EAST SPENCER — Several big decisions are expected to be made during Monday’s Rowan-Salisbury Board of Education meeting.
New board members Susan Cox, Chuck Hughes, L.A. Overcash and Josh Wagner will be sworn in at 4:45 p.m.
A chairman and vice-chairman will be selected after that.
Current chairman Dr. Jim Emerson was defeated by Wagner during the November election. Jean Kennedy is the current vice chairwoman
Most of the board members have been mum about who they’d like to see in the position.
“I’m still thinking that over. I think that it might be a little premature to express my thoughts,” Cox said.
Wagner said he’s thought about it “a little bit.”
“To be honest with you, I don’t know if I have a definite answer at this point,” he said Friday. “I think we’re going to have to wait to see how things play out Monday.”
Hughes said he imagines everyone has somebody in mind for the position.
“I’m not sure that’s something I would want to speak on until we make our decision,” he said.
But Hughes said he does think it would be “very imprudent for any newcomers to think they should be in that position.”
“I think there are enough talented people who have been on the board to come up with a good choice for that seat,” he said. “If we can’t come up with a selection from that pool, we’ve got our eyes closed.”
Hughes said he would be interested in seeing a newcomer in the vice chair position.
Kay Wright Norman, who has served on the board 17 years, would like the spot. She said she has the tenure and the proven history.
“I’ve been vice chair twice,” she said. “We’ll see what happens Monday, I’m going to serve on the board in whatever way that I can to make sure the school system is successful.”
More talks surrounding the central office building are set to take place Monday.
School board member Richard Miller will lead a discussion about the possibility of having a joint meeting with stakeholders.
He said Friday that stakeholders are anyone who has actively expressed an interested in the project, including Salisbury City Council members, who have asked to be included in conversations between the school board and Rowan County Board of Commissioners.
“We should be inviting them to come to the table and let’s see if we can find an agreement,” he said.
Miller said he hopes a meeting would help get all parties “on the same page.”
Wagner has asked for an update on the project.
“We need to look at trying to make something happen that we can move forward with,” he said.
City Council has asked the school board to affirm its decision to build the administrative office in downtown Salisbury when it convenes Monday.
Wagner doesn’t expect that to happen because of the county board’s decision to hold off on the project of 60 days.
“I don’t think we can make that decision Monday. I just don’t think we’re in the position to do that,” he said. “I think Monday is a little too soon to say yes or no to anybody in terms of what we’re doing to do or not do.”
During Monday’s meeting the school board will also:
• Receive information about the school calendar for the upcoming year;
• Hear an update on the implementation of the state’s new common core curriculum standards;
• Discuss the possibility of joint meetings with the county commissioners.
The meeting begins at 5 p.m. Monday at the Long Street Administrative Office, 110 S. Long St., East Spencer.

Contact reporter Sarah Campbell at 704-797-7683.
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