The Williamsburg-James City County School Board enters 2015 with new leadership after the board’s organizational meeting Tuesday.
Board members elected Jim Kelly (Jamestown) as board chairman for the next year. Kelly was the board’s vice chairman in 2014.
Heather Cordasco (Roberts) was selected as vice chairwoman, and Jim Nickols (Stonehouse) was tapped to serve as the board’s parliamentarian.
Kelly, who first joined the school board in January 2010, replaces Ruth Larson (Berkeley) as chairwoman. Larson had served an unprecedented three consecutive terms as board chairwoman.
Cordasco assumes Kelly’s former position, and Nickols succeeds Dr. Oscar Prater, whose term ended Dec. 31.
All three of the board’s new officers were elected by voice vote with no dissenting votes.
Kelly said he was succeeding a “legend” in Larson, and he hoped to continue the board’s spirit of cooperation and hard work.
Larson congratulated Kelly on his election and said she was looking forward to working with both him and Cordasco over the next year.
Kelly said the school board would have to address several important issues in the next year, including finalizing the construction of a fourth middle school, developing a long-range facilities plan and completing the school division’s budget process.
Tuesday was also the first official meeting for new board member Kyra Cook (City of Williamsburg), who was appointed to the board by the Williamsburg City Council in December.
