October 29, 2009
Dear Councilor Africk:
We, the undersigned residents of the 2nd Ward were disappointed to learn that you are supporting the effort to change to an elected school board with annual school budget votes. As your constituents, we support retaining our current appointed school board. We urge you to reconsider your position and join with those who are committed to preserving our schools and our school system.
The above letter, signed by 47 of Councilor Cary Africk’s constituents, was sent to Africk last night, underscoring the divisive nature of the BOE question on Tuesday’s ballot.
Africk’s response (of course), after the jump.
While I don’t have a petition signed by 47 people, I have received perhaps two dozen emails congratulating me on taking a stand on this issue. And these are people who didn’t have to be encouraged to sign a petition. They wrote spontaneously, without being asked.
Then there’s the people I meet at the market, in the streets, on Watchung Plaza, etc.
Not all of these people have children in the schools. So on one hand you can say “well, all they want is lower taxes!” But on the other hand you can say they are less “fearful” that saying no to the appointed board, to someone closely tied to the existing system, will result in repercussions to their children.
I believe change in the schools would be welcomed. Change in responsiveness. In transparency. In accountability. I believe this change could have come from an appointed board. Because after all it’s not necessarily the board, it’s the board’s direction to the Staff.
Maybe after this is all over some of the 47 people will step forward and join in an effort to improve the schools. Maybe we can get a group experienced in organizational design that can review how things can be re-worked for increased efficiency and effectives (or, we could hire a profession, McKinsey caliber, consulting firm to do this, as I’ve recommended). Maybe we can get a group to help with increased use of online learning and technology. Or a group to work with the unions on cutting edge proposals for increased teacher compensation. Or a group looking into decentralization and school based financing.
I do hope all of the 47 don’t simply disappear and go back to their everyday lives.
Montclair should be setting the pace. Montclair could be setting the pace.
Be a part of the solution.
Cary Africk
” underscoring the divisive nature of the BOE question on Tuesday’s ballot.”
At least the divisiveness in cordial in this exchange.
Dear Mr. Africk,
As one of your constituents, and one of the signers of the petition mentioned in this article, I must respond to your comments. Speaking just for myself, I have volunteered in the schools in various capacities for the past 11 years. I have attended numerous School Review, Town Council and BoE meetings, joined PTA boards and district advisory committees, raised money for the schools, etc. The schools of Montclair are, and will continue to be, an important part of my everyday life. I could say the same about the other signers of the petition, but their continuing efforts to improve our schools certainly speak for them. I and they, and many others who have not signed any petitions or sent any emails, but who contribute so much to our schools in so many ways, have already ‘stepped forward’ and are already ‘part of the solution’.
Support the Appointed Board. Vote NO.
Sincerely,
Mara Novak
From what I can tell, the main worry has been that a BOE election will not get the necessary turnout to represent the overall interests of Montclair.
How does an Appointed Board by the Mayor solve this when the Mayor is elected on a basis far more general than the Montclair education system?
It would seem to me that the group most likely to benefit from an elected board would be those who “contribute so much to our schools in so many ways” and “have already ‘stepped forward’ and are already part of the solution.” An organized group of this sort is in a much better position to push across their agenda at BOE elections, and if it’s the group that is involved most with the school, how is this a problem?
WOW!!!
47 letter signers….
24 emails….
A HUGE community effort to sway Africk.
Stay strong Cary in the face of this enormous effort to get your vote!
“From what I can tell, the main worry has been that a BOE election will not get the necessary turnout to represent the overall interests of Montclair.”
The main sticking point for me is that this will be the only budget voters will vote on. So any tax frustration will be vented on the school budget.
“The main sticking point for me is that this will be the only budget voters will vote on. So any tax frustration will be vented on the school budget.”
Since the BOE budget represents the largest portion of our tax bill, perhaps the voters should have some input.
I get that gurl. Totally. But as high tax frustration builds up, we’re setting the schools up to take the only voter-directed “hits” available.
Spending $65,000 some hits are due. But still…
I am very pleased and grateful for Mr. Africk’s support in this positive and extremely necessary change.
