Citizens Tell WJCC SB to Reappoint Kelly

By Amber Lester Kennedy Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Citizens recommended consistency for the vacant Jamestown District seat on the Williamsburg-James City County School Board at its Tuesday meeting.

Of the five people who spoke during a public hearing on applicants, four told the board to reappoint Jim Kelly, who just completed a term as Berkeley District representative. He is one of three applicants for the Jamestown seat, most recently held by current Board Chair Ruth Larson.

Larson ran for the Berkeley District seat in November after she and Kelly were affected by the redistricting of the county. Kelly, whose term as Berkeley representative ended Dec. 31, 2011, now lives in the Jamestown District.

Kelly joined the board in January 2010, filling in after the resignation of former member Mary Ann Maimone. He served until November, then was elected to finish the rest of her term. The same process will follow for the appointee to the Jamestown seat; the new member will serve until November, then can run for election to finish the term, which expires Dec. 31, 2013.

Kelly and fellow applicants Jennifer Taylor and Tinsley Goad all spoke before the board Tuesday, explaining their backgrounds and why they were driven to serve as Jamestown representative.

Kelly, an engineer with Northrop Grumman, touted his experience as a board member over the past two years, saying that in his time on the board, the division opened two new schools, redistricted, hired a new superintendent and closed a school. He shared an anecdote to illustrate why he serves, telling the board that during a visit to the Rawls Byrd Elementary School library, he was diverted from his busy schedule by a kindergartener who asked him to read a book. He said his eyes welled up with tears as he tried to read “The Hungry Caterpillar” to a group of children who gathered around him.

“It’s about the kids, and it’s only about the kids,” he said. Kelly has three children attending WJCC schools.

Jennifer Taylor is the current chair of the German section in Modern Languages and Literatures at the College of William and Mary, where she’s worked for more than 21 years.

She is a founding member of Citizens for Education, a community group that has hosted conversations on education issues. She also serves as the current president of the PTA Council and has mentored at-risk students, helping them fill out college applications, since 2007. She and her husband, Tim Schulte, have three children; their youngest is a junior at Lafayette High School.

She told the board she wanted to offer her services. “I think it’s a really difficult time and I think at this point, we have a lot of challenges, but we also have a brand new superintendent who appears to have a lot of good ideas and energy,” she said.

Tinsley Goad, chief financial officer for AdvancePath Academics, Inc., told the board the timing was right for him to get more involved in the community. Prior to joining AdvancePath, he traveled extensively as senior vice president of finance and administration for GuideStar, which runs a national database of nonprofit information. With less travel and the chance to get involved without running for election, Goad thought it was the right time to apply for the board seat.

He pointed to his financial background as a reason he would be a good fit for the board. “The budget difficulties seem to require someone of my expertise,” he said. “Dealing with less-than-anticipated budget performances has taught me more than the good times and upswings I’ve been able to enjoy in my 20 years in business.”

He has three children, two currently attending Lafayette High School, and is a former PTA president at Matthew Whaley Elementary.

Four speakers advocated for Kelly, pointing to his experience, his knowledge of how the board works and ability to provide consistency. Gualano Davis, a resident of the Jamestown District, said Kelly is the best pick for now because he will have the lowest learning curve and provide continuity. “In November, it will be about the best candidate,” he said.

Christian Dunn, a member of the Matoaka Elementary PTA Board, said she’d found Kelly to be a “thorough, thoughtful representative” who “showed great respect for his position.” She added that as the board faces difficult budget decisions, “having equipped players is paramount to success.”

Andrea Gibson recounted years of sitting on soccer game sidelines with Kelly, who she described as an extremely supportive, involved parent. “As a friend, I cannot tell you how much I appreciate his dedication and desire that every child deserves to have opportunities in the game of education,” she said.

William O’Neill advocated for Taylor, pointing to her longtime community service and educational advocacy. He said through her work as a language professor, she frequently travels overseas, and would have perspective on how local students stack up against students abroad. “The board should not miss this opportunity to appoint a seasoned professional,” he said.

The board will interview all applicants on Feb. 1, and has until Feb. 14, at the latest, to make an appointment. Larson encouraged citizens to advocate for their choice by contacting board members; click here for contact information.