La_Verdad wrote:
I don't know - Sterling has accomplished a lot over the past couple years. A post he put up on one of the parent Yahoo groups:

After initially deciding that I would not respond to your email, I too felt compelled to do so.
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> And I too am disappointed. Disappointed that you can sit in the comfort of your home, attend a board meeting or two a year and now become a foremost expert on what makes a good and sound board member. Oh, and all the while casting aspersions and passing? judgements.
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> For the record, you misstated my reasons for voting against the contract, though, it's neither here nor there at this time.
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> Allow me to state some of what you missed by not attending the majority of board and committee meetings and obviously, not talking to parents:
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> 1. It was? I who demanded that Librarians be rehired after a couple of years of children in all schools not enjoying basic library instruction
> 2. It was? I who Felicia Noth called and ultimately received, over a year ago, for an additional PreK classroom in # 5 school as well as help make general repairs in specific areas.
> 3. It was I who helped # 16 schools get air conditioners for above temp classrooms
> 4. It was I who helped #12? (one of our struggling schools) get additional help in the form of an assistant principal
> 5. It was I who helped #15 (another struggling school) fix their auditorium, make? specific facility repairs? and get better lunchroom equipment
> 6. It was I who was on the committee and ultimately as a board member get new recess (though still not enough) for our schools
> 7. It was I who pushed for and got an Alternative School, after years of none along with Vocational Technical instruction.
> 8. It was I who took over Athletics, increased the budget by 400k and is in the process of bringing our district into the 21sr century (with the help of parents) while getting youngers in lower grades involved.
> 9. It was I? who took up an interest in the Jersey City Arts Program, brought their plight to the attention of Cathy Coyle and others? and ultimately increased their budget by an additional 200k.
> 10. It was I who asked to increase the number of security guards in our schools by reducing amount of money we pay into shared services with the City.
> 11. It is I that insisted that we bring back the football program at our largest HS (Dickenson)
> 12. It is I that took an interest in two of our most ill reported high schools (Snyder and Lincoln) and have worked with everyone to help turn them around. (And they have made significant progress)
> 13.It was I who brought this district its first ever public budget meetings as well as help curtail spending as the former chair of Finance.
> 14. It was I who was called by the parent council leader of Liberty to get the school repainted and have general repairs done.
> 15. It was I who have fielded hundreds of phone calls from parents with varying issues and concerns
> 16. It is I? who? is recognized in the mall and streets? by childen as I have visited every school, multiple times, and not just for a function.
> 17. It was I who got this district back the ability to vote on Personnel items
> 18. It was I who trumpeted the successful Achieve 3000 program, for other schools after spending hours with the vendor and schools that had it first.
> 19 It was I who help create the new "lead teacher" program with my constant complaining of subsitute teachers in my son's school and many others I have visited.
> 20. It was I who lobbied for good teachers to remain in specific schools? as well as certain programs
> 21. It was I who met with the former superintendent and the entire curriculum dept for them to explain just how common core the 2nd to 5th? Gr? curriculum they were bringing in would be and how it would coincide with future versions.
> 22. It is I who meets and works with all parent council leaders for the betterment of their own schools
> 23. It was I who exposed the civil service issues we had in the district
> 24. And it was I who initiated the Audit
> 25. It is I who spends countless hours of my own time learning and doing the deeds of a board member, not relying on someone else's interpretation.
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> I could go on and on. My point is this.
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> I was doing my due diligence as a board member (but mostly as a parent)? regardless of who is in the top seat and I most certainly will continue.
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> I understand that it's easy for some to forget the whole picture which is why some need reminding. There should never be one issue that someone is judged.
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> I stated something for the record above. Further for the record, I will certainly work with Dr Lyles to make her transition and then her reign successful.
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> I won't, however, bend over for anyone. I will continue to hold everyone accountable, even myself.
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> Sterling