I am a taxpaying resident of the 2nd ward. My wife and I volunteer quite regularly at both the pre k and at my other daughter’s elementry school.
I think that I am smart enough to make an educated decision on my own on who could make a decent board candidate. I dont need the mayor to make it for me. Thats how we got into this mess.
I have trouble supporting a system that spent $35 mil on a school for which any decisions on its usage have yet to be made.
Ill be making up my own mind at the polls on Tuesday. Thanks.
Oh, and Cary, thanks for supporting the right to make up my mind.
Its scary that so many are happy to have their decisions made for them.
Just because the voters get to vote on the school budget, it doesn’t necessarily mean that the school budget will be taking a hit. It does mean the BOE might pay closer attention to some of the items before sending it out for a vote.
“Just because the voters get to vote on the school budget, it doesn’t necessarily mean that the school budget will be taking a hit. ”
I think that’s the whole point. What do you think people are mad about? Testing policy? Sheesh gurl, it’s pretty obvious.
I see a lot of justification for an elected school board based on the fact that a definitive plan does not yet exist for the new school.
But, it took what, about 10 years to get the school built after the vote for the go-ahead. And now they are looking at the current status of the school system and re-evaluating the best way to use the school. So? This is horrible? They should just blindly stick to the original plan even if it is no longer the best course of action? If they put the K-5 school (Rand) in there and nobody else, then people would complain that it’s not an efficient use of space. There is always somebody complaining and a significant amount of the time, they don’t even have all of the facts.
There is overcrowding in the elementary schools. And a disparity between the schools as far as space. I may be in the minority as far as posters on this site, but I’m glad there is a new school and that they are putting a lot of thought into the best use for the building. Call me CRRRAAAZY!
(But the 65k for the motivational speaker does seem like quite a lot.)
Cary,
You da man!
Please…please…please….anything to get rid of Business Adminstrator Dana Sullivan. The biggest waste of salary beside Joe Hartnett this town has ever seen….Elect your school board, Adopt and vote on a budget that the town can afford. Vote down wasteful spending….562 municipalities do it every year in the state of NJ…..WE DON’T.
I support an elected board & Mr Africk. I live in the 2nd Ward, my children graduated MHS & I work in a district with an elected board.
The school budget almost always takes a hit when voters vote on it.
Not so, Kacey
Star Ledger:
About 70 percent of N.J. school budgets were approved, in line with year before
By Paul Cox/The Star-Ledger
April 22, 2009, 11:50AM
New Jersey voters passed some 72.7 percent of school budgets Tuesday night in school board elections, despite the dismal economy.
School officials had been fearing the worst, but modest budget increases, coupled with state aid and local efforts to bring out voters, may have helped budgets pass.
“In this economy it is a very good sign that we have had such a large number of approvals,” said Frank Belluscio, a spokesman for the New Jersey School Boards Association. “We thought there would be a much more significant drop-off.”
Belluscio said unofficial results showed 72.7 percent, or 399 of 549 budgets, passed. Last year, 73.5 percent of spending plans were approved.
Voters in my district approved the budget at 2007 levels.
Maybe you’re all right after all, Cary. I take back all the bad things I ever said about you.
“But as high tax frustration builds up, we’re setting the schools up to take the only voter-directed “hits” available”
Not true. We have the Council elections and the 100megabuck gorilla BOE. Only the County will then be out of reach. 2 out of 3 and 70% of our taxes ain’t as bad as 1 of 3 and 30% we have now.
Maybe we should check out the school district’s history textbooks–just to make sure they haven’t deleted all that messy stuff about “no taxation without representation.”
Cary,
I am with you, stay strong, this BOE is out of control and they are proud of it
Folks it is not $35 million for the new school, they have yet to budget the $5 Million needed for chairs, desks and all the other stuff that goes in the building or have they budgeted for the $2 Million a year in interest that is going to kick in next year or the $5M for the renovation for Rand
Bob
mara novak,
So after 11 years of hard work and giving your time and supporting the school system, you still do not have any say in how it is run or what decisions they are making. Imagine if you had the opportunity to be elected to the BOE to be able to make the changes you know need to be made. It does not matter if you are interested or not, you do not have that choice.
