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The board of education [BOE] prepared for the new year by swearing in new members and naming a new president and vice president at a reorganization meeting last night.

First, four members were sworn in to the board — newcomers Christian Hall and Qzeena Taylor, and returning members Barbara Lesinski and Rev. Geneva Smallwood. Hall, Lesinski and Smallwood will finish their three-year terms in 2015, while Taylor’s one-year term lasts until the end of this year.

Board business administrator Geoffrey Hastings then took nominations for board president. Smallwood nominated Angela Ahbez-Anderson [pictured at right, on the left] while board member Gregory Brewington nominated last year’s president, Gregory Hopson.

Ahbez-Anderson received yes votes from herself, Hall, Lesinski, Joseph Raines, Taylor and Smallwood. Hopson and Brewington voted no, while board member Nicole Harris abstained. The motion carried and Ahbez-Anderson was named president.

Ahbez-Anderson then nominated Smallwood for vice president, while Hopson nominated Brewingtown. The board voted unanimously for Smallwood [pictured at right, on the right] to become vice president.

The board also discussed a meeting schedule for the next calendar year. Proposed schedules had the board meeting either on the third Monday and third Wednesday of each month, or on alternating Wednesdays. Lesinski said she would be unable to attend meetings on Wednesdays until March, or possibly longer, so the board discussed alternate meeting times.

They eventually settled on holding meetings on Jan. 14, Jan. 22, Feb. 11 and Feb. 26. They will discuss meetings from March and beyond at a later date. Meetings begin at 7 p.m.

The board also considered creating a committee meeting format, where several members of the board could meet in small committees and report back to the board. Ultimately, they decided to create committees only when necessary at the president’s discretion.

At the end of the meeting, Ahbez-Anderson addressed the board as president.

“I’m not here to fight with anyone,” she said. “I’m here to work with you to move this district forward. We have to do that collectively. I’ve heard certain board members say that every child in this community is their child. And I believe we all feel that way. Otherwise, we wouldn’t be here.”

Ahbez-Anderson is in her first term on the board. It expires at the end of 2014.

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[Pictured above, from left: Christian Hall, Qzeena Taylor, Barbara Lesinski and Rev. Geneva Smallwood with board attorney Michael Gross.]

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