Endorsement for BHPSNJ BOE: Choosing Independence for Our Schools’ Future

For the past four years our BOE has been in a gridlock between those who believe process and accountability matter and those who, for whatever reason, become angry and frustrated any time District administration is questioned. Here are the facts – and they are facts:

The Board of Education has a duty to examine how every single cent is spent in the District. This is not managing the “day to day” operations – it is a responsibility that is core. Any BOE candidate who frames pushing back on legal bills that are not justified as “partisan” has a significant deficit when it comes to understanding the role of the BOE. Simply rubber stamping bills so that vendors are happy robs more dollars from our classroom for no. good. reason.

Managing how money is spent ties directly to a fundamental pillar of providing a strong education to our students.

Any BOE Candidate who dismisses State proficiency scores as much ado about nothing, has a significant deficit when it comes to understanding the purpose of State Proficiency exams and is ill-equipped to take on what the State of NJ appears to be trying to do in confusing what has been a steady decline in Math, ELA and Science scores.

Any BOE Candidate, who as President, allows the Mayor and Council to take over a budget meeting to advance a fake turf field and clearly coordinates with local political entities to satiate their interests in order to preserve their position as President (appointed by the same political machines they show up in halloween pictures with) is not making decisions in line with the best interests of our students.

The same machines that just pass no bid contracts through with no discussion and decide not to let the public know when raw sewage is being discharged into the Passaic. The same machines that want our schools to pay benefit time and no caps for police in schools – an arrangement no other District that I could find currently has. The same machines who have misrepresented almost every single issue for over a decade while our scores plummet and lean on “trust the administration”.

The fact that this needs to be spelled out is insane – but there are candidates who are literally running on these ideas.

I will be voting for Arik Samson and Javier Morales because their responses to questions, philosophical positions in connection to education and lack of connection to special interests from what has turned into a political duopoly with last minute tickets is what we need for BOE. The very fact that both the Democratic and Republican machines are working hard to make sure they don’t get elected should tell you everything you need to know.

Aside from this, they are both immensely qualified and bring the kind of experience well suited to the BOE.

I may or may not vote for Deb Terrero. She’s been better than I expected but the whole “I’m running with Gale and take a guess at who’s paying for my ads” made me wonder whether this one year was an act. There’s also a history and precedent she set with the PTO that is even more concerning. But at the end of the day she’s better than the other remaining options.

That’s all I’m going to say about the BOE election when it comes to an endorsement. You have 5 years of track record when it comes to what it looks like when we have “ BOE members aren’t allowed to cough unless we pay 80 consultants to give them permission and just do whatever the Mayor wants so she likes us” candidates elected. If you want to go with the Instagram, “all the right people love them” candidates then go right ahead, my oldest has one year left and hopefully so does my youngest.

Good luck.

Submitted directly by the author; content reflects their own views.