YORK COUNTY, Va. (WAVY) — York County has prohibited any future business ties with a right-wing school board organization after the group threatened a school board member ahead of a major recent vote, according to a letter obtained by WAVY News 10.
The letter, which is posted online, is addressed to School Board Member Alliance (SBMA) Chairwoman Sherri Story. York County Purchasing Agent Jan Dudley wrote the letter. In it, she said the SBMA “demonstrated a lack of moral and business integrity” when the “leadership of the SBMA” pressed now Board Chair Kimberly Goodwin to vote to keep former Chair Lynda Fairman in that position.
“Mrs. Goodwin relayed to me that the SBMA told her if she did not vote the way that the SBMA wanted her to, and support Mrs. Fairman, that Mrs. Goodwin would no longer receive support from the SBMA,” Dudley wrote. “In order to continue receiving support from the SBMA, Mrs.
Goodwin would need to have a ‘no’ vote with regards to the unseating of the at-that-time chairperson, Mrs. Lynda Fairman.”
The letter can be read in full below:
Dudley said Goodwin told her that the conversation with the SBMA was held via Zoom a couple of days before the school board voted 3-2 to remove Fairman from the board chair position on Tuesday, May 28. Goodwin was also appointed chair that Tuesday in a 4-1 vote.
“As a result of the discussion that occurred between myself, Mrs. Kim Goodwin, and Mrs. Melanie Berry [school board attorney], I have determined that the SBMA did not act with the moral and business integrity and reliability that will assure good faith performance, and is therefore a nonresponsible organization,” Dudley said. ” Due to the determination of nonresponsibility of the SBMA, the County of York, VA, nor the County School Board of York County, Virginia/York County School Division shall be allowed to contract with the
SBMA.”
WAVY reached out to Story about what was allegedly said on the Zoom call, but she declined to comment, and repeatedly said she had not read or received the letter addressed June 5, 2024.
WAVY also reached out to others named in the letter, including School Board Attorney Melanie Berry. Berry said she had no first-hand knowledge and deferred to Goodwin.
Goodwin said she had no additional information beyond what was shared in the letter, but released this statement:
“As Chair, my primary focus is on moving forward and fostering collaborative relationships among board members and with division staff. We have a lot of hard work ahead of us and I remain committed to conducting that work in an ethical and transparent manner. My hope is that members of the community will stop casting blame, stirring divisiveness and shifting the focus from where it belongs – our students and staff.”
Kimberly Goodwin, chair of York County School Board
Meanwhile, WAVY reached out to York County Commonwealth’s Attorney Krystyn Reid to ask if this could be considered a criminal matter. She said she had not received any information about the incident, but if she did, she couldn’t comment on pending matters.
Though Alan Kennedy, a William & Mary professor who’s done pro bono work for those who petitioned for the resignation of Goodwin, Fairman and Pajevic, said he believes the SBMA’s alleged actions are serious.
“SBMA’s threats against Goodwin are not only unethical but also illegal. They should lose their non-profit status and barred from receiving public funds from any school in Virginia.”
The letter states that SBMA has 10 days to appeal the decision. If it stands, York County would officially cut off any funds toward the controversial right-wing organization. The York County School Board voted back in April to decline policy writing services from the SBMA, and also recently voted under Goodwin’s leadership to cancel a planned board retreat for Friday, May 31 that would have heavily featured the group.
However, board members could be reimbursed for things such as individual membership dues and training from the SBMA by the school division.
Goodwin, Fairman and board member Zoran Pajevic all have received an individual membership and training from the organization.
This all comes as other school districts in Virginia have voted recently to leave the nonpartisan Virginia School Boards Association to join the School Board Member Alliance. Rockingham County’s school board voted Monday night to do so and Orange County’s did the same earlier this month.
This article is breaking and will be updated.