BY JOE TYRRELL, NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM
Opposition to school closings and consolidations reflects “the desperation of a few,” according to Newark School Superintendent Cami Anderson.
Speaking after an abbreviated presentation to a raucous, overflow crowd at Rutgers-Newark on Friday night, Anderson said that despite the chilly reception, a “silent majority” of residents backs her proposals.
Anderson outlined plans to allow some lower-performing students into programs at the district’s well-regarded magnet schools; eliminate single-classroom pre-kindergartens and shut several schools and annexes.
The ideas are a response to parents “who are demanding excellence for their kids,” Anderson said. They deserve “schools with more of the winning ingredients to help them succeed,” she said.
While highlighting a need to do better, Anderson offered few particulars about why she chose particular schools, the costs of the changes or potential teacher layoffs. Those omissions grated on an initially attentive audience of about 500 people who packed the meeting hall at the Paul Robeson Center, with others left milling around outside because of the limited capacity.
As Anderson proceeded through a power-point presentation, some in the audience questioned why the closings, some based on enrollment, targeted schools in low-income black neighborhoods. Anderson ignored most of the shouted questions, but soon found herself competing with catcalls and what amounted to counter speeches.
“You’re not the community, this is the community,” said Tarrick Tucker in comments that voiced a widespread audience perception that Anderson is paving the way for more privately run schools.
“This is the privatizing of Newark’s public education,” said Patience Roberts. “By closing schools, you’re not helping anybody, and you’re not getting teachers in.”
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