Suffolk board aids Lakeland band

SUFFOLK

Strike up the band.

The School Board decided Thursday to transfer $10,000 in extra money from the division's vehicle fuel account to Lakeland High School's marching band, which needs $27,000 to represent Virginia in the National Memorial Day Parade in May.

"This is an unusual action on part of the board, but this is an unusual field trip," Superintendent Milton Liverman said.

The band had previously raised about $14,000 for the trip to Washington, including $6,000 provided by the school division a couple of months ago, director Alvin Wilson II said.

"Since they're doing something, too," board member Enoch Copeland said, "I don't see how we can turn our backs on them."

Also Thursday, the board decided that Lorraine Skeeter will continue as its leader for another year. The Cypress Borough representative was re-elected unanimously as chairwoman.

Skeeter is vice president of education and training programs for the Southeastern Tidewater Opportunity Project. She joined the board in 1993.

William Whitley unanimously was re-elected vice chairman. The Chuckatuck Borough representative is a retired high school principal who's been on the board since 1992.

Both members' seats are up for election this year. Also for 2010, School Board salaries remain at $10,000 each, plus another $1,400 for the chair.

Hattie Brown Garrow, (757) 222-5562, hattie.brown@pilotonline.com