The Asbury Park Board of Education on Wednesday filled two vacancies left by members who resigned in June.
After brief public interviews of five potential candidates, city residents Felicia Simmons [above, at right] and Kenneth Saunders, Jr. [above, in center] were selected to join the nine member board. Both are graduates of Asbury Park High School and have children enrolled in the district.
The vote was 5-0 for both candidates. Board President Angela Ahbez-Anderson and board member Barbara Lesinski were not in attendance at the meeting.
Simmons says she is people-oriented and concerned about education and the culture of the community.
“I’m just a person who wants to see change in our community,” said Simmons.
She is also a member of a parent outreach program in the city and regularly volunteers at her church.
“I’m an active parent, that is my fundamental job,” she said. “When I go to bed at night I want to make sure that I’ve done everything I possibly can, for our children and the community.”
Saunders is a health care professional with 17 years experience in the field. He believes he will be “a positive influence” on the board, he said. During his interview, he spoke about his frustrations with the previous superintendent’s inaction, non-response, and inability to answer his phone calls as reasons he became interested in a position on the board.
He also says he understands the nature of the position is not an easy one, but is ready to put in the time and effort required.
“Anything that is worth doing isn’t going to be easy,” he said. “It’s going to take time.”
The seats occupied by Simmons and Saunders will be contested in the Nov. 5 election, which make a total of five seats on the board up for grabs, according to Chanta L. Jackson, communications coordinator for the school district.
Those who wish to run for the two unexpired terms filled by Simmons and Saunders have until Sept. 6 to file with the Monmouth County Clerk’s Office, she said.
With only one year remaining in both of their individual terms, Board of Education members Gregory Brewington and Gregory Hopson, Sr. resigned at the June 26 meeting. They made the announcement four days before former superintendent Denise Lowe’s term ended June 30. The board voted not to renew Lowe’s contract in November 2012.
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Photo at top: New members Felicia Simmons and Kenneth Saunders stand with Board of Education Vice President Rev. Geneva Smallwood after they were sworn in.
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