Taxation WITH representation isn’t so great, either.
Dear Councilor Africk,
I suggest that you take the petition to the Montclair Municipal Clerk where she can verify and reject most of the signers. So what 2 people singed a petition (that’s 2 verified voters. The Elected Board people can deliver a petition of thousands!
Please, when you cast your vote in this referendum remember that you do so as a private citizen and do so with your conscience.
Looks like Mara Novak has a horse in this race
“This web site is not an official site of the Montclair School District
Funded (partially) by the Montclair Fund for Educational Excellence
Arts Supervisor: Joanne Petrigliano
Site maintained by Joan Griffin and Mara Novak:
https://montclairpta.org/dynamic/htmlos.cgi/pta/pages/index.html?siteid=ARTS
Novak, Mara
Montclair, NJ 07043
Montclair Cooperative School/Assist
That is only one election. History shows that most budgets are voted down.
and then they are revamped and corrected by the town council.
SO WHAT!
No, history shows that 70-75% of budgets are passed. Even last year in the midst of a recession, over 70% of the budgets passed. Further, if a budget is not passed, it goes to the town council and from there to the state, where typically many cuts are restored. History dies not show that most budgets are voted down.
Look again at that website, Voice–Mara Novak is a volunteer webmaster (this is one the things she has done for the schools over the past 11 years, clearly), and as the site is “NOT an official site of the school district,” what is the horse she has in the race? I don’t know what the “Montclair Cooperative School/Assist” line is supposed to mean (I didn’t see it on the website you linked to), but the Montclair Co-op is a private school, unrelated to the district.
It is telling to me how many of the people who support the appointed board are the ones who have been the most dedicated volunteers and fundraisers for the district. And many of those people might be willing to be make themselves known to the mayor and be appointed to the school board, but would have no interest in running a campaign to be elected.
I think you throw the baby out with the bathwater when you remove the appointed board and vote in whoever has the money, special-interest issue, and thick hide to wage a public campaign.
Our political system is full of appointed positions–Supreme Court, cabinet officials–we don’t vote on everything.
Gee voice, thanks for googling me. Not sure what your point could be. As mentioned in my letter, I do some volunteer work for the schols. At Montclair High School this including maintaining a website for the amazing kids of SVPA. Come see their next show, Love Notes, first two weekends in December!
Mara
Yes, Mara and most of the other 46 people who signed the letter to Councilor Africk (I was one of them as well and we did this in 3 days, not several months) are very active VOLUNTEERS in the schools. If that’s skin in the game, so be it. We should be focusing on how we improve the education of our kids instead of attacking the volunteers who actually help. I can’t help wondering who would want to run to be on the BOE if this is how active volunteers are treated on public forums. As a volunteer, I have worked hard to change and improve our schools (and plan to continue to help make the BOE and administration accountable and responsive). I am not saying our system is perfect or does not need to change, I feel that changing to an elected board with annual budget votes would be the wrong way to do it. With the exception of Pegi Adam, I have, until recently, rarely (if ever) seen any of the elected board proponents at BOE or Town Council meetings. Vote NO on Nov 3.
So, Going to the BOE meetings is the most important thing! Wow. Nice that you have the time.
How come the BOE meetings are not held at times that are more convenient for those who are fully employed?
oh- so the fact that you got a couple of friends ti sign and didn’t bother to canvas the community is the important thing.
The fact that the BOE is spendthrift and doesn’t bother to mend it’s spendthrift ways isn’t important.
Let’s see what we can use this $65,000 for. Oh the football team needs a pep talk . Let’s spend the money on that.
Good for you!
Please show us what you have improved. How have you saved us money and improved the school system?
We should be focused on improving the school system and getting the biggest bang for our buck. NOT JUST THE SPENDING OF OUR MONEY.
