WINTON – Change came to the Hertford County Public Schools Monday night.

On the night Dennis M. Deloatch took his seat on the county board of education, the same group reorganized and handed the gavel to their most senior member.

Moments after the meeting began, Deloatch was sworn in as the newest member of the Hertford County Board of Education by Superior Court Judge Cy Grant. Judge Grant then administered the oath to returning board members John D. Horton and Ronald G. Baker.

Having completed the oaths, Interim Superintendent Dr. Mary Jo Allen took control of the meeting and asked for nominations for a board chairman.

Baker said he wanted to nominate the board’s most senior member, Horton, to take on the role of chairman for the next year. David Shields then moved to close nominations. By unanimous vote, Horton was named chairman.

“Before we proceed, I would like to say thank you to my fellow board members for entrusting this responsibility to me for the coming year,” Horton said.

Horton then asked for a nomination for vice chairman and Shields placed Baker’s name in consideration. Board member J. Wendell Hall moved to close nominations and Deloatch offered a second. Baker was installed as vice chairman by a unanimous vote as well.

“Thank you, Mr. Baker, for agreeing to work with me for the coming year,” Horton said.

Later in the meeting Horton welcomed Deloatch to his seat on the school board.

“I do want to say to Mr. Deloatch, welcome to the Hertford County Board of Education,” he said. “Speaking for the current and future superintendent, we look forward to working with you.”

Deloatch said he appreciated Horton’s welcome and gave brief remarks about coming onto the board.

“I want to say how pleased I am to be on this board and to continue to make the right decisions for children,” Deloatch said. “I can assure everyone I will do my best to make the right decisions for students and staff. That’s my heart.

“I look forward to building bridges on this board and I look forward to working with the superintendent,” he added. “It’s about the children and nothing else.”

With Deloatch taking a seat on the school board, it gives the group two former leaders of the school district as members of the body. Hall was a two-time interim superintendent while serving a Deputy Superintendent of Schools and Deloatch served four years as Superintendent.