CREST HAVEN — James R. Washington II and Arthur Cornell took oaths of office, Dec. 18, to return them for four years to their seats on the Board of Education of the Cape May County Technical School District.
Freeholders reappointed Washington and Cornell on Oct. 31, the day their terms expired. Their new terms will end Oct. 31, 2011.
Documentation did not arrive in time for the Nov. 1 reorganization of the board, thus the oaths were administered by board Secretary/Administrator Paula Smith at the start of the meeting. The board is made up of two Democrats, two Republicans and the county superintendent of schools.
Washington of West Cape May, a Republican, served on the Lower Cape May Regional Board of Education from 1972-1980. He served as board president from 1976-1980. and, as a member of the Kiwanis Club of Cape May, rose to the rank of state governor of that organization from 1987-88. He is the first African-American to have attained that Kiwanis Club office. He was also a member of the Technical School Affirmative Action Committee from 1990-92.
Cornell of Court House, a Democrat, is a retired educator and former member of Middle Township Board of Education. He is a member of Middle Township Zoning Board of Adjustment.
He was first appointed to the district board in March 2002 to fill the unexpired term of Democrat Samuel S. DeVico, who resigned that Jan. 31. Cornell was then appointed to a four-year term that ended Oct. 31, 2007.
Cornell has served on the board as its vice president.
