The Virginian-Pilot
©
NORFOLK
Incumbents Ursula Rhodes, Stephen Tonelson and Linda McCluney all will be reappointed to the School Board later this month.
Their terms expire at the end of June, and the City Council accepted nominations for the positions on Tuesday. The incumbents were the only ones nominated. All were nominated by Mayor Paul Fraim.
Although School Board members are elected in many local cities, they are appointed by the City Council in Norfolk.
Eleven people contacted the city to express an interest in serving this year, but none was nominated.
"We generally have multiple nominations, so this is a unique situation," Fraim said. "I think it speaks to the confidence the community has in the School Board."
Councilman Paul R. Riddick added, " They're doing a good job."
McCluney, educated in the Norfolk public schools, has an undergraduate degree from Norfolk State University and a master's and doctorate from Old Dominion University. She works for the Joint Forces Staff College in Norfolk.
Tonelson, a Maury High graduate, is a professor of childhood education at ODU. He has an undergraduate degree from William and Mary, a master's from ODU and a doctorate from the University of Virginia.
Rhodes, vice chair of the board, has a bachelor's degree in business management from Norfolk State. She is a vice president at Bank of America.
Harry Minium, (757) 446-2371, harry.minium@pilotonline.com
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It doesn't seem like the system is working very well.
Let's use some quotes from the aritcle. "Although School Board members are elected in many local cities, they are appointed by the City Council in Norfolk" Okay, that tells us that CITY COUNCIL should be speaking for the citizens, not their OWN interest. "Eleven people contacted the city to express an interest in serving this year, but none was nominated." ELEVEN PEOPLE! and none were nominated?!?! "We generally have multiple nominations, so this is a unique situation," Fraim said. "I think it speaks to the confidence the community has in the School Board." It doesn't seem to speak to confidence at all, it seems that ELEVEN PEOPLE were kicked to the curb by city council so council could keep their buddies in the seats. So if you're not content with the way things are, go to the poles and VOTE OUT the incumbents that have become complacent and are abusing the power intrusted to them from the citizens. VOTE-EM-OUT!