Elkin school board appoints new member, rejecting GOP choice

The Elkin City Schools Board of Education has a new member — but not the one chosen for a vacant seat by the Surry County Republican Party.

The opening was created when Johnny Blevins resigned last month because he is moving out of the school district. Because the school board is partisan, state law puts the local GOP in charge of selecting a replacement.

That organization presented Patty Crosswhite, but the school board rejected the nomination, instead selecting Jill Bellia.

Both had previously sought a seat on the board via election, Crosswhite having run in the Republican primary in 2022 and Bellia in the primary earlier this year. The school board also asked the local GOP to appoint Bellia to the opening.

Normally the path would be clear — the school board would accept the GOP choice. But school system attorney Allison Tomberlin said during Monday’s meeting that the appointment from the GOP was not in compliance with the law, thus the school board was free to make its own selection.

At issue was the requirement that those on the GOP executive committee voting for the appointment be restricted to the voting members representing the precincts within the school district. Tomberlin said she could not confirm that that was the case, in fact, she explained, “the Surry County Republican Party Executive Committee is not comprised of the people that are required by their own plan.”

Following the 4-0 nay vote on Crosswhite’s appointment, School Board Member Jennifer Kleinheksel moved to nominate Bellia.

“We had unanimously voted to advise the Surry County GOP to select Jill,” Kleinheksel said. “I was disheartened that they went with another nominee.”

“Jill is a recently retired teacher. I think she’s highly respected in the community. Since we have become political, l think that both parties can get behind her. She’s an excellent advocate for both kids and the teaching staff. I think she’d work well with us,” she said.

The board voted 4-0 to select Bellia for the open seat. A meeting has been scheduled for Monday, July 1 at 6 p.m. for a swearing-in ceremony for Bellia at the central office.

The next regularly scheduled meeting will take place on Monday, July 22 at 6 p.m. at the High School Media Center.