Richmond Public Schools School Board member Ali Faruk (3rd District) called his wife, Samieh, and their two sons, Yusef and Zayn, to stand by his side as he took the oath of office during Wednesday’s special meeting.  

Faruk held a thick green book as he repeated the oath administered by Richmond Circuit Court Clerk Edward Jewett. The senior policy analyst at the Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services explained that the book was his late grandfather’s Quran, who died when Faruk was five years old.  

“[The Quran] really the only thing I have left of him, so I felt it was nice to have a little piece of him with me,” Faruk said. “[My grandfather] really cared deeply about education, making sure that all his family and everyone around him is educated.”  

Eight of the nine school board members, including Faruk, were sworn in during the ceremony, which had been postponed for two days due to inclement weather. The only member who had already taken the oath was E.J. “Emmett Jay” Jafari of the 8th District, who was sworn in Tuesday at the New Canaan Worship Center.  

The newly sworn-in members are Matthew Percival (1st District), Katie Ricard (2nd District), and Wesley Hedgepeth (4th District). Returning members who took the oath are Stephanie Rizzi (5th District), Shonda Harris-Muhammed (6th District), Cheryl Burke (7th District), and Shavonda Dixon-Fernandez (9th District).  

"I'm very excited for the work ahead, and today was a celebratory moment with my colleagues as we celebrated with our family and friends," said Hedgepeth, who held a copy of the U.S. Constitution during his oath, honoring his profession as a history teacher. "Democracy is fragile, and it has been tested, but we need to work together to ensure everyone knows and is taught the Constitution."  

The new board members hit the ground running at their first meeting of the year, unanimously electing Dixon-Fernandez as chair, who was nominated by Cheryl Burke. Board members also named Percival as vice chair, following his nomination by Harris-Muhammed.  

While the board meeting had a full agenda, the board members unanimously agreed to adjourn the meeting until next Monday due to the water crisis.