School Board Reorganizes, Remembers Rasheed Abdul-Haqq

Three new Board of Education members were sworn in and officers were elected for 2015 in a meeting Tuesday that also included tributes to former board member Rasheed Abdul-Haqq, who passed away on Saturday.

Board Secretary Yolanda Henry administered oaths of office to Terrence S. Bellamy Sr., Carletta Jeffers and David M. Rutherford, who won the November 2014 school board election.They will serve three-year terms to Dec. 31, 2017.

Terrence S. Bellamy Sr. is sworn in.

Carletta Jeffers is sworn in.

David M. Rutherford is sworn in.

L-R: Keisha Edwards, Wilma Campbell

Wilma Campbell was again elected board president and Keisha Edwards will be vice president for 2015.

In remarks to the public, each recalled Rasheed Abdul-Haqq's legacy. After requesting a moment of silence in his memory, Campbell recalled his enthusiasm for hydroponics and his wish to see a greenhouse supported by the district. He also sought to have different academies, she said. She urged support "to make sure the work he started will not go undone."

Edwards was overcome with emotion as she cited Rasheed Abdul-Haqq as an example of "the difference one person can make." She said anyone who knew him understood he was "simply about Plainfield" and added she hoped everyone would "take that attitude."

"If we take it upon ourselves to be that one person, Plainfield can meet all its goals," she said. "We really did lose a champion for Plainfield. We owe it to our children to develop our next true champions of Plainfield."

Campbell, Edwards and the entire board recited in unison the New Jersey Code of Ethics for School Board Members before going into executive session.

The board will meet at 8 p.m. on Jan. 13 for a work and study meeting in the Plainfield High School conference room and will hold its first 2015 business meeting at 8 p.m. on Jan. 20 in the Plainfield High School auditorium. For more information, see the district web site.

--Bernice