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Mayor Sharon Owens has appointed Desire Ndagijimana to the Syracuse City School District Board of Education, temporarily filling a vacancy left after the removal of Commissioner Twiggy Billue. The decision, announced Tuesday (March 31), comes after Billue was unanimously ousted by the board in January for violating district visitor protocols and the code of ethics by intervening in her grandson’s education, according to a report from CNY Central.
Billue, who denied any wrongdoing and said she acted solely as a caregiver, appealed her removal to the New York State Education Department. However, on March 13, State Education Commissioner Betty A. Rosa denied Billue’s request to remain on the board during the appeal process, as reported by Syracuse.com. Billue’s appeal process could take up to a year, and state policy requires the mayor to appoint an interim replacement.
Ndagijimana, a refugee from the Democratic Republic of Congo, brings a unique perspective to the board. He spent 20 years in a Ugandan refugee camp before resettling in Syracuse, where he earned a degree from Onondaga Community College and now works as a Community Support Specialist focusing on mental health and disability support. In an interview with CNY Central, Ndagijimana said, "My parents instilled in me the values of hard work. I show up even when it's hard. And that's Desire. That's me." He also emphasized the importance of representing immigrant students and families, stating, "I know the challenges they go through because I've gone through similar challenges in the past."
Mayor Owens praised Ndagijimana’s appointment, noting, “His personal experience growing up in a refugee camp, combined with his professional background supporting community members with disabilities and mental health needs, brings meaningful representation to students and families in our district whose lives have followed similar paths.” More details can be found in the coverage by CNY Central and Syracuse.com.
Ndagijimana will serve in the role until the November election, when Syracuse residents will choose a permanent replacement. Billue, due to her removal, cannot run for the seat until 2027, per state election rules.