The Montclair Board of Education has a new president and vice president.
The school board last week selected Mfreke “Monk” Inyang as board president and Yvonne Bouknight as vice president. The board selected Inyang by a vote of 6-3. A motion to make board member Eric Scherzer board president failed.
“For me, the importance is making sure the board operates efficiently and is able to disagree efficiently,” Inyang said before the vote. “I think having disagreement, not coming to a consensus on all things is actually perfect. We’re supposed to be nine individuals from nine different walks of life and so disagreeing on things is absolutely fine. I enjoy disagreeing. I enjoy debating.”
Members Allison Silverstein, Bouknight, Phaedra Dunn, Brian Fleischer, Melanie Deysher and Inyang voted for Inyang. Scherzer, Holly Shaw and Jada Roman voted no.
Possibilities
Scherzer discussed opening some committee meetings to the public, holding more “town hall” type meetings, and looking at national models for the student representative among other measures to improve board meetings.
He said he supports, “Getting materials 24 hours in advance, not considering last minute items without overwhelming approval by the board, responding to public questions and comments made at the meeting by posting answers when possible and not about prohibited subjects and telling the public when it’s not possible.”
The reorganization meeting follows a November school board election which saw Scherzer, Roman and Shaw voted into office in a six-way race for three seats. Scherzer, Roman and Shaw each took the oath of office.
Tasks Ahead
The reorganization comes as the Montclair Board of Education searches for a new superintendent following the death of Dr. Jonathan Ponds, grapples with updating its cell phone policy and seek ways to narrow a longstanding achievement gap between students of color and their white peers.
Board members selected Bouknight for the vice president role by a unanimous vote.
“It’s been a journey,” Bouknight said. “And I know that we’re going to have a better journey as we move forward in 2025.”
Email reporter Matt Kadosh at matt@montclairlocal.news
Correction: A previous version of this article incorrectly reported member Jada Roman’s vote for board president. Roman voted no, bringing the count to 6-3.
Previous Coverage
Read: Montclair School District to See No Staff Cuts, Welcomes New Leadership
Local: Allison Silverstein and Crystal Hopkins to lead Montclair Board of Education
News: Bouknight, Fleischer, and Inyang elected to Montclair school board