APPOINTED BOE = no accountability, spendthrift, wasted money, wasted opportunities
I, for one, attend many town council meetings. I do not, nor does my wife, get home from work early enough to attend the BOE meetings that are not televised. Of course the town council has asked the board to televise their meetings, but for some reason, they refuse to. The town council has even offered up their council chambers for this purpose, but to no avail.
so APPOINTED BOE = NO Community involvement, No Outreach, NO Transparency
Why bother letting the community know about decisions that you are making with OUR monry, with OUR kids education, with OUR school system.
YOU obviously know what is good for US, what is good for OUR kids, what is good for OUR school system.
Thank you appointed BOE for making ALL of the decisions for me,
stu – the meetings are open to the public at 7:30 and easily go to 9:30 or 10 PM. You must work very long hours.
or have kids to take care of.
WHY AREN’T THE MEETINGS TELIVISED?
Why do you have to physically BE THERE in order to learn about what is happening?
Why did the BOE put the kids at Renaissance at risk by not developing a renovation policy and demanding that Immaculate Conception perform construction with the kids eating in the cafeteria.
I can’t believe this sentence
“Further test results taken on May 15 were within the acceptable range for occupancy.”
There is NO acceptable range of asbestos for kids in school!
https://www.montclair.k12.nj.us/ArticleFiles/335/HWResponseRen6-08.pdf
Telephone: 973.509.4000 ~ Fax: 973.509.0586 ~ Email: falvarez@montclair.k12.nj.us
MONTCLAIR BOARD OF EDUCATION
22 VALLEY ROAD ~ MONTCLAIR, NEW JERSEY 07042
FRANK R. ALVAREZ, ED.D.
Superintendent of Schools
June 23, 2008
Dear Members of the Renaissance Health and Wellness Committee:
This letter is in response to your letter addressed to the Montclair Board of Education dated
June 16, 2008.
On June 4th, several board employees along with parent representatives from the PTA and
School Review attended a construction meeting for the Madonna Hall project. At that
meeting, the construction manager for the project again assured us that the work on the
transite ceiling did not begin until March 10, one week after our students were moved out
of Madonna Hall. The transite ceiling was identified as having asbestos containing material
and the construction was halted at Madonna Hall while air testing and cleaning took place.
The Church of the Immaculate Conception retained Omega Environmental Services to
perform air testing at the site. The first test was taken on March 30 and the results showed
no detected levels of asbestos fibers. As an added precaution, the Church of the
Immaculate Conception also retained the services of a company that specializes in
environmental cleaning. Further test results taken on May 15 were within the acceptable
range for occupancy. Copies of both tests are attached for your information. If Renaissance
students will continue using Madonna Hall next year, the district will perform additional
air testing before school starts in September.
A letter was sent to parents this week giving specific information about the events that took
place at the school. The district does not think that an independent consultant is needed at
this time. As for the potential health risks for students and staff, the district does not
believe that a consultant or a doctor could make blanket risk assessments for all involved.
We recommend that families should seek this information from personal physicians that
have direct knowledge of an individual’s health situation.
In order to avoid any future potential release of asbestos fibers at Renaissance Middle
School, the Montclair Board of Education (BOE) has developed an action plan that
includes the following items:
• The BOE developed an Asbestos Management Plan (AMP) in compliance with the
Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA). The plan was prepared by
the district’s consultants, Detail Associates. A copy of this plan was given to the
Principal of Renaissance and to the Pastor of the Church of the Immaculate
Conception.
2
• Advanced notification will be provided to the BOE by the Church of the
Immaculate Conception about any construction, alteration or repair work that will
be done in the school building. All work will be reviewed by a BOE contracted
asbestos consultant before the project starts.
• The district has also notified all staff members in the building that they cannot hang
pictures or make any other holes in the plaster, without consulting the Director of
Buildings and Grounds.
• The BOE will provide training regarding the Asbestos Management Plan to the
Principal and custodians. This training will also include a protocol for procedures
to be followed in the event a disturbance of plaster is noted. The district will obtain
assistance from experts in the environmental field in developing the protocol.
• Regular inspections of the building will be conducted focusing on any disturbance
to the plaster.
The district has a detailed emergency plan in place which includes emergency evacuation
procedures. Annually, the plan is updated and training is provided to staff.
