School District 18’s Community Education Council (CEC) finally has a president.
Without a leader since July, the CEC elected James Dandridge to the position this week.
“It’s an honor and a pleasure to be able to continue to serve District 18. I want to continue with the mission that we have of parent involvement and enhancing the level of educational opportunities,” said Dandridge, who is the CEC’s founding president.
The president’s position had been vacant since the previous term expired in the summer because several council members were not present at the elections.
“We weren’t able to resolve it in the first two months because we didn’t have the numbers. We only had six people,” Dandridge said.
At the CEC’s meeting this week, which was held at the District 18 office on East 95th Street, the votes were split between Dandridge and challenger Carlton Richardson.
Richardson received four votes. Dandridge garnered six votes, which is the minimum necessary for an election to be valid.
The CEC also elected a recording secretary.
Derek Booker nominated himself for the seat and was unanimously elected.
“This is the third time this position has been up. It’s embarrassing,” Booker said. “It’s time to fill the position.”
With the elections now over, the CEC hopes to regain council unity and address issues facing local schools.
“We had to be political but now it’s back to focusing on the people that are sitting in the audience %u2013 the parents,” Dandridge said.
