Lynchburg school board member resigns

By Annie McCallum, Lynchburg News & Advance
Published: February 6, 2008

Lynchburg City School Board member Kathy Banks resigned her post, citing personal reasons, Superintendent Paul McKendrick said at Tuesday’s board meeting.

Following the brief meeting, McKendrick said Banks submitted a letter of resignation to the mayor and City Council.

“It’s a huge loss,” he said. “Because she was always in the background. She was a very good advocate for children.”

Banks, who could not be reached for comment, missed the last four meetings, including Tuesday night’s. She is the co-director of the Child Care Resource Center and former childcare director for the YMCA of Central Virginia.

Appointed to the board in July 2005, Banks said she hoped her background in child development would make her an asset. Her term was set to expire this July.

Lynchburg City School Board members are appointed by the mayor and City Council to serve three-year terms. Members can serve a maximum of three terms for a total of nine years.

Julie Doyle, school board chairwoman, was unsure how such term limits might affect a replacement for Banks.

Doyle said she thought City Council would appoint someone before July, but wasn’t clear whether the months between now and then would count as a full term for whomever is appointed.

McKendrick said he was unsure if a replacement has to be appointed by a certain date.

Doyle said she learned of Banks’ decision Jan. 25 and suspected Banks’ official letter of resignation came around the same time.

“Kathy brought a lot to the board as a parent and through her work with early childhood education.” Doyle said. “She’ll be missed.”

Banks, who has two sons at William Marvin Bass Elementary School, served that school as District 3 representative. Doyle said Banks provided valuable insight into the district’s only extended-year school because she was a parent.

“She was involved and will continue to be involved,” Doyle said, “just not as a member of the board.”

In other news, the board:

• Approved applying for a waiver to open schools before Labor Day. Virginia law states schools wishing to begin prior to the holiday must apply for a waiver where they show “good cause.”

Because Lynchburg City Schools has averaged eight inclement weather days in five of the past 10 years, it meets the criteria for early opening.

“It’s been very helpful to start before Labor Day because it gives flexibility throughout the calendar,” Doyle said.

Officials are expected to discuss proposed calendars next month.

• Approved former Dunbar Middle School for Innovation principal John Lange to coordinate the 2008 triennial school census.

School divisions must conduct a school census every three years, per Virginia law. Divisions must collect information on people ages 5 to 19. The 2008 census must be done between Jan. 1 and July 15, 2008.

• Reported no additional news on the 2008-2009 operating budget.

“We’re at that point where we’re just waiting,” McKendrick said.