Opinion: Newark needs local control to make schools work

By Mildred C. Crump

The Camden Board of Education deserves congratulations for not bowing to pressure and for denying applications to build New Jersey’s first privately owned public schools until all questions were answered. We recently had a similar opportunity here in Newark, but the results were entirely different.

The recommendations of the Advisory Board of Education in Newark were overturned by the state-appointed superintendent, Cami Anderson, supported by Gov. Chris Christie, Mayor Cory Booker and state Education Commissioner Christopher Cerf. It was another example of the lack of respect they have for the people who were duly elected to our board of education, and a constant reminder that they are only “advisory.” In other words, their opinions don’t count. So instead of a partnership, we have a dictatorship.

State Sen. Ronald Rice (D-Essex) has been fighting the power brokers, advocating for local control of our district. What happened in Newark is a clear indicator that, until we regain that status, we are at the mercy of those whose mission is to destroy and dismantle the public school system.

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