Saturday, September 25, 2010

Putting Newark Mayor Booker in charge of city schools will incite legal action, experts say | NJ.com

Putting Newark Mayor Booker in charge of city schools will incite legal action, experts say | NJ.com

Putting Newark Mayor Booker in charge of city schools will incite legal action, experts say

Published: Saturday, September 25, 2010, 8:00 AM
booker-cafe.JPGNewark Mayor Cory Booker's appearance on the Oprah Winfrey show is displayed on a big screen inside a restaurant across the street from the set.

NEWARK — If Cory Booker even thinks of making a decision affecting Newark schools, he and Gov. Chris Christie will find themselves in a lawsuit faster than you can say Facebook, the head of the Education Law Center said yesterday.

David Sciarra, a veteran of numerous court battles involving public education, said it would be "improper and illegal" for Christie to formally offer Booker any authority to make decisions about the Newark Public Schools. Sciarra was lead counsel on the historic — and successful — Abbott suit filed in 1997 against the state to provide more funding for its neediest schools.

"I have no doubt appropriate legal action would be taken on behalf of the residents of Newark to