On January 30, SB 1404 (Pekarsky), which requires election as the method of selecting the members of each school board in the Commonwealth and makes several changes to eliminate provisions relating to appointed school boards, was defeated in the Senate Education and Health Committee by failing to report on a vote of 6-7-2. As previously reported, current law requires such members to be appointed but permits their election under certain circumstances. There are approximately a dozen localities that still opt to appoint their school boards, including the two counties of Hanover and Richmond.
VACo supports local authority to choose the selection process for school board members. VACo thanks those members who testified against the bill and legislators who sided with local government.
VACo Contact: Jeremy R. Bennett