Trenton Deserves Board Members Capable of Selecting a Qualified Superintendent (NJ)
The state capital of New Jersey has been under attack from education reformers for years. Following reformer playbook moves time and time again that seek to minimize the voice of the community and take away their democratic rights, the board of education is failing to fulfill their obligation to do what is right for the children of the community.
The latest move from the Trenton Board of Education is to now appoint a superintendent that the community members of Trenton clearly do NOT want in charge of their schools, of their children.
The Trenton Education Association has submitted and released the following letter. NJ Badass Teachers stand by their side in this battle.
January 3, 2017
The relationship between the Trenton Board of Education and community stakeholders has been characterized by a lack of trust, due to the incompetent actions of the Trenton Board of Education. The Trenton Board of Education has been secretive and non-collaborative in many areas, from not adhering to established federal special education law, troubling six figure payouts to administrators in the midst of massive layoffs , (paraprofessionals, speech, occupational therapists, physical therapists and secretaries), and not being able to satisfy their own decisions.
"Success requires strong leadership, and Mayor Jackson is noticeably silent when confronted with the failures of his appointed board members who have little to no history to the Trenton community. Ultimately, the buck stops with the Mayor and his silence is a clear green light for the shenanigans happening at the Trenton Board of Education. This Board of Education fails to respect and engage Trenton community stakeholders, exhibits a clear ignorance of the challenges and trends of urban education, and often fail to even show up and stay awake for board meetings. Overall, there appears to be a lack of a coherent educational vision from Trenton Mayor Eric Jackson and his board. Mayor Eric Jackson is earning his moniker of ‘No Action’ Jackson.
The process of selecting a new permanent superintendent for the Trenton Public Schools has displayed all of the hallmarks of how this board chooses to perform its public functions; a lack Badass Teachers Association: Trenton Deserves Board Members Capable of Selecting a Qualified Superintendent (NJ):