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The Henrico School Board today voted 4-0 to name former Lakeside Elementary School Principal Bill Pike its interim Tuckahoe District member. Pike will be sworn in tomorrow morning and seated for the board's Oct. 11 meeting.
Board members deliberated for about 80 minutes prior to today’s vote, selecting Pike over former Freeman High School physics teacher Marcie Shea and Henrico Schools’ Special Education Advisory Committee member Melissa Dart.
Pike will serve the final 15 months of the term held for the past decade by Lisa Marshall, who resigned last month to focus on her fight against breast cancer.
Pike’s longevity and experience in the school system – several decades worth – swayed board members.
“He’s a real consensus-builder,” Varina District representative John Montgomery said. “I think he’s a real strong leader. His roots run very deep.”
Brookland District member Bev Cocke agreed, describing Pike as a diplomatic leader who fostered teamwork during his time as an English teacher, assistant principal and then principal.
The School Board interviewed the three finalists in private but did not hold any public sessions for them to address the board. Twenty-two people spoke about at a public forum the board held Sept. 20 to solicit input about the candidates.
All five School Board seats will be up for election in November 2019.
