On March 4, AFT New Jersey President Jennifer S. Higgins, Perth Amboy Federation President Pat Paradiso and PAF District Representative Josiah Santamaria spearheaded the distribution of informational flyers to parents and guardians outside Perth Amboy public schools as part of AFT’s latest national day of action.
Assisting them that morning were PAF retirees, as well as representatives from HPAE, Rutgers AAUP-AFT and Workers United.
Higgins and Santamaria went to Rose M. Lopez Elementary School, where one parent told them how her child needs extra help with schoolwork. The district has cut those after-school services, and she cannot afford to pay for private tutoring as a single parent.
“The children and families in Perth Amboy deserve better, and this is why we blanketed the district today to show we have their backs,” Higgins said afterward. “As we stated in the flyer, together we can hold the district’s administration and the board of education accountable for the lack of services and staffing. And that’s what we’ll do March 12 at the next BOE meeting.”
ABOVE: Perth Amboy Federation District Representative Josiah Santamaria and AFTNJ President Jennifer S. Higgins speak with a parent March 4 outside Rose M. Lopez Elementary School in Perth Amboy. (Photo by Chris M. Junior)
