School Board Inaugurates New Members, Thanks Waldon for Service

Incumbents Nick Didow and Valerie Foushee and newcomer Lisa Stuckey took oath to start their new terms as school board members.

Leaving the school board is Roger Waldon, director of the Chapel Hill Planning Department, who served on the board for four years.

School board member Elizabeth Carter said that although Waldon is no longer on the board, he will continue to contribute to the community.

"He's always been involved in schools," Carter said. "I think he'll always continue to be involved in public education.

"I'm sure Roger's name will continue to come up."

Waldon could not be reached for comment Thursday.

Foushee also was appointed as school board chairwoman at the meeting. Teresa Williams was named as vice chairwoman for the next school year.

"I thank my colleagues for this honor," said Foushee, former vice chairwoman. "I promise to do my best."

Foushee was nominated for the position by Didow, former chairman of the board, and was voted in unanimously.

"I thank Nick Didow for his leadership over the past years," Foushee said.

The vote that put Williams in her new seat also was unanimous.

Didow was elected to the board for the third time Nov. 6. He said he is looking forward to continuing his work with the board.

"I'm as optimistic and grateful as I was the first time," Didow said.

Didow also said that he is happy to be joined by Foushee and Stuckey.

"I'm quite pleased that Valerie Foushee and I were returned for an additional term," Didow said.

"I'm pleased that Lisa Stuckey will be joining us. She is well qualified to make good decisions," he added.

Didow said his main goals for the board are to increase student achievement, retain staff leadership, end overcrowding and build partnerships with the local governments and UNC.

"We (board members) are able to be stewards of a very precious resource in this community," Didow said.

"We're fortunate that in this community there are high expectations and a history of a tradition of responding well to these expectations."

Chris Blow and Jenny Huang contributed to this story.
The City Editor can be reached at citydesk@unc.edu.