Quote:

To quote Margaret Mead:

?Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."


#2A Carol Harrison-Arnold
#5A Sue Mack
#10A Marvin Adames

I have two young children so this is a very important election for me! My votes are for:

Carol Harrison-Arnold: Very strong; looks like the type of person who will fight to make things better for our kids.

Marvin Adames: His legal background should be able to uncover a lot of the crime happening behind closed doors (the administration). This means the money will funnel down to what the school board is all about, the EDUCATION of our children.

Nabil Youssef or Sue Mack: This is a tough one. I respect Sue Mack for everything that she has done throughout her years of service but I am upset at her stance on the budget. On the other hand, Mr. Youssef has earned my respect for taking a stand against the current administration. Any person who can stand up alone against his boss and union all alone deserves the respect of the entire community.

I' know Sue Mack and she's been effective personally at the board and decisive when she handled Facilities. I've also observed the board candidates on cable and Sue was the only one to being up the waste and uncompleted work at PS4, leaking roofs and HVAC that didn't work.

I met, spoke with and recognize all the accomplishments of Carol Harddison Arnold's hard work on behalf of public schools.

Finally. I've had the enjoyable time to speak at lemgth with Marvin Adames and I was at the largest attended candidate forum this year, sponsored by the N.A.A.C.P., held at the Mary Bethune Center.

All three of Fulop's endorsed candidates, Carol Harrison-Arnold, Sue Mack and Marvin Adames were the strongest in presentation and seemed they could easily work together and with the board for change.

I concede that Mr. Youssef had the most passion in his presentation, However, he never stated the obvious, which is he would have to resign his teaching job to serve on the BOE. Would he do so?

The campaign of "Vote For Mom" that Vidya Gagadin is running forgets that our candidates are 2 Moms & a Dad

Whoever you select, VOTE! Polls open upat 7AM till 9PM

Despite the dis-information spread by Healy\'s flyers suggesting that you can\'t vote on your way to work. Well you can!

Thanks to our elected candidate from last year, Sterlinfg Waterman. for leading this changei n voting time.


I, Dale Hardman/BrightMoment, will vote for and endorse:

[2A]Carol Harrison-Arnold

[5A] Sue Mack

[10A]Marvin Adames

Below are profiles on all the candidates.

Jersey Journal Profile of Candidates

Profiles of candidates for Jersey City Board of Education
Friday, April 22, 2011

JERSEY CITY SCHOOL BOARD ELECTIONS
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 27, 2011, 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Asterisk (*) indicates incumbent

JERSEY CITY - (3) Three-year terms

Name: *SUZANNE T. MACK
Age: 60
Profession: Urban planner specializing in transportation projects.Positions held: Current Jersey City BOE vice president, former BOE president, chair of Special Education and Facilities committees

Biggest accomplishments: Established Special Education Parents Advisory group. Pushed for school construction projects, such as relocating McNair Academic, building Schools 3, 4 and 7 and moving trailers at School 16.
Top goals: Creating a strategic plan for the district. Creating meaningful after-school partnerships with community. Jump-starting state\'s facilities programming.

Endorsed by: The Jersey City Education Association (JCEA), Councilman Steven Fulop, AFSCME Local 2262 and Mayor Jerramiah Healy

Name: JAYSON H. BURG
Age: 57
Profession: Retired educator
Positions held: Librarian, educational media specialist

Biggest accomplishments: Reactivation of the city environmental commission. Participated in campaign to recall Mayor Jerramiah Healy. After being left back twice in elementary school, worked hard to graduate high school and college.

Top goals: Accountability, transparency, and sensibility.

Endorsed by: State Senate candidate Bruce Alston.

Name: *FRANCES O. THOMPSON
Age: 68
Profession: Administrator
Positions held: Director, Hudson County Office of Minority and Women Business Enterprise.

Biggest accomplishments: Obtained Ph.D. in organizational management. As chairwoman of district\'s Affirmative Action committee, created more cohesive ethnic balance in the schools. Was first black female elected to the Jersey City City Council in 1985.

Top goals: Returning personnel and curriculum matters to board control. Easing racial tensions in two of the high schools. Raising test scores.

Endorsed by: AFSCME local 2262, state Sen. Sandra B. Cunningham, Assemblyman Charles Mainor, Freeholder Jeffrey Dublin, Councilwoman at large Kalimah Ahmad, Ward F Councilwoman Viola Richardson, and Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah T. Healy.

Name: VIDYA GANGADIN
Age: 40
Profession: Financial analyst and an operations manager for a financial firm
.
Biggest accomplishments: Won school bus service for Academy 1 students. Fought to institute policy so students are allowed early admission during inclement weather. Spent 20 years as financial analyst and manages over 250 employees.

Top goals: Advocating for academic diversity and differentiated instruction. Demanding an increased administrative presence in hallways, on the playgrounds and everywhere that bullying takes place. Advocating for accountability and transparency.

Endorsed by: Board member Angel Valentin; One Jersey City

Name: AMANDA KHAN
Age: 41
Profession: Jersey City Department of Public Works
Positions held: Supervising administrative analyst
Biggest accomplishments: Obtained B.A. degree in sociology and a master\'s degree in administrative science. Worked with municipal officials to administer safety standards to a city building. Helped raise two nephews.

Top goals: Working to ensure a safe and supportive place of learning for all students, challenging environment for students, and promote accountability, transparency and greater parental involvement.

