Overtime scandal in Newark schools–union demands ouster of personnel chief
Rodriguez–both the school board and the teachers’ union want her out.
The Newark Teachers Union and its president, John Abeigon, have filed a legal action asking the state’s education commissioner to fire the so-called “chief talent officer” of the state-operated Newark district, Vanessa Rodriguez, contending she lacks the proper qualifications and licensing for the position.
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The petition was filed just hours before the Newark school board–which had once tried to fire Rodriguez–forced the personnel chief to read a document that publicly revealed problems involving the overpayment of overtime to city school administrators. Rodriguez’s boss, state-appointed superintendent Christopher Cerf, had tried to play down the document that admitted some school employees had received tens of thousands of dollars in unearned overtime.
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The revelations come just as Cerf has cut back on funds used by schools to provide books, materials, supplies, and support services. The school year began with the state-operated schools more than $60 million in the hole, but Cerf contends he has reduced the shortfall to less than $13 million.
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Abeigon, in revealing the administrative petition filed with state Education Commissioner David Hespe, called Rodriguez a “quack” who had visited “misery and damage” on Newark children, parents, and school employees.
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The union and its president also asked Hespe to set aside “all personnel decisions she had made, tenure charges she certified, and layoffs of employees that she approved.”
Rodriguez had been one of the highest-paid administrators in the district, making $185,000 annually.
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She was a close confidante of Cami Anderson, once a political operative for former Mayor–now US Sen.–Cory Booker; Anderson was named state-operated superintendent four years ago by Gov. Chris Christie. Christie fired her in June and replaced her with Christopher Cerf, a former state education commissioner and Overtime scandal in Newark schools–union demands ouster of personnel chief | Bob Braun's Ledger: