Peter W. Mertz has been named the new headmaster at Hampton Roads Academy in Newport News, the school has announced. He will take the position on July 1, 2011. Mertz is currently the headmaster at North Yarmouth Academy in Yarmouth, Maine, a post he has held for 10 years. He holds a bachelor of arts degree from Williams College in Massachusetts and an MBA from Barry University in Florida. Mertz will succeed Thomas D. Harvey after a nine-year tenure and was chosen from a pool of 53 applicants. HRA is an independent, co-ed college preparatory school for grades PK-12 and has an enrollment of nearly 650 students.

Rep. Rob Wittman (R-Montross) addressed the Middle Peninsula Regional Special Education Board of Control during the board’s Oct. 20 meeting at Peasley Middle School. Discussion topics included special education funding and assessments for students with disabilities. The MPRSE serves autistic, severely disabled and multi-disabled children from Gloucester, Mathews, Middles...