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Beach school board adds new member

By Lauren Roth, The Virginian-Pilot – 3/10/2010

VIRGINIA BEACH
The School Board emerged from a closed-door meeting Tuesday night with the name of its third appointed member in four months: Ashley McLeod.

McLeod, a former Old Donation Center PTA president who co-chaired the division's Facilities Planning Committee, was chosen on a 7-2 vote from among 15 applicants to fill Rita Sweet Bellitto's at-large seat for the rest of the year.

"It's an honor," said McLeod, who vowed to listen to the public's desires when weighing decisions.

The other finalists were Carray Banks Jr., director of the Department of Technology at Norfolk State University; Vickie Pulley, a financial adviser and former Virginia Beach Education Association president; C. Mac Rawls, a former Beach principal and director of museums and cultural arts for the city; and Ken Sutton, a retired Navy officer and high school chemistry and physics teacher.

Banks, McLeod and Pulley were finalists for a previous opening.

Late last year, the board appointed Carolyn Weems, who held one of four at-large seats, to represent Bayside in one of seven district seats after Dan Lowe resigned. To fill her former seat, the board held a public hearing, conducted interviews, then appointed Scott Seery. Bellitto resigned last month to be appointed to the City Council.

The board also heard the budget prognosis Tuesday.

Chief Financial Officer Farrell Hanzaker said that if the House version of the state budget passes, the division would face a $37.4 million shortfall. That could be made up by increasing minimum class sizes, cutting non-personnel budgets by 3 percent and making fourth- and fifth-grade classes larger.

The board plans to vote next week. Other local divisions are considering layoffs and school closings to meet their budgets.