Copies of all test results are available for the public. Anyone wishing to review these
documents is welcome to contact our Business Office at 973-509-4050.
Sincerely,
Frank R. Alvarez, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools
FRA:nad
Enclosure: copies test results
c: Mayor Edward Remsen
Monsignor Timothy Shugrue, Pastor, Church of the Immaculate Conception
Montclair Board of Education Members
Dana Sullivan, Business Administrator
Dr. Charles Cobb, Renaissance Principal
Looks like the current appointed board has failed at all of it’s goals:
“Goals 2009-2010
1.To improve academic achievement for all students through the use of differentiated instruction and performance assessment to address
diverse learning needs.
2.To continue to achieve equity and improve efficiency in all programs and services in an effort to serve all students effectively.
3.To promote community engagement in examining implications and needs related to emerging educational issues.”
Sorry but pep talks to the football team don’t count for #1
Forget #2 entrely
Lack of televised meetings shuts #3 down
MONTCLAIR to APPOINTED BOE- Your grade F
Holy cow voice, you are informed and passionate! Seems like with that level of interest you could find a babysitter to attend a board meeting if you really want your voice in the wild to be heard in real time.
Although it would be helpful to televise meetings, are you assuming that with an elected board, there will be some kind of videoconferencing so you can sit on your sofa yet still demand answers?
That is only one election. History shows that most budgets are voted down.
Actually, history shows quite the opposite. A clear majority of budgets are passed in towns that get to vote. When they don’t pass, there are fail safe mechanisms in place that assure adequate funding — all the way up to the point where the council can pass a failed budget without ANY changes.
who said I’d be sitting on my sofa. I’d probably still be at work. Or maybe I would tape it and view it at 1am.
Yes- the taxpayers of Montclair are OWED answers.
the meetings are open to the public at 7:30 and easily go to 9:30 or 10 PM. You must work very long hours.
What a snide comment. Yes, some of your fellow citizens work loooooong &^$@#%% hours or have little control over their schedules. Your aloof and indifferent attitude is an example of what so many of us find frustrating.
apple,
It’s the voice of the appointed BOE. If you can’t make the meeting, at their chosen time, you aren’t worthy. They tell you how “easy” it will be to attend and suggst you get a sitter.
If you ask that it be shared by televising it they accuse you of wanting to “sit on your sofa”.
Let’s get them out and find people who want both the best for OUR kids and know how to do so within a reasonable budget.
STOP THE MINDLESS SPENDING.
VOTE YES
ps- mayor fried has shown his “willingness” and “commitment” by appointing BOE members without even consulting with other Town Council members and by campaigning against the referendum. He doesn’t even want US to have the right to choose whether we want an appointed or elected BOE.
I’ve read that Appointed Board Coalition member Rich Murnick has been trying to bully local business owners who favor the elected board into taking down signs that are on their private property by telling them that putting up such signs is illegal.
It’s is not illegal.
Shame on you Rich.
These are the tactics of the Appointed Board Coalition who want to win and keep the BOE in their pocket.
No dirty tactics. NO appointed Board.
Transparency and an elected BOE.
Vote YES
appletony – your message implies that I am on the Coalition for an Appointed Board. I am not. I was undecided when the issue came up and I think both sides have compelling arguments. I have to say, though, that on this forum, the posters that fall on the side of an elected board are pretty angry and vicious. I’m sure I’ll be attacked for this message–I don’t care, attack away.
There is no clear evidence that one is better than the other as far as education outcomes. People in this town are understandably angry that their taxes are high and wish the schools had a better ranking. I’m not convinced that an elected board is going to change that but you obviously feel strongly that it will. Maybe you are right, who knows. Not me. Changing the funding formula would affect people’s taxes, though, and there is an effort by the board to do that. I think Montclair is a good school and like all schools, they can improve. But the number of economically disadvantaged students in the system is the reason its ranking doesn’t compare to a school like Glen Ridge–not the appointed board.
