Autumn 2012

Welcome our new superintendent

The columnThe column

Greco’s MessageGreco’s MessageCerf on our turfCerf on our turf

The contractThe contract

Pensions & Benefi tsPensions & Benefi ts

MalalaMalala

Secret Turnaround PlanSecret Turnaround Plan

jceacontractproposals@yahoo.com

“Folks, use your common sense”Joe Biden

Islamabad, Pakistan -- The family of a Pakistani teen acti vist who survived an assassinati on att empt at the hands of the Taliban is “counti ng on all the prayers of the nati on” to help her recover. Malala Yousufzai, 14, remains in criti cal conditi on a day aft er surgeons removed a bullet lodged in her neck. Taliban militants shot Malala and two other girls Tuesday as the girls headed home from school in Pakistan’s conservati ve Swat Valley. The two other girls were not seriously injured.

The Taliban have claimed responsibility for targeti ng Malala, who enraged the militant group by writi ng about her daily batt le with the extremists who used fear and inti midati on to force girls to stay at home instead of going to school. Malala’s online writi ng earned her Pakistan’s fi rst Nati onal Peace Prize in November. The Taliban have vowed to kill her if she survives.

On Thursday, Malala was fl own by helicopter from a military hospital in Peshawar to a military hospital in Rawalpindi, outside Islamabad, in order to give her the best medical care.1 She is suff ering from severe cerebral edema, or swelling of the brain, said Lt. Col. Junaid Khan, the head of neurosurgery at the Peshawar hospital.

Her recovery coincides with Internati onal Day of the Girl, created by the United Nati ons to celebrate, address and help advance “girls’ lives and opportuniti es across the globe” -- goals that Malala risked her life to pursue.

Malala’s uncle, Faiz Muhammad, said his niece hadn’t been conscious or responsive since the surgery to remove the bullet more than 24 hours ago. “Doctors say she needs 48 hours’ rest,” he said.Muhammad, who is at the hospital with Malala, said the family was “very worried” about her conditi on.

Cowards shot this brave girl.

“We are counti ng on all the prayers of the nati on,” he said. “The prayers are with us, so, God willing, everything is going to be fi ne.”

On Tuesday, Taliban gunmen stopped a van carrying Malala and the two others who were on their way home from school in Swat Valley in northwestern Pakistan. One of the militants asked which one was Malala Yousufzai. When the girls pointed her out, the men opened fi re. The bullets struck all three girls.The att ack put Malala in intensive care, while the two other girls escaped with non-life-threatening injuries.A day later, police took the van driver and another person into custody for questi oning. They say they’ve identi fi ed the culprits, but so far none have been arrested.

The Taliban issued a statement Thursday defending the att empted killing on religious grounds, saying that anyone who “campaigns against Islam and Sharia (Muslim law) is ordered to be killed by Sharia.”

thursday october 18 board of education meeting

ps 11 6 pm

Fourteen-year-old Malala Yousafzai, the Pakistani girl shot in the head by Taliban gunmen in Swat, has arrived in the UK for medical treatment.

A renowned campaigner for girls' education, she was attacked on her way home from school last Tuesday and a bullet was removed from her skull.

The Taliban said they targeted her for "promoting secularism".

update

From the Desk of the President

Welcome back! Welcome back to all of our students, teachers, teacher assistants, paraprofessionals, secretaries, custodians, administrators and a very warm welcome to our new superintendent of schools, Dr. Marcia V. Lyles, who joins us from her most recent assignment, in Delaware.

By the ti me you read this our welcome back recepti on will be upon us, at the Casino in the Park. I urge you to att end. I’ve invited our new superintendent, and I will be walking around with her to introduce her to all of you. Let’s give Dr. Lyles a real Jersey City welcome, and impress her with our numbers!

The executi ve board and I are working diligently to insti tute changes within the JCEA. Change is not easy, and change takes ti me. I thank you for your conti nued pati ence. I am resurrecti ng the various committ ees that once existed, revamping the website, exploring new ways of communicati ng with the membership, and presenti ng more opportuniti es to att end workshops and conferences, in the near future.

