RICHMOND, Va – A leadership shakeup is expected to impact the Richmond School Board Monday night after Stephanie Rizzi announced she would be stepping down as chair.
Emails obtained by CBS 6 revealed Rizzi’s colleagues were planning to take a vote to remove her from the position, and she expressed in a public statement that board members tried to keep the move a “thinly veiled secret.”
The board chair is considered the leader of the governing body, which collectively sets policies for the city’s school district.
According to board policy, the chair is responsible for leading all board meetings, setting agendas, appointing committees, and performing all other duties prescribed by law or by the board.
Rizzi was unexpectedly voted into the role in January 2023, replacing Dr. Shonda Harris-Muhammed.
At the time, Rizzi’s colleagues praised her as a “fair and transparent” leader who would be “representative of everyone on the board.”
However, there have been tense moments and disagreements between Rizzi and other board members in recent meetings.