Nofolk School Board chairman to leave after end of term

NORFOLK

School Board Chairman Barry Bishop will step down July 1, ending his 10 -year tenure on the board.

Mayor Paul Fraim announced Bishop's departure as the City Council held a public hearing Tuesday to take nominations for the School Board.

The terms of four members, including Bishop, expire July 1. Incumbents Billy Cook, Jim Driggers and Lillian Wright were nominated, as were five potential newcomers.

Bishop, a Granby High and Old Dominion University graduate, asked not to be nominated for another term. Bishop said his duties as executive director of the Greater Norfolk Corporation demand more of his time.

"It's been a real privilege to serve on the board," he said. "But this seemed to be the right time to step aside and allow somebody else to serve. There's a benefit from having turnover from time to time."

Bishop, an East Ocean View resident, was on the School Board in 2001 when it ended middle school busing and in 2005 when the school system won the Broad Prize, presented to the nation's top urban school system.

"I believe the Norfolk public schools can and will be the model for what an urban school system should be," Bishop said.

Fraim said he was sorry Bishop is stepping aside.

"Barry has been a great public servant and has done an excellent job," Fraim said.

Two nominations were made by council members.

Alveta Green, a former School Board member, was nominated by Vice Mayor Anthony L. Burfoot, who said he intends to support her. Karen Jones Squires, who co-chaired the school system's long-range facilities citizen advisory committee in 2008, was nominated by Fraim at her request, he said. He said he is not committed to supporting anyone.

George Nottingham, a financial adviser with Wells Fargo who lives in Larchmont, and the Rev. Kirk T. Houston Sr., founder and senior pastor of the Gethsemane Community Fellowship Baptist Church in Norfolk, were nominated by members of the public. Three people spoke in favor of Houston.

Dan Montague, a former mayoral candidate and a frequent critic of city government, nominated himself.

The council will meet in a closed session to decide who fills the four positions on either June 23 or June 30. A public vote will then ratify the decision made behind closed doors.

Harry Minium, (757) 446-2371, harry.minium@pilotonline.com