Schools non-political

Dear Editor,

I was sorry to read in the Chesterfield Observer that Sherman Litton, the Dale planning district commissioner, was quoted as saying, "We Republicans haven't looked for anyone to follow in her footsteps yet," of the replacement for the sadly lost Beth Davis on the Chesterfield School Board.

Beth was respected by all who knew her and, while a Republican, politics to my knowledge never entered into her long service on the board. And that is as it should be.

When Virginia voted to allow elected school boards, it was deemed (although I cannot find it in the state code, which doesn't mean it isn't there) that the elections would not involve political parties. One half of the governing bodies in Virginia do not conduct partisan elections. Note the city of Richmond as an example.

School board service should not be determined by political party membership and support. We have been fortunate in Chesterfield to have dedicated, knowledgeable school board members who are devoted to the highest standards of education for our children.

Political party membership is not the proper criteria for that high calling.

Nancy Finch

Bon Air