FRANKLIN—Johnetta Nichols was nominated again for the Ward 3 seat she holds on the school board during Monday night’s City Council meeting.

Her first, three-year term expires June 30.

Clarence Peeples of Campbell Avenue noted the length of time and variety of areas in which Nichols has served in education as reasons she should continue on the board.

In education for 33 years now, Nichols, a city native, is a graduate of Franklin High School.

&uot;I would have been the last graduating class at Hayden High in 1970,&uot; she said, &uot;but that was during the (times of) Freedom of Choice, and I transferred to Franklin High.&uot;

Nichols also graduated from Norfolk State University with her bachelor’s degree in special education in 1975. She received endorsements from Virginia Commonwealth University and undertook additional studies at Virginia State University and the University of Virginia.

She is retired from Hopewell Public Schools with 30 years of service. Nichols served there as teacher, summer school principal, interim athletic director, coordinator of online classes, special education department head, child study chairperson, and coach for basketball, softball and field hockey.

Nichols is currently an inclusion teacher for Hertford County North Carolina Public schools.

&uot;I do appreciate the support of the people in Ward 3,&uot; she said. &uot;We are going to work hard (in the coming year).

&uot;I’d like to see us increase vocational offerings for our students.

&uot;I’d also like to see us incorporate an alternative education program, which city council just approved money for.&uot;

Nichols said she also wants to work toward decreasing the turnover of teachers in the school system.

With no other nominations, the City Council voted to waive the interview process, and appoint Nichols at the July 14 meeting of the council. Her new term will end June 30, 2011.