Hayslette Named To School Board

The Lexington City Council unanimously appointed Dr. Sandra Hayslette to fill an open seat on the Lexington School Board at its meeting last Thursday.

“I’m honored to be appointed,” Hayslette told The News-Gazette in an email on Monday. “I’m ready and excited to get to work learning more about how the board and the community can continue to attract, support, and retain a top-notch staff in such demanding professions, and most importantly how we can foster an even greater sense of partnership between schools, parents and community, where stakeholders feel heart and able to contribute meaningfully to the schools’ work with our children.”

Hayslette, a former educator with many years of experience – including 14 years as a middle and high school teacher in the Rockbridge County school system – was one of four candidates who applied to fill the seat currently held by Mollie Fox, whose term will expire at the end of the month. Fox opted to not apply for another term on the School Board.

All four candidates were interviewed by City Council at its June 1 meeting. Hayslette said she was encouraged by the number of candidates who applied to fill the seat.

“The presence of multiple qualified, passionate candidates for this position indicates how much this community values its schools, and has made me even more anxious to get started,” she said.

Hayslette was officially appointed for a three-year term, but her seat, as well as the seats held by School Board Chair Tim Diette and Vice Chair Tammy Dunn, will come up for election in November of 2024 as the city begins its transition from an appointed school board to an elected school board. During the interview for the candidates, Hayslette and the other applicants were asked if they would run for election if appointed to the seat. Hayslette said she would run if she had the support.

The remaining two seats, which are currently held by Michael Saunders and Katherine Shester, will reach the end of their terms next June and will be filled by appointments by City Council. Those seats will be elected for the first time in the fall of 2026.

Charles Aligood made the motion to appoint Hayslette to the School Board and Chuck Smith provided the second.