Perth Amboy Circus Update
Ruh-roh:
And so the dispute between Janine Caffrey, Perth Amboy Superintendent and the Queen of Tenure, and her school board continues to grind on. NJDOE Commissioner Cerf has drawn this battle out by continually interfering in the decisions of the PABOE. Maybe he thought the tens of thousands of dollars that were poured into this fall's school board race by West Coast millionaires would have changed the board enough so that this
And so the dispute between Janine Caffrey, Perth Amboy Superintendent and the Queen of Tenure, and her school board continues to grind on. NJDOE Commissioner Cerf has drawn this battle out by continually interfering in the decisions of the PABOE. Maybe he thought the tens of thousands of dollars that were poured into this fall's school board race by West Coast millionaires would have changed the board enough so that this
The Real Charter Agenda: Union Busting?
This week, NJ Education Commissioner Chris Cerf suffered a stunning personal embarrassment. LEAP Academy, a charter school in Camden, has lost its tax-exempt status. That's put millions of dollars in bonds, backed by Rutgers University-Camden, at risk for default.
This reflects poorly on Cerf and the NJDOE for several reasons: first, LEAP has failed to make Adequate Yearly Progress for years, yet is allowed to continue to operate while other, less-favored charters are shuttered. Second, the failure of LEAP to manage its finances is an indication of a lack of proper oversight from the NJDOE. Third, just this week, LEAP's founder, Gloria Bonilla-Santiago, has been accused of using LEAP's funds and staff for her personal benefit.
Yet Cerf happily cut the ribbon this past fall on LEAP's brand new STEM building:
This reflects poorly on Cerf and the NJDOE for several reasons: first, LEAP has failed to make Adequate Yearly Progress for years, yet is allowed to continue to operate while other, less-favored charters are shuttered. Second, the failure of LEAP to manage its finances is an indication of a lack of proper oversight from the NJDOE. Third, just this week, LEAP's founder, Gloria Bonilla-Santiago, has been accused of using LEAP's funds and staff for her personal benefit.
Yet Cerf happily cut the ribbon this past fall on LEAP's brand new STEM building:
Why would Cerf allow his personal reputation to be tainted by LEAP? What is it about the school that appeals to him so much that he is willing to overlook its grave flaws and be seen as one of LEAP's biggest supporters?