Temporary Appointment for Cape Board of Education Seat Announced

The Cape Henlopen School District Board of Education announced a temporary replacement for the Area C district seat: Rev. Majorie Belmont, who will serve until June 30, 2025. The seat was filled after long-time member, Janet Maull-Martin, decided to step down in August. The seat will be up for election in May during the standard school board elections, with the term covering Maull-Martin’s remaining three years on the board. 

Reverend Belmont prepares to embark on her new role with the board of education, bringing dedication and leadership to the community.

Letters of interest to fill the vacancy were accepted until noon on Monday, December 9. The board met and made their decision regarding the applicants, announcing Rev. Majorie Belmont as Maull-Martin’s replacement at the monthly Board of Education meeting December 12. Belmont currently serves Israel UMC-Lewes, Delaware as their retired pastor. 

In terms of community roles, Belmont serves “on the Board of Ordained Ministry, Wesley Foundation Board of Directors-Delaware State University: UMC Representative, and as the Part-time Human Resource Manager for Pathways to Success,” now in addition to her role on Cape’s Board of Education.   

The announcement comes in the wake of Maull-Martin’s abrupt resignation. She was first elected to the Board in 2019, and left one month into her second term. In a statement to the Cape Gazette, Maull-Martin cited two main reasons for her leave: “A decline in the communication between the superintendent and board” and “Treatment of me as a member of the board of education.” 

Cape's new board member will hopefully be able to overcome challenges.

When Maull-Martin first told the board of her decision to step down August 15, she was contacted by Assistant Superintendent Jenny Nauman and Board President Dr. Allison Myers within the following few weeks. 

Maull-Martin highlighted that Superintendent Robert Fulton first reached out September 19, which she felt “showed what he thought of me as a valued member of  the Cape Henlopen Board of Education.” 

With this controversy in mind, one teacher gives direct insight into how a board of education functions, especially with a decision of such importance, Cape’s own Matthew Lindell. Having served five years as a member of the Capital School District Board of Education, Lindell actively felt that the main challenge was “trying to figure out how to get a majority of the board to, you know, drive policy into the right direction…” and make decisions to best benefit the community.

In terms of the board’s decision, Dr. Tanya Humes feels that Belmont’s temporary board membership should be recognized for importance, especially at Cape. 

“A change on the board impacts my job immensely,” adding that “Policies that I must follow are decided at board level … their decisions trickle down to every member of this community.” 

For the duration of Belmont’s time on the board, Humes hopes to see her effectively spur change. She wants Belmont to “be a strong, productive voice … [and maintain] integrity, while at the same time, developing connections with other board members,” especially with the Reverend's background in racial injustice. 

Ultimately, with Maull-Martin’s resignation and its controversy, Humes wishes that “she received … an apology and that the board move forward with an open mind and learn from this…”