Montclair NAACP executive committee neutral on elected vs. appointed BOE
The executive committee of the Montclair branch of the NAACP has voted to remain neutral on the ballot question that asks if Montclair should become a Type II school district.
If the referendum passes, the district system of mayoral appointments to the Board of Education would be replaced with elections. Two members would be added to the board, for a total of nine. The district's separate Board of School Estimate, which approves budgets and fixes costs of capital improvements for the Township Committee to bond, would be dissolved. The school board would generally approve its own budgets, but would send them to voters if they exceed a state-mandated 2% cap on year-to-year property tax growth. Capital improvements would go to referendums, instead of the BoSE and council.
The chapter's executive committee voted two weeks ago. Chapter President Roger Terry sent members a notice this week about the choice not to take a position.
The chapter's education committee, however, has voted to endorse the move to an elected board. Its chairwoman, Diane Anglin, recently spoke at a Montclair Local forum on the issue, specifically representing the committee.
"With members on both sides of this issue, we can all agree that all parties are interested in what is best for the students of Montclair," Terry said in the message to members. "We encourage our members to attend the public forums so they can make an informed decision on the Future of the School District."
Watch replays of the Montclair Local forum, and another organized by Councilman David Cummings here.