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Franklin City Council received two nominees Feb. 12 to fill the vacant Ward 6 seat on the Franklin City School Board.

The council received one nomination at a Jan. 8 public hearing on the matter but voted to hold the second hearing to allow for other nominees.

The Ward 6 seat became vacant Nov. 30 when Jerry McCreary resigned due to continued health issues. 

The council is now seeking to appoint someone who can serve the remainder of McCreary’s term, which expires June 30.

“No one can be considered for the school board seat unless they are nominated at the public hearing,” Franklin City Manager Amanda C. Jarratt said at the Feb. 12 meeting just prior to the hearing.

JHERESA BARNES

School Board Vice Chair Cristina Boone came forward at the start of the hearing.

“I’m here tonight to nominate Jheresa Barnes,” Boone said.

She noted that Barnes was not present due to illness but had provided a statement.

After handing out copies of the statement to Jarratt, Boone said, “And it states, ‘My name is Jheresa Barnes. I have been a Franklin City, Virginia, resident for 34 years and currently reside in Franklin. I had the pleasure of attending all Franklin City Public Schools until I graduated in early 2007. Upon graduation, I attended MCI, where I completed my medical assistant’s degree and then registered nurse degree. I currently work as an ER nurse at Sentara Obici (Hospital) in Suffolk.’”

Boone said, “In her spare time she enjoys spending time with her family, fishing, reading and D.I.Y. projects.

“She believes — and I also do believe, because I do know Ms. Barnes personally — that she would be a great asset to (the) Franklin City Public School Board, having personal experiences within the community, attending and graduating from Franklin City Public Schools,” Boone added.

She noted that Barnes also has a child enrolled in FCPS.

“(Ms. Barnes) has been invested for 34 years, born and raised here in Franklin, and does have what it takes,” Boone said, indicating that Barnes has experience navigating and overcoming obstacles all year long as an ER nurse. “I’d just like to consider her for Ward 6.”

PEGGY SCOTT

Next, Lahoma Jones came forward to nominate another individual.

“This evening I’m here to nominate Dr. Peggy Scott to serve the remaining Ward 6 term for the Franklin City School Board,” Jones said. “I believe Dr. Scott will be an excellent candidate to represent our school district. Her professional career as a social worker and a champion for children’s rights make her an excellent choice to advocate on behalf of our school division.”

Jones noted that Scott is a proponent of education and has a passion to empower people.

“I’ve personally benefited from her wisdom and insight as it relates to advancing professionally and academically,” Jones said. “Lastly I believe her leadership and community involvement can assist the board with making informed decisions that will meet the needs of our students and schools.”

NEXT STEPS

After the public hearing was closed, Jarratt said, “If you’d like, I can reach out to the two nominated candidates and schedule interviews in advance of your next meeting. We could schedule one for 6 and one at 6:30 (p.m.), if that would work for you all.”

There was general agreement from the council on that schedule.

The interviews will take place prior to the council’s Monday, Feb. 26, meeting, and the council will have the opportunity to make an appointment that night during the meeting.

Dreama Regula was nominated at the Jan. 8 public hearing, but she would have had to have been renominated at the Feb. 12 hearing to remain in the running for appointment.