Christie, Cerf & Co. Take the Reins of Camden Public Schools

Governor vows to be sensitive to local board and community, but is ready to ‘exert whatever control’ is called for

By John Mooney

It’s called an “intervention” instead of a “takeover,” and there was lots of talk yesterday about partnership and cooperation. But make no mistake, Gov. Chris Christie and his administration are primed to exercise full control over Camden public schools.

Christie came to the city yesterday morning to announce that the state would “intervene” in the long-troubled district, most notably by stepping in to appoint a new superintendent.

Unlike the state’s more-hostile takeovers of its three largest districts — Newark, Jersey City, and Paterson — in the late 1980s and 1990s, Christie stood with community leaders and said this was about building up the capacity and capability.

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