Name: AURY MASA NUNEZ
Age: 43
Profession: Executive assistant to Pastor Joshua Rodriguez of Cityline Church in Jersey City
Positions held: Teacher, retail banking, customer service, administration

Biggest accomplishments: A wonderful marriage and family. Being a teacher and mentor to students whose lives were transformed with time, patience and sound guidance. Helped parents strengthen relationships with their children.
Top goals: Empowering parents to get involved in their children\'s education. Create McNair-like schools that include vocational programs. Study what works and throw out what doesn\'t.

Endorsed by: Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah Healy, AFSCME Union Local 2262, and current board member Angel Valentin.

Name: NABIL YOUSSEF
Age: 40
Profession: Education
Positions held: Lincoln High School math teacher

Biggest accomplishments: Helping over 1,600 Jersey City students graduate and attend top universities. Implementing technological math skills for my students. Earning master\'s degree in mathematics and education.

Top goals: Implementing technology, new curriculum and helping to fix scheduling. Stopping irresponsible spending. Making sure the voices of the students, teacher, parents and community are heard.

Name: HIRAM PATEL
Age: 28
Profession: Adjunct math professor at Hudson County Community College, IT recruiter

Biggest accomplishments: Received \"Woman of Action\" award from Jersey City. Earned master\'s degree in information systems and master\'s degree in business administration.

Top goals: Keeping education diverse and making learning fun. Creating safe and secure learning environments. Promoting \"green concept\" into the schools.

Name: CAROL HARRISON-ARNOLD
Age: 54
Profession: Insurance consultant, attorney
Positions held: President, Cha Consult, Inc. President, Monticello Community Development Corporation. Director, Jersey City Episcopal Community Development Corporation. Former president of Lincoln High School Parents Council and board member of Hoboken Charter School.

Biggest accomplishments: Contributed to success of Hoboken Charter School. Started National Society of Black Engineers chapter at Lincoln High School. Recognized in 2007 as a Jersey Journal \"Everyday Hero\" for contributions in community service.

Top goals: Provide a foundation for students to compete in a global economy. Provide parents with the infrastructure to support a permanent position(s) in the decision-making process on the board level. Calling for a national search to replace the superintendent.

Endorsed by: Councilman Steven Fulop, JCEA, Hudson County Freeholder Chair Bill O\'Dea, state Senate candidate Bruce Alston, and One Jersey City.

Name: MARVIN ADAMES
Age: 38
Profession: Chief Municipal Prosecutor, City of Newark
Positions held: Member, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Jersey City Alumni Chapter. Chair, Newark Public Schools Law Academy Advisory Board. Trustee, Essex County Bar Association.

Biggest accomplishments: Honored by the Association of Latin American Law Students of Rutgers Law School for contributions to community, law students and young lawyers. Honored by Volunteer Lawyers for Justice as a \"Champion of Change\" for personal mentorship of over 50 young people.

Top goals: Develop independent legal analysis of the boundaries of the advisory board and school district leaders. Calling for a financial audit of district. Deal with leadership concerns.

Endorsed by: Councilman Steve Fulop, JCEA, and Puertorriquenos Asociados for Community Organization (PACO)
[/quote]

I'm going with: Vidya Gangadi Carol Harrison-Arnold Sue Mack <-- I'm a huge fan of Sue Mack.

Quote:


Thanks Webmaster.

Yes, it is pretty obvious that there are some new members on JCList who have just joined to bash others and bring down the discussion. So, I thank you for your post and your editorial.

I heartily endorse Carol Harrison-Arnold, Sue Mack, and Marvin Adames.

I believe that all three, as a team, need our votes in order to best solve the problems facing our schools.

I have had a chance to speak with all three, and know they will be a great addition to the board. Change is coming, and even skeptical Jersey City residents, weary from years of inept politicians and scandals, can begin to feel hopeful about our city.

Marvin Adames, like myself, grew up in Newark on the wrong side of the tracks, but now chooses to call Jersey City home. As most of you know by now, Marvin is the chief prosecutor for the city of Newark. The potential of having a person of this caliber on the board is astonishing.

Carol and Sue each bring unique skill sets to the table. And, together, with current board members (Sterling Waterman and Carol Lester), I am confident that the team will be able to effect positive change for our children.

We have a great opportunity here - let's not let it slip past.

Do your part: speak with your neighbors, and Vote On Wednesday. The polls will be open from 7 AM to 9 PM.

-Mouse

In an effort to encourage more people to vote I offer this editorial on the School Board Election: The Jersey City Board of Education is in need of reform but the "establishment's" forces are struggling to keep the status quo. Superintendent Charles T. Epps Jr. contract is expiring and he needs to be replaced, school board members who support Epps need to be replaced. Registered voters have the opportunity to elect 3 new school board members this Wednesday April 27, 2011. There will be a total of 9 board members after this election. Sterling Waterman and Carol Lester who got onto the board last year with the support of Councilman Steve Fulop and Dan Levin need 3 allies to attain a 5 vote majority. This election is an opportunity to shift power away from the establishment and toward reform that is required to properly manage the $630 Million school budget and improve in the quality of education. There are several topics on this Message Forum that contain valuable information about this election, beware of a few who have recently joined to comment. The Jersey City Independent, Jersey Journal, and Jersey City Reporter are good sources of information. For those of you who want a suggestion I recommend voting for three of these four candidates: Marvin Adames - Supported by Councilman Steve Fulop Carol Harrison-Arnold - Supported by Councilman Steve Fulop Sue Mack - Supported by Councilman Steve Fulop Vidya Gangadin - Supported by Dan Levin - One Jersey City Voter turnout for this election will be low, three winners can be decided by a slim margin. Every vote counts so please vote. JERSEY CITY SCHOOL BOARD ELECTION WEDNESDAY, APRIL 27, 2011, 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. You are invited to reply to this topic if your post count is greater than 50 and you name the three candidates you are voting for.