N.J. law may bar Gov. Christie, Mayor Booker from taking active role in $100M Newark schools grant
Published: Tuesday, October 05, 2010, 9:45 PM
State law does not allow Newark Mayor Cory Booker, left, and Gov. Chris Christie, right, to make decisions on behalf of the Newark school district, which is under state control.TRENTON — Two weeks ago, Gov. Chris Christie and Mayor Cory Booker appeared on the Oprah Winfrey Show and began a media blitz, proclaiming their pledge to jointly transform Newark’s failing public school system. One problem: State law does not allow for such an effort.
Acting Commissioner of Education Rochelle Hendricks testified today before a joint legislative committee that the state’s school takeover statute — the Quality Single Accountability Continuum (QSAC) — does not authorize gubernatorial or mayoral participation in efforts to reform a district under state control. That responsibility rests squarely on the commissioner of education’s shoulders, the law says.
"No, the state is not relinquishing its authority in the Newark schools," Hendricks said. "The governor is looking for the mayor to do what he said, which is be a mayor