The Virginia Beach School Board has re-elected Daniel “Dan” Edwards as chairman and Rita Sweet Bellitto as vice-chair for the 2007-2008 fiscal year. The actions were part of the Board’s annual organizational meeting.

Edwards has represented the Centerville District on the Board since 1998. This will be his ninth, one-year term as Board chairman. Edwards retired from the Navy with 25 years of service and now owns a manufacturing firm in Virginia Beach. As an active member of the community, Edwards serves in a leadership capacity for numerous organizations including the Virginia Beach Education Foundation, the Tidewater Striders Running Club, and the Tidewater Access Scholarship Foundation. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Northwestern University and a master’s in business administration from The College of William and Mary.

Rita Sweet Bellitto was elected to the School Board as an “at-large” member in 2004 and was first elected vice-chair of the Board in July 2006. She is a former civil engineer with the City of Virginia Beach and currently serves on the Board of Directors for Catholic Charities of Southeastern Virginia. Bellitto has served as a member of several civic committees including the City’s Task Force on Property Tax Relief for Senior Citizens, and the Friends of the Virginia Beach Library. She holds a master’s degree in civil engineering from Stanford University, a master’s in public administration from Troy State University, and a bachelor’s degree in biology from Bucknell University .

In other action, the School Board reappointed Dianne Alexander to the position of Clerk of the School Board and approved its standing rules and regular meeting schedule for the 2007-08 fiscal year. Meeting dates and a copy of the School Board bylaws can be found on the school division Web site.