibility, but it's also an honor. We have a lot of great professionals that work in our school system," said Miller Richards after the meeting. "I'm excited to be working closely with them and supporting their work and at the same time serving our students and parents."

Clerk of the school board Debbie Wright was reappointed to her position last night, and David Baker was appointed to the office of deputy clerk. 

Marceline Catlett, assistant superintendent for instruction and personnel. was appointed as Superintendent David Melton's stand-in on school board meetings which he is unable to attend. 

The election of city school board officers occurs annually at the first meeting in July. Last night's leadership election was part of a number of other organizational measures, such as approving school lunch contracts for ice cream, canned goods and paper supplies.