The Evesham Township Board of Education commended two departing members at its final meeting late last month.
Before the session’s agenda, Superintendent Dr. Justin Smith spoke about Jaime Lee and Joe Fisicaro Jr. and his experience working with them over the years. He then presented both with a plaque.
“We wanted to take a moment as a board to recognize them for their service,” Smith said.
Lee has served the board since 2021, including its policy and personnel committees.
“Unofficially – because we don’t keep official records of this – but I want to say unofficially, Jaime Lee has probably logged more miles to get to ETSD board meetings than any board member in the history of the district,” Smith noted. “Covering from Delaware and D.C. through snow, rain, all kinds of weather, I always felt like your action of valuing and emphasizing the importance of being present and fulfilling your role in that way spoke volumes about how much being on the board means to you.
“You have a tremendously bright future ahead of you” he added. “We’re so excited for you and on behalf of (the board), thank you so much for your time.”
“I think there’s never been a board member whose ratio of knowledge to speaking is so high, so every word you say carries an infinite amount of weight,” board president Aneesh Kanthan said to Lee. “The fact that you knew most board members who served for years before you even got on the board speaks volumes.
“I look forward to seeing where you’re going to go.”
Fisicaro first served on the board in 2009, then again in 2012, and continued through 2024.
“I just think of all the chapters in those years that you helped to guide our district through,” Smith noted. “You’ve opened windows for me as to how we can learn from the past to chart for the future, and that’s just invaluable. You were the president of the board when I joined, you’re vice president now.
“To have known you as a board member, a colleague, a parent and a friend, I feel honored and privileged,” he added. “On behalf of all of us, thank you for everything you’ve given.”
Fisicaro won his race for Evesham council in the November election.
“(Fisicaro’s) next chapter still involves the theme of helping our great community become even greater,” Smith offered. “You’re going to be on town council and making a difference through another venue.”
“I think in the universe of my life, there is no one I’ve spent more time on the phone with than Joe Fisicaro,” Kanthan remarked. “When I first joined the board, we had a standing call every day where I would ask him a million questions. Never once, through all of that, did he get mad at me for asking a million-and-five stupid questions.
“I’ve learned more from (Fisicaro) than I think anyone during my time on the board and I’m priviledged to know you not only as a board member, but also as my friend.”