I am forging alliances with community and state groups focused on preserving public educati on. We’ve held open houses on the evenings of the presidenti al debates, and have had very positi ve feedback from the community members in att endance. I am putti ng together a forum for you and the community, to further educate ourselves on the Governor and Commissioner’s Turnaround Plan for Public Schools.

We will soon be sitti ng down to negoti ate our new contract, which brings me to my fi nal topic. Contract language is only as strong as you make it. For example, the early childhood department has asked all teachers to report on a Saturday, without compensati on, for a workshop. You should not go. The early childhood department has asked the Lead Teachers to evaluate classroom teachers using a tool which is evaluati ve in nature. This is unfair to both teachers, and neither should engage in this practi ce. If you voluntarily give up your Saturdays and work on committ ees or att end workshops, without compensati on, you make it extremely diffi cult to negoti ate a contract. The early childhood department is the only department that never consults the JCEA on any program or agenda they would like to insti tute. If one department does this, and the teachers willingly give in to the mandate of the Associate, what’s to stop this practi ce from being insti tuted district wide?

A principal has demanded that her cumbersome lesson plan and progress report be used. If the district template is used for either, “it will be refl ected in their evaluati on,” the staff has been told. She returns progress reports three and four ti mes, edited and revised! The same for her lesson plans. This is not Teach for America, this is Jersey City. I have printed the lett er to the staff of this school, from the JCEA, on the following page. Please, read it, and digest and process the informati on I have writt en. Too much is at stake, here, to allow a bully to inti midate, demoralize and suppress the creati vity of both seasoned and non tenured teachers.

We are facing extremely challenging ti mes, and the climate will not improve anyti me soon. The contract is the contract. It is very clear, in black and white. You pay dues to belong to a professional associati on that you expect to represent you. You should not voluntarily violate or allow your contractual rights to be violated. I am asking that you adhere to the contract and follow the advice that is dispensed from this offi ce.

I have spoken, at length, to many administrators and supervisors, including the head of the P.S.A. We agree upon that fact that we are a formidable force by the sheer strength in our numbers. Let us not give in to the whim of a few renegade administrators and the two Associates who invent their own rules as they sail along, day by day.

In closing, I ask you to remain vigilant, strong and united. Do not allow us to become involved in nit picking and tearing each other apart. This is the plan. Divide and conquer, and create an inroad and create division. They’re testi ng our strength, don’t let them succeed.

I will see you at the Casino in the Park, on Friday, October 19! Looking forward to it!

Ronnie Greco

Contractually SpeakingDear Colleagues,

I am writing to clarify what the contract between the Jersey City Public Schools and the Jersey City Education Association states, and what the school district requires of you, regarding lesson plans and progress reports.

Article 19-3: All teachers who are not under tenure shall be required to submit lesson plan books. Non tenured teachers shall be required to plan (5) five days in advance (i.e. on Monday plans must be completed through Friday) but are not required to plan beyond the Friday of each week. Article 19-3.1: Tenured teachers shall be required to plan three days in advance (i.e. on Monday plans must be completed through Wednesday) but are not required to plan beyond the Friday of each week.Article 19-3.3: All teachers shall have planned their work and have such plans ready for presentation to authorized personnel at the time of supervisory visitations pursuant to sections 3 through 3.2 as appropriate.

What does this mean…? Non tenured teacher’s plans shall be complete on Monday, for the entire week. If requested by the Principal, you must submit them. A photo copy is recommended. Tenured teacher’s plans shall be completed for Monday through Wednesday, on Monday, Monday through Thursday, on Tuesday, and Monday through Friday, on Wednesday. They should be available for inspection, on your desk. TENURED TEACHERS ARE NOT REQUIRED TO SUBMIT PLANS.

Also, you must utilize the prescribed lesson plan book, which you received from the district. You are required to write, in your plans, the SWAT, BY and HW. You may add anything else that you choose; however, you are not insubordinate, if you choose to follow the district template. Principals do not make their own lesson plans.The same holds true for progress reports. The form should be secured from the district, by the principal. This form is used in the other schools; it should be used at Infinity.

Ask your seasoned teachers about 1997 and 1998 and the reasons for the labor dispute in this district. It was not about money. The issues were over nit picking by the administration, over such things as lesson plans, portfolios, dress code, and the poor treatment of staff. Remember, the language in your contract is there because of the due diligence of those who took the risk, and walked the picket lines, even when then Governor Whitman sent us notice that we’d be arrested and the National Guard would move in. We stood our ground then and will do so today. Stay informed and most importantly, stay united!

