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The problem isn’t that nobody wanted to serve. It’s that nobody in the right district has been willing to apply so far. The Lunenburg County School Board is still looking to fill their vacant chair. Back on Feb. 1, after more than 11 years on the board, longtime Meherrin River District representative Amy McClure resigned. February came and went. Then March. And even now, there haven’t been many to apply that fit the needed qualifications for the school board seat. 

“We did not have many people in the correct district apply, so we simply reopened the window,” said Kristin Peebles. She serves as Director of Human Resources for Lunenburg County Public Schools. “As of right now, we will keep it open until May 1 unless we have a candidate before then.” 

As Peebles mentioned, part of the problem was as much where applicants lived. There were people who wanted the role but they didn’t live in the Meherrin River District. That’s one of the rules you have to follow in order to apply. You can’t just live anywhere in the county. You must be a registered voter in the Meherrin River District. That second part is key as well. You can’t just live in the district. You must be a registered voter.

If you meet those qualifications, then the school board is asking that you put together a cover letter and resume. That will be sent to Peebles, who will present any new applications to the board during their May meeting. It’s also worth mentioning this would be a temporary replacement. You would be applying to fill the remaining time on McClure’s term. 

McClure steps back

Back in January, McClure said it was just time for her to step back. 

“It has been an incredible honor to serve the students, families, and educators of Lunenburg County Public Schools,” said McClure. “As a proud product of LCPS and a parent of two children in the division, I have always been deeply committed to ensuring that our schools provide the best possible education and support for our students.”

Since then, the school board and district staff praised McClure’s work over the last 11 years, saying she’s helped Lunenburg schools in a number of ways. They say she was instrumental in implementing BoardDocs, a digital platform that modernized board operations and improved accessibility. McClure also helped establish the Student Liaison program to elevate student voices in decision-making and was a strong advocate for student well-being. She also led efforts to adjust the start time of regular board meetings from 7:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., ensuring students could participate in the process without being out too late. The staff also pointed out McClure’s work during the pandemic. 

Beyond Lunenburg, McClure served for three years on the Virginia School Boards Association (VSBA) Board of Directors, first as Southern Region Chair and later as a Member at Large. As a part of this role, she collaborated with state leaders on HB 585, a legislative initiative passed by the 2022 Virginia General Assembly to reform statewide summative assessments.  Working alongside the Virginia Secretary of Education, the Virginia Superintendent of Public Instruction, and other key stakeholders, McClure contributed to the development of Virginia’s new accountability and accreditation system.

How can I apply for school board seat? 

To apply for the school board seat, just put together a cover letter and resume, then email it to kristin.peebles@k12lcps.org or by mail it to 1009 Main Street, Kenbridge VA 23944.