Lockett District School Board Representative Dr. Chapman Hood Frazier is set to resign from the Prince Edward County School Board to address health concerns and focus on a position as professor in residence at Prince Edward County High School.

“I didn’t think I’d be able to adequately put the time in necessary to do a really good job on the board,” Frazier said, addressing health issues and his position.

Frazier said he’s the professor in residence for James Madison University (JMU) at the county’s high school.

“I think there are six other high schools in the state that are professor-in-residence schools,” Frazier said. “What that means is they will bring a professor in to work one day a week with teachers, to help students that are from diverse backgrounds go to college (or a) university.”

“I just didn’t want there to be any kind of conflict of interest, even though I’m not being paid at all by the county,” Frazier said. “… I didn’t want there to be any perception of any kind of conflict.”

He said he didn’t want teachers to feel as though a school board member was coming to work with them.

“I’m really there as a support person … and to be a resource,” Frazier said of his position. “I want them to feel comfortable coming to me too.”

Frazier has one year left in his appointed term. His resignation will be effective in September.

According to a notice from Prince Edward County Public Schools, the board is seeking a replacement for the vacancy.

The appointment will span through December and placed on the ballot this November.

Applicants for the temporary appointment are required to send a resume and a letter of interest to Clerk of the School Board Melanie D. Adams, 35 Eagle Drive, Farmville, VA 23901. The application deadline is Aug. 24.

November’s school board election will be the first for the county. Historically, school board members have been appointed.

In addition to the Lockett District, Prospect, Buffalo, Farmville 701 and Leigh districts will be on the ballot as well.

Lucy Carson, a former principal of Prince Edward County Middle School, is running in the Buffalo District. Dr. Timothy Corbett, a current member of the Prince Edward County School Board, is running in the Leigh District. Both Dione Jennings and Elzora Stiff are running in the Prospect District. Cainan Townsend, the interim director of education and public programs at the Robert Russa Moton Museum, will run in the Farmville 701 District.