THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, February 4, 1996 TAG: 9602030111
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 19 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ELIZABETH THIEL, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 55 lines
With right hands planted on the Bible, five School Board members promised Friday to serve the city faithfully and to uphold state law.
The five were sworn into office Friday by Circuit Court Clerk Lillie M. ``Lil'' Hart. They were elected in December during the city's first ballot for School Board seats. Their terms, which will last through June 1998, begin this month.
Only one of the five is a newcomer. Jeffrey A. ``Jeff'' Rowland was the only non-incumbent to win a seat on the board.
The rest - board Vice Chairwoman Barbara B. Head and members L. Thomas Bray, James M. Reeves and Roderic A. Taylor - are continuing their service.
Their terms will be shorter than the usual four years, because the first election was held almost two years later than expected due to a dispute between the city and the U.S. Justice Department. When the seats go on the ballot again in the spring of 1998, those elected will serve until 2002.
The remaining four of the nine board seats will go up for election this May. Those elected will serve until 2000.
The mood was festive in the courthouse Friday, as board electees, their families and the school system's top administrators gathered to watch the ceremony.
Hart had to apologize for one circumstance: The courtroom used for the event smelled heavily like burnt machinery. Hart said one of the building's heating motors had malfunctioned. It was the only courtroom that was open at the time.
The odor didn't dampen any spirits. Nor did the frigid winter storm blowing outside.
``It may appear that it's cold and rainy outside, but it's warm in here, because this is a happy celebration,'' said board Clerk Edward L. Hughes.
Superintendent W. Randolph Nichols thanked the families for showing up to watch their loved ones assume office.
``It takes a whole family to support the board member,'' Nichols said. ``It's not just a one-person responsibility.''
Nichols also said he was glad that voters allowed the incumbents to keep their seats.
``I was hoping for some stability,'' he said. ``And I think we're going to have that.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo by L. TODD SPENCER
Elected board members pose for Wilbur Chadwick after the ceremony at
Chesapeake Circuit Court. They are: Roderic A. Taylor, left, Jeffrey
A. Rowland, Barbara B. Head, L. Thomas Bray and James M. Reeves.
KEYWORDS: CHESAPEAKE SCHOOL BOARD by CNB