Very truly yours,

Ronnie Greco, President Tina M. Thorp, Grievance Chairwoman

continued on next page>

ELC OBTAINS CONFIDENTIAL NJDOE SCHOOL “TURNAROUND” PLANPROPOSAL TO BROAD FOUNDATION SEEKS MILLIONS FOR CLOSURES, “RECOVERY DISTRICT”

July 31, 2012

In response to a request under the NJ Open Public Records Act (OPRA), Education Law Center has obtained a confi dential proposal prepared for the Broad Foundation by the NJ Department of Education (NJDOE) to “turnaround,” take control, and potentially close over 200 public schools over the next three years.

NJ Education Commissioner Christopher Cerf submitted a draft “School Turnaround Proposal” to the Eli Broad Foundation in November 2011, seeking to secure millions in grant funds from the private, Los Angeles-based foundation. The draft formed the basis of a fi nal proposal, submitted February 2012, requesting $7.6 million in grant funds.

The proposals provide new details on NJDOE plans to aggressively “intervene” in schools recently designated as “priority” and “focus” schools based mostly on low test scores, including:

reallocation of $24 million per year in NJDOE funds and “repurposing” of 166 employees to seven Regional Achievement Centers (RAC) to direct “advanced interventions” in the targeted schools;

proposed legislation eliminating NJ’s district monitoring statute, known as the Quality School Accountability Continuum (QSAC);

creation of an “Achievement School District” (ASD) – based on a “recovery district” model borrowed from post-Katrina New Orleans – in which schools are placed under the direct control of the Commissioner with the following conditions:

o no possible appeal by school or district of placement in ASD;

o suspension of existing collective bargaining agreements;

o turning over management of schools to private charter or Education Management Organizations (EMO), with the EMO controlling all personnel decisions upon takeover;

o returning the state operated districts (Newark, Jersey City and Paterson) to “local control” within four years, but keeping some schools in those districts in the ASD;

o taking State control of any district with more than 40% low-performing “priority schools;”

o closing schools that don’t show enough improvement after two years.

The fi nal proposal says that “direct interventions” will “reach approximately 253 schools and almost 185,000 students” and begin “as early as the fall of 2012.”

In March 2012, the Broad Foundation notifi ed Commissioner Cerf that NJDOE would receive $1.9 million in foundation funds to support the plan. In an email, the Commissioner said it was “the largest grant [Broad] has ever made to a state dept of education.”

CONFID

ENTIAL

It is unclear whether NJDOE received these funds directly. In June, the State Board of Education approved receipt of $430,000 in Broad funds – $290,000 to support the RACs and $140,000 for oversight of charter schools. The State Board also approved a separate $200,000 grant from Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg’s Startup:Education foundation to “hire a grants writer and attract additional funds to support the NJDOE’s innovation agenda.”

However, it is not clear from the documents obtained by ELC whether the Broad funds approved by the State Board in June were part of the larger Broad grant or a separate one. Broad’s March 12 award letter to Commissioner Cerf notes, “Per your designation, the grant funds will be directed to your fi scal sponsor, the Council of Chief State School Offi cers (CCSSO).” ELC has submitted additional OPRA requests seeking clarifi cation of the distribution and oversight of these funds.

In June, the Legislature removed a $1.7 million allocation from the State Education Department Budget for the RACs, citing a lack of specifi city as to how NJDOE would use the funds. Legislators expressed concern that NJDOE was by-passing and/or duplicating the Department’s county offi ces and ignoring efforts to promote “greater consolidation and effi ciencies.”Assembly Budget Committee Chairman Vincent Prieto said, “We didn’t know exactly what they are doing with this.”

There is no evidence that Cerf submitted the plans for the RACs, the elimination of QSAC, or the creation of the ASD to the State Board or to Legislators prior to submission to the Broad Foundation.

Broad is well known for placing foundation-trained administrators in key positions in urban school districts. A Broad Center memo, included in the OPRA documents, boasts that the Foundation has “over 30 sitting superintendents in large urban systems, as well as state superintendents in four of the most reform-oriented states – Delaware, Rhode Island, Louisiana and New Jersey.” Broad also aggressively promotes expansion of charter schools, public school closures, and corporate-style management of public education.

