With the new school year less than a week away, educators, support staff and Mathews County officials gathered for a convocation ceremony and remarks from a guest speaker on Aug. 22.

From the auditorium at Lee-Jackson Elementary School, Assistant Superintendent Lesley Hunley gave an introduction and welcomed guests before board of supervisors’ chairman Charles Ingram made opening remarks.

“On behalf of the board, I wish you a successful and most rewarding school year,” Ingram said, calling “good parents and good public schools” the “foundation of our future.”

He continued, highlighting the importance of “providing an intelligent and skilled labor force and good citizens for the community.”

Mathews School Board chairman John Priest spoke following Ingram, with his remarks mostly focusing on diversity and equity in schools.

“Diversity in our school is a good thing and we should welcome it,” he stated, adding t...