A leader has moved on in Dunkirk.
During Tuesday evening's Board of Education meeting, school board member and President Roosevelt Haynes announced his resignation. His decision was unexpected by many, if not all, in attendance.
Haynes was very much a father figure in representing the city's schools. He spoke softly, but sternly as the president and always listened to concerns as a board member. While an audience member during the tumultuous years of then Superintendent Carl Militello, he voiced his opinions numerous times.
In an interview with the OBSERVER in 2010, Haynes spoke of his dedication to the schools.
"My first experience of being on the Dunkirk school board of education was in 1979," Haynes said. "I've always been interested in education and quite frankly, I could not get over the absence of any ethnic minority on the Dunkirk Board of Education. There are those who knew me in the community and asked me if I was willing to run, which suited me just fine, because I feel groups like the board of education should be reflective of the population of any community."
Haynes served on the board for three different terms for a total of 16 years before being voted president in his final terms.
"That was a very humbling and pleasant surprise. I'm very honored to have that much appreciation and respect by the board members, that means a lot," he said.
His service to the schools is greatly appreciated - by students and the community of Dunkirk.
