City Council Hosts Hearing Today for School Board Nominees

By Amber Lester Kennedy Thursday, November 10, 2011

City residents will have a chance to advocate for applicants to the Williamsburg-James City County School Board at today’s City Council meeting.

School board member Elise Emanuel’s term ends Dec. 31. Council will host a public hearing to hear comments for or against applicants for the board at their meeting, starting at 2 p.m. in the Stryker Building.

As of Thursday, two people had submitted new forms to be considered. Elise Emanuel, a former guidance counselor in Williamsburg schools, submitted an application for reappointment to her seat. John Whitley, an education consultant with Consulting Services Group and co-chair of the Williamsburg Democratic Committee, also submitted an application.

Clerk of Council Dee Scott said Thursday that three other people who had applied previously still have applications on file and would be eligible for appointment — Pamela Arnold, Kyra Cook and Clayton Ashby. She said one applicant, David Niebuhr, applied, but chose to withdraw in support of Emanuel.

Williamsburg has two seats on the seven-member school board. While the county’s representatives are elected, the city’s two seats are appointed by City Council. City residents can apply at any time to be appointed to the board when a seat is vacated; applications are kept for review for two years. People can be nominated at today’s public hearing, but today is the last day nominations will be accepted, Scott said.

City Council will interview all interested applicants.