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Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Newark official on Race to the Top panel said he flagged error before presentation | NJ.com

Newark official on Race to the Top panel said he flagged error before presentation | NJ.com

Newark official on Race to the Top panel said he flagged error before presentation

Published: Tuesday, September 07, 2010, 1:16 PM Updated: Tuesday, September 07, 2010, 1:16 PM
daniel-gohl-race-to-the-top.jpgExecutive Assisstant of Innovation and Change at Newark Public Schools Daniel Gohl is at far left in this video screen grab from New Jersey's interview during the Race to the Top process.

TRENTON — A Newark Public Schools official who helped present New Jersey's Race to the Top application in Washington, D.C., said today he flagged a crucial error less than a week before the presentation — but was told by consultants there was no chance to correct an answer after the deadline.

Dan Gohl, in charge of innovation and change in Newark schools, said he noticed the error six days before the presentation but he did not tell former Education Commissioner Bret Schundler or others in the state education department about the error.

Speaking at an Assembly committee hearing on the failed grant application, Gohl said he was told "anything that was submitted on June 1 timestamped a final document, and that's all we can speak to" in the presentation.

When asked why he didn't raise the issue with other officials in the state, Gohl said he was