On heels of Cami Anderson’s resignation, Gov. Christie and Mayor Baraka name panel to work on returning district to local control
By John Mooney
The new panel given the task of guiding the end of state control of Newark’s schools – announced Friday by Gov. Chris Christie and Mayor Ras Baraka – is intriguing right down to its name: the Newark Educational Success Board.
Yet in spite of that name, there will be plenty of challenges ahead, not only in bringing together disparate groups and interests, but also in overcoming a number of regulatory and legal hurdles as well.
The joint statement released by the two political leaders amounted to dropping the other shoe, following the stunning news earlier in the week that controversial Newark schools Superintendent Cami Anderson would be stepping down after four years, succeeded by former state education commissioner Chris Cerf.
The new panel will have nine members — five appointed by the governor, four by the mayor – who will set the city on the path toward regaining control of its schools after 21 years of state operation.
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