School for the Deaf and Blind, Board of Visitors of the

Purpose

The Board of Visitors shall govern the educational programs and services to deaf, blind, and multi-disabled students enrolled at the Virginia School for the Deaf and the Blind.

Term

Four years, no more than two full successive terms

Composition

The Board shall have a total membership of 11 members that shall consist of four legislative members and seven nonlegislative citizen members. Members shall be appointed as follows: two members of the House of Delegates, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Delegates in accordance with the principles of proportional representation contained in the Rules of the House of Delegates; two members of the Senate, to be appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules; and seven nonlegislative citizen members, of whom one shall be a parent of a child who is deaf or blind representing the Eastern region of the Commonwealth, one shall be a parent of a child who is deaf or blind representing the Western region of the Commonwealth, and one shall be a representative of the Virginia School for the Deaf and the Blind Alumni Association, to be appointed by the Governor, subject to confirmation by the General Assembly. Nonlegislative citizen members of the Board shall be citizens of the Commonwealth. Legislative members of the Board shall serve terms coincident with their terms of office. After the initial staggering of terms, nonlegislative members appointed shall serve for four-year terms. Appointments to fill vacancies, other than by expiration of a term, shall be for the unexpired terms. Vacancies shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointments. All members may be reappointed. However, no House member shall serve more than four consecutive two-year terms, no Senate member shall serve more than two consecutive four-year terms, and no nonlegislative member appointed by the Governor shall serve more than two consecutive four-year terms. The remainder of any term to which a member is appointed to fill a vacancy shall not constitute a term in determining the member's eligibility for reappointment.

The Board shall elect a chairman and vice-chairman from among its membership. The Board shall elect a secretary, who shall keep an accurate record of the proceedings of the Board and of the executive committee if one is created by the Board, and such other officers as the Board deems appropriate. A majority of the members shall constitute a quorum. The Board shall meet no more than four times each year. The meetings of the Board shall be held at the call of the chairman or whenever the majority of the members so request.

Vacant Seats

No seats are available at this time. If you are interested in joining this board in the future, please submit an application here.

Current Board Members

Vera G. Wilson

Member of the General Public Membership expires on 6/30/2026

Mr. Ronald L. Lanier

Member of the General Public Membership expires on 6/30/2026

Mr. J H Cline

Representative of the Virginia School for the Deaf and the Blind Alumni Association (Blind) Membership expires on 6/30/2027

Carolyn Berry

Representative of the Virginia School for the Deaf and Blind Alumni Association (Blind) Membership expires on 6/30/2027

Mr. John Clinton Pleasants

Member of the General Public Membership expires on 6/30/2028

Ms. Christine E. Ogden

Parent Representative from the Western Region Membership expires on 6/30/2028

Amy Darby

Member of the General Public Membership expires on 6/30/2028

Dr. Rhonda Lynn Jennings-Arey

Representative of the Virginia School for the Deaf and the Blind Alumni Association (Deaf) Membership expires on 6/30/2028

RYAN WHITWORTH

Parent Representative from Eastern Region Membership expires on 6/30/2028

Mr. Scott C. Alleman

Member of the General Public Membership expires on 6/30/2029

Mr. Jamon Le'Kiefe Freeman

Representative of the Virginia School for the Deaf and the Blind Alumni Association (Deaf) Membership expires on 6/30/2029