CONFID

ENTIAL

“Testi ng does not close achievement gaps. Testi ng just shows that there are gaps, but then you have to do something about it. Testi ng should be used diagnosti cally. It should not be used the way we're using it today. It's being used to punish teachers, to close schools and to do all sorts of high stake things like merit pay and basing teachers' evaluati on on testi ng, and that's wrong.” Diane Ravitch

ElectMarie Corfi eld

to the NJ Assembly

Elect a Teacher

Cerf Defends Fulop Meeti ng, Fields Questi ons on Turnaround Plan and State Control at Public HearingBy Chris Neidenberg • Sep 25th, 2012 • Category: Featured, News - Jersey City Independent

New Jersey Educati on Commissioner Christopher Cerf insisted during a meeti ng with residents last night that he did nothing improper when he met privately with Ward E Councilman Steven Fulop and a small group of residents and school board members last year to discuss issues related to fi nding a new superintendent, though he later refused the school board’s invitati on to do the same in a public meeti ng.

“If I am invited into a community, whether by elected offi cials or pri-vate citi zens, I am happy to meet with them,” Cerf said during a two-and-a-half hour meeti ng at New Jersey City University. “I’ve done it before. I’d be happy to do it again.” Cerf was responding to concerns voiced by the Jersey City NAACP’s

Telissa Dowling at a forum that included a questi on-and-answer session for about half the ti me. The fi rst half of the meeti ng, which was convened by State Senator Sandra Cunningham (D-31), focused on Cerf’s contro-

versial turnaround plan for schools deemed failing throughout the state and his general philosophy for reforming educati on. The audience of about 200 included members of the school board, new superinten-dent Marcia Lyles, Fulop, and Assemblymen Charles Mainor (D-31) and Sean Connors (D-33). Connors is a former board member. The public appearance marked the fi rst since the Board of Educati on’s selecti on of Lyles, Cerf’s for-

mer co-worker in the New York City school system, as superintendent. Lyles’ hiring followed a controver-sial selecti on process during which board vice president Sterling Waterman accused the commissioner of trying to bully the board into hiring her, though the state has repeatedly said it was neutral on the selec-ti on. Cerf did not address the Lyles controversy. A report in yes-

terday’s Jersey Journal quoted Cunningham as saying residents would not be allowed to ask Cerf questi ons on the subject. Of the May 2011 private meeti ng with Fulop — who, in an

email to parti cipants, asked that they keep it a secret — Dowling said, “You should not have had a meeti ng with Steve Fulop. You should have come to us [the community].” While Cerf characterized the meeti ng as a discussion about

community concerns, Fulop has said its focus was to discuss issues related to eventually replacing then-superintendent Charles Epps. At the ti me, Fulop and city school choice advocate Shelley Skinner were challenging the board’s earlier decision to grant Epps a three-year contract extension with the state’s Offi ce of Administrati ve Law. While the case was never decided, the delay gave a new board majority ti me to negoti ate a buyout

with Epps aft er Cerf agreed to waive the state’s mandatory cap on superintendent’s pay, eventually pav-ing the way for Lyles, who, like Cerf, graduated from the controversial Broad Superintendents Academy. The 2011 Fulop session was ti med to occur on the eve of the board’s reorganizati on when a new facti on more hosti le to Epps was slated to take control. Other att endees of that meeti ng included Parents for Progress head Ellen Simon, Waterman, board member Carol Lester and then-board members-elect Carol Harrison-Arnold and Marvin Adames. Adames has since resigned and been replaced by educator Gerald Lyons. In response to concerns Cerf’s turnaround plan might close Jersey City schools in as litt le as two

years, the commissioner said, “Right now, that is not the plan.” But aft er some prodding, the commis-sioner conceded the scenario was sti ll a very real possibility for some city schools if they do not shape up. Sti ll, he tried to downplay the scenario in Jersey City, saying he was confi dent Lyles can develop “a

strategic plan that I can believe in and the com-munity can believe in” in trying to prevent school closures. “I am very excited in the potenti al of this dis-

trict under this board and with this new superinten-dent to make enormous strides to advance student achievement in this district,” Cerf added. The commissioner assured residents he was fl exible and would consider giving failing schools that showed demonstrable gains more than two years to straighten up before possibly locking their doors. Snyder High School special educati on teacher

