logo
Google Play App Store
Log In subscribe and/or renew Eeditions
  • Home
  • E-Edition
    • This Week Newspaper
    • Archives
    • Local Shops
    • This is Westfield
    • Search the Archives
  • News
  • Opinions
  • Sports
  • Community
    • Life Events
    • Community Calendar
  • Arts & Entertainment
  • Obituaries
    • Submit an Obituary
  • Classified
  • Legals
  • Advertise
    • Advertorial
    • Paid Political
    • Sponsored Content
  • subscribe and/or renew
  • Contact
    • Home
    • E-Edition
      • This Week Newspaper
      • Archives
      • Local Shops
      • This is Westfield
      • Search the Archives
    • News
    • Opinions
    • Sports
    • Community
      • Life Events
      • Community Calendar
    • Arts & Entertainment
    • Obituaries
      • Submit an Obituary
    • Classified
    • Legals
    • Advertise
      • Advertorial
      • Paid Political
      • Sponsored Content
    • subscribe and/or renew
    • Contact
  • Home
  • E-Edition
    • This Week Newspaper
    • Archives
    • Local Shops
    • This is Westfield
    • Search the Archives
  • News
  • Opinions
  • Sports
  • Community
    • Life Events
    • Community Calendar
  • Arts & Entertainment
  • Obituaries
    • Submit an Obituary
  • Classified
  • Legals
  • Advertise
    • Advertorial
    • Paid Political
    • Sponsored Content
  • subscribe and/or renew
  • Contact
    • Home
    • E-Edition
      • This Week Newspaper
      • Archives
      • Local Shops
      • This is Westfield
      • Search the Archives
    • News
    • Opinions
    • Sports
    • Community
      • Life Events
      • Community Calendar
    • Arts & Entertainment
    • Obituaries
      • Submit an Obituary
    • Classified
    • Legals
    • Advertise
      • Advertorial
      • Paid Political
      • Sponsored Content
    • subscribe and/or renew
    • Contact
Westfield BOE Appoints Diamond to Fill Vacated Seat
News
KATIE MOEN on
January 11, 2023
Westfield BOE Appoints Diamond to Fill Vacated Seat

WESTFIELD — On Tuesday, during a special meeting of the Westfield Board of Education, former board member Kent Diamond was appointed by unanimous decision to fill the remaining two months of Amy Root’s unexpired term.

Mr. Diamond, who served one term on the board, from 2017 to 2020, was selected from an initial pool of 17 applicants. Mr. Diamond lost his reelection bid in 2020 and failed to be elected again in 2021.

“I worked on the board with Kent in the past,” board member Michael Bielen said, noting that Mr. Diamond, who has a background in finance, “greatly assisted [the board] in forming [the district’s] budgets” during that time.

“We only have two meetings before the election [in April], so we really needed someone who would be able to hit the ground running. He checks all of the boxes for what we need to accomplish in the interim,” Mr. Bielen continued.

Board member Leila Morrelli said that while she agreed that Mr. Diamond was the right choice to fill the unexpired remainder of Ms. Root’s term given his past experience as a member of the board, she encouraged each of the other 16 applicants to consider running for a full term in April.

“Thank you to all the candidates who came out today. Your perspective, your insight and your interest is all valued,” Ms. Morrelli said.

Any candidate interested in running for election to the board in April will need to file the requisite documentation with the Union County Board of Elections by Monday, March 6.

Resident Kyle George, the only member of the public to speak at Tuesday night’s meeting, asked board members whether they (and, by proxy, Mr. Kent) would consider hiring a private investigator to look into a recent incident involving a teacher who was arrested on drug-related charges while working at Roosevelt Intermediate School.

The teacher, Frank Thompson, allegedly suffered an overdose in front of his middle school students in November. He has been charged with possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance (Fentanyl), a crime of the third degree; possession of drug paraphernalia and endangering the welfare of children.

“This issue does not just go away with the arrest of the teacher,” Mr. George said, citing a school policy that requires all staff members to report suspected drug use by other personnel to the administration. “The district must fully investigate the full timeline of events that culminated in his arrest on school property. I’d like to know if the nominee tonight would vote to hold the district accountable to its own policies.”

ePaper
coogle_play
app_store
ePaper
coogle_play
app_store
ePaper
coogle_play
app_store
Most Read
Advocates Lose Appeal of OWP Lawsuit
Main, News
Advocates Lose Appeal of OWP Lawsuit
By LAUREN S. BARR 
Friday, June 27, 2025
WESTFIELD — The New Jersey Appellate Court upheld the Lower Court’s ruling dismissing The Westfield Advocates for Responsible Development’s (WARD) law...
this is a test
E-Bikes Banned from Park Trails and Paths in Westfield
Main, News
E-Bikes Banned from Park Trails and Paths in Westfield
By MADOLYN LAURINE 
Thursday, June 26, 2025
WESTFIELD — Visitors to town parks will now have to park their electric bicycles and scooters after the town council during its Tuesday meeting passed...
this is a test
Residents Decry Approval of South Ave. Apt. Application
Main, News
Residents Decry Approval of South Ave. Apt. Application
By FRED T. ROSSI 
Thursday, July 3, 2025
FANWOOD — Despite opposition from neighborhood residents, the planning board last month approved an application to develop property on South Avenue in...
this is a test
JCC of Central New Jersey Names New Bd. of Directors
Community
JCC of Central New Jersey Names New Bd. of Directors
Thursday, June 26, 2025
SCOTCH PLAINS — The JCC of Central New Jersey has announced its new board of directors for the 2025-2026 year. At the JCC’s annual meeting June 9, Lau...
this is a test
Towns to Celebrate Independence Day
Main, News
Towns to Celebrate Independence Day
Thursday, June 26, 2025
AREA — Starting this weekend, multiple area communities will present Independence Day celebrations offering an array of activities and capped off by g...
this is a test
This site complies with ADA requirements

© Copyright The The Westfield Leader

  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Accessibility Policy
This site complies with ADA requirements

© Copyright The The Westfield Leader