Tuesday, February 7, 2012

Council Moves BOE Election Despite Outcry

Before a unanimous City Council vote moving the school board elections to November, opponents blasted the governing body and promised political payback in a sometimes harsh 45-minute discussion.

Under new legislation, either the municipal council or the school board could take action to move the elections for a four-year period. Assemblyman Jerry Green last week urged the governing body to take the lead, but on Monday school board president Renata Hernandez criticized the council for not reaching out to the board first and told Green, who claims not to be involved in school district affairs, "You are as neutral as acid."

Hernandez called the process a "travesty" that will affect shared services between the city and school district and said the council put "selfish needs" over what is best for children of the community.

"I might have to run for a City Council seat," she said. "The Third Ward seat might look good on me."

Council President Adrian Mapp represents the Third Ward and is up for re-election this year. Mapp said the council had asked in December for a joint meeting, but got no response. He said he heard from one board member who asked him not to support moving the election. But he said the April school board election is drawing less than 1,000 voters, choosing people who make decisions affecting 7,000 children and a $150 million budget.
Assemblyman Jerry Green, seated at center

Green pushed hard for the council to be first with the vote (see Plaintalker's earlier post here) and on Monday called the protest "nonsense." He claimed that while other towns reached out to him as a legislator, "not once" did the Plainfield board reach out.

Among other speakers, board member Wilma Campbell said a November school board meeting will be "clouded this year by the need for us to elect a president," and said the cost for the traditional April election amounted to only $3.68 per taxpayer. She implored the council to "do the right thing and stay out of the business of the Board of Education."

School board attorney Charles Craig said out of 140 districts that have moved the election to November, not one has done so through the governing body. Craig called the impending council vote disrespectful, pre-emptive and politically motivated.

New school board appointee Susan Phifer called for collaboration, but said,"It seems the decision has been made and it really leaves a bad taste."

Speaking in favor of the council vote, former school board member Marie Davis recalled the days when thousands of voters came out for school elections. But board member Alex Edache characterized the situation as "a cat fight."

Political powerhouse John Campbell, whose "Grand SLAM" team now holds a super-majority on the school board, called the move to November "a great mistake" and taunted Mapp, alluding to "his Caribbean accent" and aspirations for re-election to the Third Ward seat or to run for mayor next year.

"I'm not sure what a Caribbean accent has to do with anything here," Councilwoman Rebecca Williams said. She urged the move for greater participation, saying the April election hours from 2 to 9 p.m. hinder voting.

Councilman Cory Storch called John Campbell's remarks "polarizing" and urged all to "calm down."

Mapp responded to Campbell's taunts by saying he was raised to be respectful and "the amount of venom spewed" Monday would not cause him to be less respectful.

The unanimous roll call vote settled the matter. For the next four years, the Plainfield school board election will take place in conjunction with the November general election, which falls on Nov. 6 this year. School board members whose terms would have expired this spring will serve until Jan. 1, when winners of the November election will be sworn in.

--Bernice

7 comments:

  1. This decision in my opinion is a smart one and it addresses the low voting issue as well as the financial one. Even though according the one member the cost is $3.68 times that by 1000s and the money begins to add up. What appears more of an issue is that more Plainfield citizens will have a chance to learn more about who they are voting for. The November vote will also expand the current voting hours will be more flexible for our citizen. The Board is reacting they way most of us feel 90% of the time with the decisions they make.

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  2. I certainly agree with moving the election to November. I'm surprised that Mr. Campbell would insult Mr. Mapp especially when one of the members on the Grand Slam Team speaks with an accent and if you go to the Boards of Educations web site that gentleman's photo has him dressed in garments of his heritage. This type of behavior must stop, what it boils down to, is what are we teaching our children.

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  3. This will give the voters of Plainfield more say in what happens in secrecy at the BOE. The voices should be heard.

    And while Mr Campbell is throwing rocks at people for having an accent, he should look in his own mirror since his house is in foreclosure, again! (its public record, not making this up) Maybe if the bank actually goes though with it this time, we can be rid of the not so "Grand Slam" team.

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    1. I did not view Campbell's comments as any sort of slur towards Mapp as he has a strong accent (southern) himself. I'm not going to comment on Mr. Campbell's specific financial situation because this is a difficult time for everyone (including me) but I will say that that we should focus on moving Plainfield forward - both on the SC and SB side. Not sure that the move to shift the election date was a prudent one since I haven't analyzed all of the facts, but did premature/lacking proper dialogue.

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    2. Who is this John Campbell these stories are referring? Are these writers pointing to the one who was at one time a council member from the third ward a number of years ago, and who is owner of John campbell Realty on Park Ave? If so, I have always rememabered him to be a distinguished geltleman.

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  4. Plainfield BOE to spend $63,200 to send high school students and six adults to Disney World

    From tonight's BOE Agenda:

    RESOLUTION

    The Plainfield Board of Education is committed to ensuring that all students succeed academically
    and reach their full potential in life. In doing so, it is also committed to providing opportunities for and
    ensuring that all students (inclusive of English Language learners and Special Education Students)
    meet the New Jersey Core Curriculum Content Standards and achieve academic and life-long
    success.

    The Plainfield High School Senior Class has been going on senior trips since 1990. This field trip will expand the students’ learning beyond the walls of the classroom into the vast community outside.
    This field trip is an integral part of school instruction. The senior trip will provide students with experiences that cannot be duplicated in school. The students will participate in the Yes Educational Program. The workshops include: character building, anti-bullying, self-esteem awareness, web design, acting/commercials and music designs. The Coordinator of Educational Activities has invited
    the Class of 2012 to attend their 2012 Disney World Educational Group Activities in Lake Buena
    Vista, Florida. Eighty (80) students and six (6) chaperones will attend this special event.
    Eighty (80) seniors and six (6) chaperones will attend the 2012 Disney World Educational Group
    Activities from Friday, May 18, 2012 to Wednesday, May 23, 2012. Departure is scheduled from
    Plainfield High School parking lot on Friday, May 18, 2012 at 11:00 a.m. The return is scheduled for
    Wednesday, May 23, 2012 at 11:35 p.m. The cost for transportation (airfare) and lodging per student
    and per chaperone is $750.00. Transportation to the Philadelphia Airport will be provided by an
    Queen City Bus Tours.
    RESOLVED, that the Plainfield Board of Education approve for eighty (80) seniors and six (6)
    chaperones to attend the 2012 Disney World Educational Activities from Friday, May 18, 2012 to
    Wednesday, May 23, 2012, not to exceed $60,000.00. Transportation to Philadelphia Airport will be
    provided by Queen City Bus Tours, at a rate not to exceed $3,200.00 and charged to account 15-190-
    100018-500A-25-0000 (PHS Principal Field Trip). The cost of transportation (airfare) and lodging will be charged to Plainfield High School General Fund. The availability of funds for this item have been
    verified.

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  5. Next time you take a picture, please use a long lens so we will know who councilwoman rivers is texting, she does it constantly, its annoying and disrespectful. She sends a text and minutes later goes into the mayor office, i have seen it to many times.

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