Sabrina Floyd, focusing on the element of Cerf’s plan to assist schools through “regional achievement centers” placed throughout the state and staff ed with educati on department personnel, maintained that in Jersey City, the plan will only succeed if teachers are supplied with support staff familiar with Jersey City. “You need support staff who know the schools, who know the community and who want to work with the community,” Floyd said. “I agree with you,” Cerf assured the teacher. Parent Akisia Grigsby, recalling Cerf’s appear-

ance before the school board in December 2011 to discuss the superintendent search, said his refusal to meet with the public and take comments at that ti me showed an insensiti vity to the community. “You walked out and you didn’t respect us,” com-

plained Grigsby, who heads the city’s Parent Advocacy Group. Cerf told Grigsby the board was responsible for de-

ciding to hold the closed session and said he did meet residents before leaving. Yet it was Cerf who sought the closed session

last year to discuss issues classifi ed as falling under personnel that pertained to the search for Epps’ suc-cessor. When the board off ered Cerf the opportunity to address the public beforehand, the commissioner declined. Cerf also declined Grigsby’s request that he meet

with Jersey City parents two to four ti mes a year given the state’s acti ons within the district. While Cerf did not rule out additi onal public meeti ngs, he would not commit to as many as four, noti ng that he is ulti mately responsible for some 600 schools throughout the state.

Newark community acti vist Donna Jackson, a harsh criti c of the commissioner’s full control of the Newark school system, said she went to the hearing “to fully support Jersey City parents” speaking out against state control. “It doesn’t look good, Mr. Cerf, that you met

with the board in closed session and didn’t meet with the public,” said Jackson, who complained that Cerf’s policies in Newark were prioriti zing the needs of charter schools over public schools. The issues of the future of charter schools in Jersey City drew litt le discussion last night. In welcoming Cerf to the district, Jersey City Edu-

cati on Associati on President Ron Greco expressed concerns over the commissioner’s policies and urged him to consider giving the district full local control more quickly than his stated four-year ti meframe. “I think it’s ti me for you to take a step back,”

Greco said, urging him to allow Lyles to work with the board without direct state involvement. Photos by Jennifer Weiss and Ralph Cramdon

Terry Davis from MS # 40 was recognized for her work as a nominee for the fi rst ever Ethnic and Minority Affairs and Leadership Image Award. Here Terry is pictured with Dr. Gregory Christopher, NEA Director Jacqui Greadington, also recognized for their work as fellow nominees, along with NJEA President Barbara Keshishian.

Ristorante Caterina de’ Mediciat the

CULINARY INSTITUTE OF AMERICAHyde Park, NY

Monday, November 12, 2012

Lunch MenuAppetizer

Ravioli di Magro al Burro e SalviaFirst Course

Mozzarella con Insalata di Peperoni ArrostitiFresh Mozzarella with Roasted Peppers & Baby Greens

Main CourseScaloppina di Maiale Saltimbocca

Pork Scaloppini with Sage, Prociutto, Mushrooms, & Spinach FlanDessert

Sbrisolona di RiccotaCrumbly Ricotta Cake with Chocolate Sauce

Coff ee, Tea, or Iced Tea

Guided Tour of the Culinary Institute

Bus will be departing from JCEA at 9:00 AM sharp.Parking Available

Transportation is included in the price of $70.

Hope everyone had a nice summer and yet another year goes by. As you all knowit has been difficult with many changes. However sometimes change is good. Keep the faith.

I am taking this opportunity to thank Mr. Tom Favia for the many years he represented the best interests of our membership. Enjoy your retirement.

I would also like to congratulate Mr. Ron Greco JR. and welcome him as the new President of JCEA. I look forward to working with him.

Keep in mind some of the items coming soon: contract proposals, NJEA convention, and the Holidays. Stay tuned for our annual Christmas Dinner Meeting.

Stay Healthy and United,

Wilson Fonseca President N.C.A.S.A.

