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At the special School Board organizational meeting on Jan. 7, incumbent Heather Howell was elected Chair and new member Sean McGee was elected Vice Chair. Additionally, a salary increase of $5,000 for board members was unanimously approved, moving the salary for board members to $15,000. The approved salary increase will go into effect July 1, 2026.

Riddick proposed the $5,000 increase to account for the “extensive” amount of travel to various events and training. 

Previously, the salary for board members was $10,000 plus an additional $1,400 for the Chair. With the increase, the salary will be $15,000

The board also voted to have two meetings a month instead of one. 

Howell, McGee, and Valerie Fields took the Oath of Office as they start their new terms, which will last until December 2028. Incumbent Howell represents the Sleepy Hole borough, McGee represents the Whaleyville borough, and Fields represents the Nansemond borough. 

For Chair nominations, outgoing Chair Karen Jenkins nominated Howell and board member Tryon Riddick nominated McGee. 

“It is my belief that if you are going to navigate a public school system, you should have a direct, vested interest in that school system,” Riddick said before he nominated McGee for chair. 

Howell was elected as chair in a 5-2 vote, with Riddick and board member Dawn Brittingham, Ed. D. voting for McGee.

“I’m excited for this journey,” Howell said. “I feel encouraged to have the support of most of the board members and I am going to be faithful to the duties and responsibilities of being Board Chair, which is simply to facilitate meetings and lead.” 

McGee was nominated for vice chair by Brittingham and Jenkins was nominated by Fields. 

“Karen has done her normal duties in addition to supporting academic honors, programs, visual and performing arts programs, athletic events, and giving students what they need,” Fields said in her nomination of Jenkins. 

She added the board has “ensured that the board’s composition and leadership reflects the composition of Suffolk’s population.” 

McGee was elected as vice chair in a 4-3 vote, with Howell, Jenkins, and Fields voting for Jenkins.

“I feel great,” McGee said. “I really respect a lot of the board members who look at me as a leader. I hope I can exceed their expectations.”

Howell and McGee then discussed who will serve on the standing committees and foundation boards. All appointments were approved unanimously.  

For the policy review committee, members are Kimberly Slingluff, Jenkins, and McGee. The finance committee will be Howell, Brittingham, and Riddick. The legislative committee members are Fields, Riddick, and Slingluff. The Access College Foundation Board of Directors member is Slingluff. Jenkins is the member for the Governor’s School for the Arts. Brittingham is the CSEP member. McGee is the member for the Suffolk Education Foundation. Howell and McGee are the Virginia School Board Association members. Howell was also selected to serve on the WHRO Advisory Board.  

The board also discussed the meeting schedule. Riddick wanted to add an additional meeting every month because of the board’s tendency to have “lengthy” meetings. 

McGee agreed with Riddick, saying they need to make themselves more available to the public.

Waller said if the second meeting isn’t needed and it’s cancelled, the board would not be violating any public meeting rules.

The motion to schedule two meetings a month, starting in March, passed unanimously. Discussion of specific dates, times, and locations will be put on the agenda for the Jan. 16 meeting.