And as far as the argument about the new school–there are 707 more students in the school system than there were 10 years ago. They built the new school to address class size/lack of space–the reason has never changed but the most efficient way to alleviate this problem has.
stuw6 said that he can attend town council meetings but not BOE meetings and I merely pointed out that the meetings start at 7:30. Isn’t that around the same time council meetings start? It just wasn’t adding up to me. Yes, it seems that it would be prudent to televise the meetings but it seems like people are grasping at straws when they offer the meeting starting time as a reason to vote for an appointed board. At the meetings I have attended (and might I add that they are very sparsely attended), the time to address the board with concerns fell pretty late in the evening. What do you suggest they do for people like you who work long hours and want to attend the meetings?
tud
I was offended because you suggested that i wanted to sit on my sofa…you attacked me
I stopped attending bOE meetings when I realized they have no interest in listening to any residents.
They meet in executive session, decide how they are going to vote, come out and pretend to have public hearings and vote the way they already decided.
I have several BOE members that me proudly told me that they don’t have to listen to the residents because they are above politics
At least with the town council, bike boy and the rest have to pretend to listen to us because at some point they will be knocking on my door for another 4 years
I’m sorry I offended you. Personally, I love sitting on my sofa and watching tv. But all kidding aside, sorry I attacked you.
That’s an interesting argument, MontclairBob. Well said.
tudlow, I never assumed you’re on the committee for an appointed board. It is clear that you favor one, though.
The pro-elected people aren’t any more vicious than the pro-appointed people. For example, look at the last line of the email to Mr. Africk:
We urge you to reconsider your position and join with those who are committed to preserving our schools and our school system.
In other words, the pro-elected people are NOT committed to preserving our schools and school system? How galling can people get??
applefamily donates copious amounts of VOLUNTEER TIME and hard-earned MONEY to the schools and related organizations. We are very, very involved. So, to be told that “it’s all about taxes” or to have Mr. Cummings and others imply that their fellow townspeople — people who CHOSE THIS TOWN FOR ITS DIVERSITY — are pushing this for racial reasons engenders a lot of anger. It’s not true and it’s therefore highly unfair. If people want civil debate, they have to check such allegations at the door!
So, in answer to the question, “What do you suggest they do for people like you who work long hours and want to attend the meetings?” I say: have an elected board. Then we have an annual opportunity to voice our approval in the most democratic way possible. Everything else is just an “opportunity” to make noise at meetings but not be genuinely listened to (for example, Renaissance parents with asbestos concerns know this feeling all to well).
I know full well that there’s no data to say an elected board will perform better. So what? The idea that an appointed board can improve after 60 years of gradual hardening of the bureaucratic arteries — where all members are in place because of the whims of one guy who had 11~ish percent of the vote — is too much of a stretch for me to take.
I am plain sick and tired of the posturing that this is driven by people with a secret agenda to make the schools worse. I am more than tired at racist fearmongering. I am tired of once noble organizations acting to keep the vote out of the hands of the people they purport to represent. I am tired of those who currently have ready access to power using that power to spread such fears.
Bottom line: any improvement with an elected board will be incremental, if any at all. The difference is that we, the citizenry, will have nobody to blame but ourselves. That is actually a good thing! You want citizens interested in the schools? Give them an actual say: a vote.
The mayor’s “plan” is nothing. It’s not a statutory construct. He can’t bind the next mayor. It’s an attempt to placate enough people to prevent a “yes” vote.
Don’t buy into the fears thrown about by those in and close to power: VOTE YES and give power to the people.
By golly, appletony, you are one persuasive and well-spoken chap. I just may be shifting….
oops, it was a petition to Mr. Africk, not an email.
I TOTALLY agree with the statements that Appletony makes in his posting above.
“I am plain sick and tired of the posturing that this is driven by people with a secret agenda to make the schools worse. I am more than tired at racist fearmongering. I am tired of once noble organizations acting to keep the vote out of the hands of the people they purport to represent. I am tired of those who currently have ready access to power using that power to spread such fears.”
What he is saying is absolutely how I feel.
I don’t know them personally (or otherwise) but I imagine the current members of the BOE also “donates copious amounts of VOLUNTEER TIME and hard-earned MONEY to the schools and related organizations. [and] are very, very involved too appletony. So to describe them as having a “gradual hardening of the bureaucratic arteries” seems like just the kind of blanket judgement of ill motives that you are criticizing in others.
