THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, July 10, 1994 TAG: 9407080273
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 20 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JON GLASS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: SUFFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 56 lines
Meeting for the first time with publicly-elected members, the School Board stuck to tradition July 1, naming two City Council appointees to lead it during the 1994-95 school year.
The board unanimously selected Arthur D. Smith as chairman and the Rev. Mark A. Croston as vice chairman. Neither faces popular election until 1996.
Smith, the board's vice chairman in 1993-94, is subject to City Council reappointment next June to a one-year term.
He has represented the Nansemond Borough since July 1992. Croston has served the Whaleyville Borough since July 1993.
Incumbent Mack Benn Jr. of the Sleepy Hole Borough also did not face election this spring and is subject to reappointment to a one-year term next year.
But a majority on the board - four of the seven members - was elected in Virginia's first School Board elections this May.
Two were incumbents: Lorraine B. Skeeter of the Cypress Borough and William L. Whitley of the Chuckatuck Borough.
Elected newcomers are Calvin W. Jones of the Holy Neck Borough and Frances Alwood of the Suffolk Borough.
Alwood ran unopposed to win the seat formerly held by last year's board chairman, Robert N. Baker III, who did not seek election.
Smith, 49, a longtime educator, is associate dean and college registrar at Tidewater Community College.
He said his task as chairman will be to ``create an atmosphere'' for the board to accomplish goals for such priorities as student discipline, parental involvement, academic achievement and school facilities.
The new board approved annual salaries of $2,000 for its members, the maximum allowed by state statute in Suffolk. As chairman, Smith got an additional $500, less than the $1,100 allowed by state code.
The board also re-elected Jo Anne D. Miltier as clerk and raised her salary nearly 18 percent, from $2,122 to $2,500.
Board meetings will continue to be held at 7:30 p.m. on the second Thursday of each month in City Council Chambers.
The board also made appointments to several committees:
WHRO Public Access Television Station Board: Smith; Jones, alternate.
Southeastern Cooperative Education Program: Benn; Alwood, alternate.
Governor's School for the Arts Regional Board: Croston; Smith, alternate.
P.D. Pruden Joint Committee for Control: Skeeter, Smith and Jones.
Pupil Personnel Committee: Whitley, Croston, Skeeter; Alwood and Benn, alternates.
Finance Committee: Smith and Croston.
Suffolk Education Foundation: Smith is the ex-officio member.
KEYWORDS: SUFFOLK SCHOOL BOARD by CNB