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Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Jersey Jazzman: Perth Amboy Follies Update

Jersey Jazzman: Perth Amboy Follies Update:


Perth Amboy Follies Update

The saga of anti-tenure-for-teachers-but-pro-due-process-for-herself Janine Caffrey and the BOE of Perth Amboy continues. When last we left, Caffrey had been reinstated as the superintendent by ACTING NJDOE Commissioner Cerf, despite the board's vote to remove her. And Cerf has retained the right to act as the final arbiter in this matter, despite the fact that it's clear the board doesn't want her.

Now, it appears that the teachers would also like her to pack her bags. From the local union's website:
As many readers know, Perth Amboy has become embroiled in a political struggle between the Board of Education and Superintendent Dr. Janine Walker Caffrey. We will not comment on the various accusations being made by the respective parties. Our role is to educate and care for children through the service of our members, not to be drawn into political squabbles. We must report, however, based on a poll of our leadership cadre, that a vast majority of those leaders, 73% of poll respondents, expressed a loss of faith, trust and confidence in Dr. Caffrey. How can anyone really lead in the absence of such crucial elements? We were the organization, on the heels of her November op-ed, urging her to consider the damage she inflicted, to heal the wounds she had caused and work to regain the staff’s trust. There was still time to do it then.