Aren’t you basically saying the current BOE is “NOT committed to preserving our schools” in such a statement?
If you say the Mayor is trying to deceive in his plan to “placate” aren’t you also saying improving education isn’t his goal either?
I agree with you on most of the issues but its a bit much to say others should check their allegations at the door and then impugn the other side’s motives in the same post.
appletony is, and has been, very eloquent on this issue.
I too am sick and tired. I am sick and tired of seeing a debate on the best method of selecting BOE members and of approving the education budget is turned into a vendetta against one of the civic groups that opposes the elected board.
“once noble organizations”? The LWV took a stand against the elected board back in the mid-nineties. Have they been ignoble for over a decade? And what about the NAACP? Have they also been ignoble for all these years?
Wrong, perhaps; right then wrong now, maybe; but “once noble”? Give me a break.
At the debate, one of the representatives of the Elected Board said that the LWV “fought eliminating segregation in the schools”. In fact the LWV was one of the leaders of the fight FOR desegregation. True, he recanted after being confronted by LWV members, some of whom were veterans of this struggle, but he never apologized. He then stated that they “filed with the state`against the magnet system but were overruled.” What he didn’t mention was that this was not real magnet system, but a neighborhood school system with two magnets (one in UM, one in the SE) tacked on. The LWV was not opposed to magnet schools in general, but to this particular version because they considered it to be a step back from the existing desegregation plan.
https://tinyurl.com/ydv37uf
blah blah blah
Who cares what was said about the League of Women Voters.
The bottom line is that the Mayor and the appointed BOE people are attempting to hold onto their power with every thing that they have.
hey have said that an elected BOE will abolish the magnet school system -BALDERDASH we won’t elect a BOE that will
That it will cost each candidate thousands of dollars to run for election- BALDERDASH elections are won by campaigning and meeting voters not by paying for votes
That those who will run are not committed to the children of Montclair- BALDERDASH why would someone spend the time to campaign and serve if not serious
that people will run and use the BOE as a “stepping stone” for higher office- BALDERDASH who cares if they do
and yet the recent expenditure of $50,000 for a motivational speaker for the football team shows how seriously the present appointed BOE takes the economic problems that residents are having and how seriously they consider OUR kids needs.
A MOTVATIONAL SPEAKER
FOR THE FOOTBALL TEAM
FOR $50,000.00
what about tutors for other kids
new textbooks
classroom supplies
the list could go on and on
VOTE YES on November 3rd and then vote for a BOE that has our kids needs in mind and is willing to economize and not spend OUR money foolishly and unwisely.
Let’s get them out and find people who want both the best for OUR kids and know how to do so within a reasonable budget.
STOP THE MINDLESS SPENDING.
So to describe them as having a “gradual hardening of the bureaucratic arteries” seems like just the kind of blanket judgement of ill motives that you are criticizing in others.
Aren’t you basically saying the current BOE is “NOT committed to preserving our schools” in such a statement?
No, not at all. I’m saying that 60 years of doing things one way leads to habits that aren’t necessarily going to be incrementally productive. I don’t doubt that the board members mean well. I do assert that there’s nothing more to be gained by maintaining the status quo.
“once noble organizations”? The LWV took a stand against the elected board back in the mid-nineties. Have they been ignoble for over a decade? And what about the NAACP? Have they also been ignoble for all these years?
Wrong, perhaps; right then wrong now, maybe; but “once noble”? Give me a break.
No, give me a break. I view them as noble organizations that are now picking ignoble and misguided battles on this local level.
The LOWV and the NAACP each had origins in genuine struggle and stood for clear ideals. That does not come through — to me, and in MY opinion — in the current debate.
