By Taylor Boyd
The Patrick County School Board elected its chair and vice-chair at its Jan. 22 reorganizational meeting.
Amy Walker, of the Mayo River District, was re-elected as the board’s chair. This is her second term in the role.
Walker was one of two candidates nominated for the position.
Walker was nominated by Lester Harrell, of the Peters Creek District.
Rob Martin, of the Dan River District, was nominated by Walter Scott, of the Smith River District.
Walker won in a 2-1-2 vote.
Shannon Harrell, of the Blue Ridge District, and Lester Harrell voted for Walker, while Scott voted for Martin. Walker and Martin abstained from voting.
“Thank you all so much. I enjoyed serving this board and our school division over the past year, and I look forward to what we do this year. I know it’s going to be good, we’ve got great things ahead of us, and I look forward to working with all of you,” Walker said.
The board also elected Lester Harrell to the vice chair position by a 2-1-2 vote.
He was nominated for the role by Martin; Walker was nominated by Shannon Harrell.
Scott and Martin voted for Lester Harrell, and Walker voted for Shannon Harrell. The two nominees abstained from voting.
The school board also appointed Sara Leigh Collins as its Clerk and Daree Reeves as its Deputy Clerk.
The board appointed its representatives to special committees and adopted the Virginia School Board Association (VSBA) code of conduct and the Roberts Rules of Order.
In other matters, the board:
*Heard the superintendent’s report.
*Approved the consent agenda.
*Approved the Patrick County High School 2026-2027 Program of Studies.
*Approved policy updates.
*Approved the personnel report as amended.