Rose, Simpson chosen to lead school board

Dec 04, 2012 (Times-News - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- Two one-time outsiders on the Alamance-Burlington Board of Education now hold the positions of chairman and vice-chairwoman.

Tony Rose is chairman and Patsy Simpson is vice-chairwoman after a Monday evening vote of the board. Both were elected in 4-3 votes, with the two of them joined by board members Brad Evans and Pamela Thompson in assembling the coalition that gained them the positions.

The board's remaining three members -- Jackie Cole, Kristen Moffitt and Steve Van Pelt -- voted for Cole for chairman and for Steve Van Pelt for vice chairman.

Thompson, elected to her first term on the board in November, made the motion nominating Rose for chairman. Evans made the motion that Simpson serve as vice chairwoman.

Moffitt made the motions that Cole serve as chairwoman and Van Pelt serve as vice chairman.

The nominations did not require a second, Superintendent Lillie Cox said.

Board members voted by signed ballots that were tallied by board attorney Trey Allen, who announced the outcome. He shared the ballots for media inspection to determine who voted for which candidates.

For the past three years, Cole served as the board's chairwoman. The board chose Evans as vice-chairman in 2011. He followed Van Pelt in the position.

Rose is two years into his first term on the board. In winning her first term in November, Thompson led the ticket, with Simpson finishing a solid second and Van Pelt and Cole finishing third and fourth to win re-election.

Along with Rose, Evans and Moffitt were not on the ballot this year.

Rose and Simpson, often joined by Evans, have voted in the minority on issues such as extending the contract of Superintendent Lillie Cox and approving an increase in school lunch prices. Other times, they have been part of a bigger coalition on an issue, as when the board preserved long-distance field trips to areas such as coastal North Carolina after an administrative proposal that involved a goal of keeping field trips shorter.

Rose and Simpson have run for school board as advocates for teachers, parents and students. "No rubber stamping" was one of Simpson's campaign themes this year.

Before the board chose its chairman and vice chairwoman, District Court Judge Tom Lambeth swore in board members who were elected or re-elected in November.

___ (c)2012 Times-News (Burlington, N.C.) Visit Times-News (Burlington, N.C.) at www.thetimesnews.com Distributed by MCT Information Services

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