People have asserted that the NAACP didn’t have a process to arrive at its stated position. Is that true? What, exactly, is being “ADVANCED” by preventing citizens of color from voting for the board??? All it seems to be advancing to me is the continuation of strong man, back room, politics and a chip-on-the-shoulder type of struggle that, in this town by an 85% vote has been rightfully relegated to historical memory. Montclair is a special place — people really do come here to experience the America that could be. A town of genuine tolerance and coexistence. A town where caucasian-looking applekid can actually be brought to tears by the MLK day oration of the engaging and wonderful Mr. Chiles. Why cling to yesterday’s political divisions and cynical power apportionment when we as a town have evolved so well? We’re not all the same by any means, but we have here found the way to respectfully listen to each other, to support one another and to work together. There should be no fear of a voted-in board in a town this wonderful!
As to the so-called league of women “voters”, I remain speechless. I cannot believe that the organization at a national level would support such a push to keep an executive function wholly in the appointing hands of one man elected by a small percentage of the town’s voters. The idea that we don’t elect the Supreme Court or cabinet members is far beside the point: the Supreme Court and cabinet members do not have the “power of the purse” that the board of ed has! We don’t elect the Supreme Court because they should have the protection to exercise their judgment as JUDGES without repercussion. The BOE is instead a semi-legislative, semi-executive body — that is, THEY MAKE OUR DECISIONS AND SPEND OUR MONEY. We should have some avenue to correct their decisions and control their purse strings when they are doing things the way we don’t like.
I am of the opinion that the local League of Women V…[Whatever] is too entrenched in local politics to see the bigger picture here. How can they be against voting when the alternative is to vest ALL POWER in ONE MAN to appoint the decision makers for our school system? The LOW”V”‘s assertions (found here) are all hypothetical statements with no supporting evidence whatsoever.
— More qualified people when appointed? Based on what, other than a raw and unsupported hunch?
— Less politics when appointed? I doubt it (maybe less politics conducted in public view, but certainly not less politics altogether)!
— Less divisive when appointed? Hello? Pro-elected folks (who are at least a large portion of the town) have pretty much been tarred as racist, thoughtless tax vigilantes who are indifferent to our children and schools, and you’re saying keeping things the way they are is less divisive????!!!! I’m back to sputtering in disbelief!
Where’s that voting machine? I’LL STAND IN LINE FOR HOURS TO PUSH THAT BUTTON FOR YES:
YES I care about our schools.
YES I want a say in how things are run.
YES I am committed to improving decisions.
YES I am willing to try to make things better.
YES I love our teachers.
YES I think our schools are good.
YES I think the many can decide better than the connected few.
Simply, Y E S.
apple, I wish we could find a wider audience for you!
Here is what has changed over the last 60 years, the BOE has decided that their role is to get as much money as they can to fund education and they forgot that they also supposed to be a governing body. It is as if your builder is controlling all the details of your house addition and you, the home owner has no say over the budget or even where the kitchen windows go.
Months? No. It took us 3 weeks to collect all the signatures, since the Town attorney threw out 700 of them on a technicality which can probably very easily be proved illegal. But, then again, 1200 is a lot more than 47, you have to admit.
nielmtc, you say that you “worked hard to change and improve our schools (and plan to continue to help make the BOE and administration accountable and responsive)”. How is that working out for you?
With all due respect to you and other volunteers, after all these years of trying to change the schools, why not support the effort that would actually bring this change about?
Speaking of change, once the new, ELECTED, BOE is in place, the meetings are the first thing I’m going after. No more 7:30 pm (dinner and bedtime) meetings that prevent us, moms, from participating, and having all the information filtered through the PTA beauty pageants.
Vote YES!!!!
” I view them as noble organizations that are now picking ignoble and misguided battles on this local level.” – so precise….I couldn’t agree more and also wish that we could find a wider audience for Appletony…especially before this Tuesday.
I do want to make one thing more clear:
When I responded to the League of Women [Something]’s assertion that you get more qualified people with an appointed board, I was not meaning to say that the current board is not qualified. I have no problem with the qualifications of the current board members and understand them to be dedicated and well-meaning people. I hope many of them will overcome their initial hesitation and embrace the open political process over the unelected process.
My point is that I am sure that smart, well-intentioned people with translatable skills and deep community ties will run for election. There’s no support for the prospect that one method will get you “more qualified” members than another.