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The Asbury Park Board of Education is down a member.

Joseph Raines, Jr. [shown at right] submitted a letter of resignation to Board President Angela Ahbez-Anderson and Board Secretary Geoffrey Hastings effective Sept. 26., citing “personal health reasons,” for his departure, according to Chanta L. Jackson, communications coordinator for the district.

The contents of Raines’ letter is as follows:

It is with regret that I must tender my resignation from the Asbury Park Board of Education, effective Sept. 26 2013.

As you may have heard I am leaving my position as a member of this board due to personal health reasons. It is with mixed emotions that I leave this position because of overwhelming community resolve and commitment to the children of Asbury Park.

I want to thank the citizens of Asbury Park for the opportunity to serve the children of Asbury and the entire Asbury Park educational community

Education is critical to ensuring every child has an opportunity to succeed and I wholeheartedly support the work that this newly elected board has initiated to move this district forward

Respectfully yours,

Joseph Raines, Jr.

Raines’s seat is one of five up for grabs in the November election.

The board is accepting letters of interest from qualified members to fill the position until the first week of Jan., 2014, at which time the seat will be taken over by one of the five winners of the November election, according to a notice released through the district. 

Letters must be submitted to the Board of Education office made attention to Board Secretary Hastings at 603 Mattison Avenue, 3rd Floor, by 4 p.m. this Friday, Oct. 11.

Interested candidates must be at least 18 years old, a U.S. citizen, a city resident for at least one year prior to the appointment date, a registered voter, and able to pass a background check. Interviews will be conducted at a special meeting to be held on Oct. 16 at 7 p.m. at the Bradley Elementary School.

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