IWCS School Board

Clarification Regarding the District 1 School Board Term
 
This message is to clarify the term of office for the individual appointed by the Isle of Wight County School Board to fill the current District 1 vacancy.

The Isle of Wight County Circuit Court has issued a Writ of Election directing that a special election for the District 1 School Board seat be held as part of the November 3, 2026 general election. The person elected in November will serve the remainder of the current District 1 term, which ends December 31, 2027.

Because the Writ of Election was issued after the deadline for candidates to complete the requirements necessary to have their names printed on the November ballot, candidates seeking the District 1 seat in the November 2026 special election will need to run as write-in candidates.

Therefore:

  • The individual appointed by the School Board to fill the current vacancy will serve until the successful candidate from the November 2026 special election assumes office.
  • The successful write-in candidate in November 2026 will serve the remainder of the current term, through December 31, 2027.
  • The District 1 seat will be on the ballot again in November 2027 for a new four-year term beginning January 1, 2028.
 

Candidates who have questions about qualifying as a write-in candidate, campaign requirements, deadlines, or other election procedures should contact the Isle of Wight County Registrar’s Office directly.

The Isle of Wight County School Board is composed of five members who are elected by county voting district. They are elected to four-year staggered terms in November, with service beginning on January 1 of the year following the election. The chairman and vice chairman are elected annually during the January organizational board meeting. The School Board members are Jarad Ford (District 3, formerly the Hardy district); Jason Maresh (District 4, formerly the Windsor district); Mark Wooster (District 2, formerly the Newport district); and Stella Bradshaw (District 5, formerly the Carrsville district).  The District 1 seat is currently vacant.  To find out about the process for filling the vacancy, visit:  https://www.iwcs.k12.va.us/apps/pages/members
 The official duties of the School Board include:
 
  • Adopting policies for the school division
  • Adopting long-range goals and objectives for the school division
  • Selecting the superintendent
  • Overseeing the construction and maintenance operations for the school division
  • Approving the budget, awarding contracts, determining salaries, and overseeing efficient operation of school division
  • Approving the annual school calendar and school operating times
  • Determining school boundaries