BOE Filers Revealed

In 2005, out of a field of 11 school board candidates, Agurs Linward Cathcart Jr. grabbed 20.4 percent of the votes with a solid 1,320 turnout. In 2008, as one of five contenders, he won 24.2 percent with a more modest 658 votes. Now, he is the only eligible incumbent running this year for one of three three-year seats.

According to Board Secretary/ Business Administrator Gary Ottmann, Cathcart will be joined on the April 27 ballot by Ellen G. Carter Haygood, Alex Edache, Dorien Hurtt and Jameelah Surgeon. Incumbents Keisha Edwards and Katherine Peterson, whose terms are up this year, did not file.

The League of Women Voters of Plainfield will hold its annual Candidates' Forum at 7 p.m. April 21 at Washington School. Several other groups normally hold forums before the school board election, so all candidates will have opportunities to share their views with voters.

The winners on April 27 and the other six board members face heavy decisions on budgeting, selection of a new superintendent, regrouping of the school population and finding ways to increase parental involvement and student performance in coming years.

--Bernice