Dear ESA Members,

Welcome back from your summer vacations. A lot has happened over the last year as many of you know. We have a new Superintendent in place and it looks to be a very busy year for our union and union members. On that note, I would like to thank Tom Favia for his many years of service to the JCEA, I wish him the best on his retirement. I would also like to welcome Ron Greco, the newly elected JCEA President, Andre Pastore 1st Vice President, and Tina Thorp, Grievance Chairperson of the JCEA. We look forward to working with them and wish them the best of luck.

As ESA members we have a few things to look forward to. Do not forget to get out and vote on Tuesday, November 6th, this Presidential election is crucial. The NJEA Convention is being held November 8th-9th in Atlantic City. Our contract is finally ready to go to print, and we are already starting to get our proposals ready for the next contract. Our ESA Christmas Party is scheduled for Saturday, December 8, 2012 from 7pm-11pm at the Chandelier Restaurant in Bayonne, NJ. Our December meeting is tentatively scheduled for Thursday, December 13th. More information will follow on the Christmas Party pricing.

In closing, I would just like to remind the membership to stay focused and stay united. These are difficult times and we must do everything we can to protect our jobs. That includes letting the union know if teachers, teacher aides, or community aides are performing clerical duties at the school level. This is not acceptable and must be stopped, but we can only stop it if we are informed by our membership. In unity there is strength, in strength there is power, with power we have control.

Best Regards,

Ralph Augusto, ESA President

jceacontractproposals@yahoo.com

www.jcea.org

The Monopolization of the Jersey City School Board

Dear Editor,

Many called my statement of a fi xed Superintendent Search a theory. But over the last months and weeks we have all been exposed to evidence of a conspiracy by a select group of people with direct infl uence over the decisions made by the Jersey City School Board. This group included the now Commissioner of Educati on, a city councilman, elected school board members and Ward E residents.

We have had a state assemblyman and state senators comment on the fl awed ethics of the commissioner, which can be translated to the fl awed ethics of our local councilman and board members. The latest email obtained details a board member who had not been in offi ce 60 days when she was already disclosing informati on to Councilman Fulop and a resident of Ward E, an email dated June 29, 2010.

The Fulop Team appears to have a patt ern of endorsing Jersey City School Board members and then encouraging them to break their oath of ethics. I feel certain the single expectati on we all share is for our public servants to honor their oath to perform their duti es with the highest level of ethics… without questi on these public servants have failed miserably. We as adults and role models for the children of our community clearly should be appalled by these acts and discuss with our children that the ends does not justi fy the means. We must demonstrate by example, to our children, that the practi ce of ethics is all important in the quality of our lives and the basis of community.

Parti es to this conspiracy have provided excuses for these acts, albeit unconvincing excuses. However, no excuse can justi fy clandesti ne meeti ngs or the absence of representati ves of the various stakeholders and wards and certainly does not excuse the disclosure of confi denti al informati on that could adversely aff ect private individuals or drain school district resources defending legal acti ons. Without a doubt the comments, made by the various parti es to these acts, are poorly coached responses. Responses that do not make any sense. How can one say they did not know who would be att ending a meeti ng when the email clearly list all addresses with the instructi on to keep the meeti ng a secret? How can one say that the informati on disclosed from closed sessions was expired when the subject was sti ll in negoti ati on? Why does one respondent state that the only discussion was around votes and the another respondent add that there was also discussion about the removal of Dr. Epps? What kind of judgment does a board member exercise when accepti ng an invitati on to att end a secret meeti ng with the Commissioner of Educati on? What type of judgment does a councilman exercise when orchestrati ng such a meeti ng? More importantly, what kind of judgment does a state commissioner exercise when he agrees to parti cipate in what is clearly an unseemly event?

We should all be concern about the integrity of all the parti es involved in these discreditable acts. If we can’t trust school board members to do the ethical thing regarding the standards for a meeti ng, then what can we trust them to do when confronted with the responsibility of overseeing a $661 million budget and the educati onal future of our children? What role will the lack of ethics play in the decisions made by these very people? Recently, some of these same people parti cipated in selecti ng a superintendent to lead our school district. The process for this selecti on is so tainted with decepti on and manipulati on that it is only expected that the ethics of the individual chosen would be in questi on as well.

This past spring Steve Fulop announced that he intended to run for mayor of Jersey City. But if we can’t trust our councilman to do the ethical thing regarding the standards for a meeti ng, then what can we trust him to do when faced with more challenging and diffi cult questi ons aff ecti ng the future of our city? This is the same person who at the June 27th council meeti ng claimed he had nothing to do with the decisions made by the Jersey City School Board and had no relati onship with Chris Cerf.

I would like to believe democracy is respected by all Americans. People all over the world come to this country to experience the greatness of democracy. Part of the democrati c process is voti ng for elected offi cials who we believe represent our individual politi cal positi on. I believe we all accept that the voti ng process results in winners and losers. We hold this process dear to us, it gives us comfort in knowing we have an equal chance to win or loss.

I never thought I would fi nd a fl aw in this process but clearly the electi on of all of our current Jersey City School Board members from the same politi cal camp has created an atmosphere conducive to exclusive audience with the members of the Jersey City School Board by a chosen few. Few residents of this state could command a meeti ng with the State Commissioner of Educati on and school board members in secret. It is only with the monopolizati on of the Jersey City School Board by one politi cal camp that this unfortunate and unequal privilege was made possible. Especially when that politi cal camp lack the ethics required to exercise good judgment.

It is with this realizati on that the residents of Jersey City are obligated to run and vote in the next school board electi on and mayoral electi on. We cannot allow a single person to control our city or school district. It is with acti ve parti cipati on that we, the residents of Jersey City, can take back control!

Do not trust Fulop with your vote!

– Josephine PaigeWard E resident and former supporter of Steve Fulop

Reprinted from Jersey City Independent September 6, 2012

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Well, well, here we go, back from the shore, the mountains or maybe you just hung around town or in the forest, canning and preserving fruits, nuts and veggies and fi lling the pantry with porridge for the long winter ahead!

And a long winter it’s going to be gang, because a few of our friends are already at it….

They just added nice trailers to the cozy litt le cott age… sti ll don’t change anything LOL!

Spot Evaluati on forms on the Parkway were rolled out… CONTRACT VIOLATION.

Hey, No. 7, THANK YOU for allowing the JCEA to proudly display our Juvenile Diabetes Sneakers in your cafeteria window. Now that’s the spirit, thanks, Mr. Rivera.

Stop putti ng the Lead Teachers in the uncomfortable positi on of evaluati ng their colleagues. You’re the only department that does what you want, when you want and have no regard for rules or agreements.

How about those poor folks on Bergen? They put in their transfer BEFORE March 1, they can’t get out. They can’t work the SIG schedule, but they won’t be transferred out! Let’s write them up DAILY. The JCEA has fi led a complaint with the Public Employee Relati ons Committ ee (PERC).

Speaking of PERC, we’ll see the district in a PERC hearing over the spectacular leadership over there in the Juncti on. Scream, yell, talk to the empty chair, att empt to shut down my meeti ng, and then deny everything. Who CAREs, right? LOL

Now, someone call the Archdiocese, please. Mother Superior has fl ed the convent and landed a gig as a Principal in JC. Will you tell her although it’s housed in a former Catholic school, it’s actually public. Beati ng down and demoralizing the staff . Returning progress reports and lesson plans 3, 4 and 5 ti mes for “editi ng.” Now you must maintain two bulleti n boards and don’t dare use the district lesson plan or progress report format! Show this lady the door, right back to T for A! Let’s see you be an administrator in 5, 7, 8, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 22, 23, 24, and 39, LHS, FHS, SHS or DHS. They’d run you right out the door; you couldn’t handle it. You never taught! Shame on you, Sister Grace. ( U must be lovin’ this Goldi ! )

Congratulati ons to School 34 on your centennial; what a beauti ful dinner dance last Friday! You guys rock! The JCEA enjoyed them immensely!

We heard another school just celebrated their centennial. Who was invited? Who CAREs?

Listen, let’s all get down to the Casino in the Park, on Friday, and show ‘em what were made of!

Stand strong Gang, they’re coming for us! I can feel it in the air. Let’s pull out the old movies from ’98, we may need to do it again!

Prince of Pizza coupon….who sang “OOOH, let’s do it again….” Way back in the groovy ‘70’s?

Mary Ellen Romano, your Prince coupon is coming!

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