CRC will discuss director vacancy

Published 2:11 pm Tuesday, August 1, 2017

The Commonwealth Regional Council (CRC) could vote to approve the executive director job description Thursday, which — if approved — would begin the process of filling the vacant position.

Todd Fortune

The meeting will also regard updates on assisting Lunenburg, Amelia and Prince Edward county public schools with finding and applying for grants.

According to a memo sent July 26 to the council from Todd Fortune, CRC’s community development planner, Fortune is assisting Prince Edward County Public Schools (PECPS) in applying for two program grants that would provide additional funding for science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education.

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The programs include the Toshiba America Foundation and the American Honda Foundation. Fortune’s memo also cited that he offered to assist with a request for Hardship Grants from the First LEGO League of Virginia and Washington, D.C. to help fund a team to compete in LEGO League for autonomous missions, to solve current scientific problems, for students ages 9-14 or basic engineering concept to build a model made of LEGO elements for students age 6-10.

“As of July 26, I am awaiting a response,” Fortune cited.

Melody Foster

According to Fortune, the CRC also has assisted Lunenburg County Public Schools (LCPS) in applying for funds through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to purchase two new school buses and is beginning the process of applying for grants through the U.S. Soccer Foundation and the Baseball Tomorrow Fund for improvements to school athletic fields.

Melody Foster, who was appointed as interim executive director during the May 18 CRC meeting, announced during the June meeting that she would seek the permanent position. In May, former Executive Director Mary S. Hickman resigned from the position. She’d been with the agency for about 27 years.