Re: JCFBS to host 3rd annual JCBOE candidate forum 4/7/09 6:30 p.m.
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Newbie
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Board of Education elections are indeed hotting up, and for good reason: JC?s public schools are finally returning to local control. The future of tens of thousands of JC kids is at stake. Eric Goldsmith, Tom Wilen and I (Moshe Rozenblit) have decided to run because:
? Our elementary schools rank in bottom 15% of the state, yet the current BOE voted unanimously to extend the contract of the current superintendent for 3 more years, with a hefty pay rise. ? The KMPG audit (commissioned by the state) found that 1/3 of the budget, i.e., over $200M, was unaccounted for; the portion that was accounted for included salaries for 9 dead people and over $200k/year for a janitor with lots of overtime. Rather than use the audit to clean the system, the BOE lambasted the auditors. Our goals are clear and measurable: ? Increase the standardized test scores by 5% to 10% each year, until JC is at least in the top 50% of the state. ? Reduce the ?unaccounted? portion of the budget from 33% to under 5% within 3 years Our approach is the only one that will succeed (For more details see our website: www.jceen.org): ? Replace the superintendent with an outstanding, inspired and committed leader, in the mould of NYC?s Joel Klein, DC?s Michelle Rhee, and Chicago?s Arne Duncan (now Obama?s Secretary of Education). ? Empower parents, principals and teachers; reward dedicated teachers while removing ineffective ones; support new quality charter schools and magnet schools to the extent desired by parents. ? Replace the Chief Financial Officer with an expert with a proven track record at implementing strong financial controls and uprooting waste (or worse). At the various candidates? forums we were heartened to find one kindred spirit: Mario Gonzalez who shares many of our views. The BOE elections will impact our city?s image, real estate value, the pride of dedicated teachers, and above all: the future of JC?s children. Please vote, and make sure your friends and neighbors vote too. Jersey City Excellence in Education Now! (www.jceen.org)
Posted on: 2009/4/12 23:46
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