NEWARK SCHOOL BOARD VOTES TO BLOCK SUPERINTENDENT ANDERSON’S PAY
Members flex their newfound fiscal muscle, but embattled state-appointed school chief still holds the purse strings
- Newark schools Superintendent Cami Anderson
The tug-of-war over control of Newark public schools got another jolt this week, when the newly empowered local advisory board moved to block pay to embattled state-appointed superintendent Cami Anderson.
The elected board took the action at its Tuesday meeting, employing the long-fought-for powers it regained this summer over business and fiscal management of the district. The new powers were considered a big step in returning local control to a district the state took over in 1994.
But the situation is not as simple as it sounds, which is par for the course in the troubled school district.
While the board technically was vested those powers in June as part of a court ruling, as well as improved conditions in the district, it seems the state -- and Anderson -- still hold the ultimate authority.
Under the transition plan for the district finished in August and signed by board president Rashon Hasan, Anderson explicitly holds the ultimate veto powers in case of any disagreement with the board.
“Should the State District Superintendent and Newark Advisory Board reach impasse on any action items relating to Fiscal management or operations, the State District Superintendent retains her ability to veto actions,” reads the agreement.
Efforts to contact Anderson or her spokesperson as to her intentions yesterday were unsuccessful.
In an interview, acting state education commissioner David Hespe said there was, indeed, a protocol to follow. Hespe, who in one of his early acts as commissioner moved to return fiscal control to Newark, said yesterday the board would first have to release its formal minutes of the meeting.
“Once the minutes are done, we’ll take a look at it,” Hespe said yesterday. “It’s a Newark School Board Votes to Block Superintendent Anderson’s Pay - NJ Spotlight: