NBOE Board Meeting, 10/28/21
There are some definite changes that are necessary for NBOE to progress and prosper.
Peace and blessings.
- It is essential Board members are committed to NBOE public schools as they took an oath and are elected to serve the needs of the children who attend NBOE. Board member A’Dorian Murray needs to resign as a Board member and serve on the KIPP Foundation. Congratulations on your appointment and I think it would be best for you to remain on that Board since you are a product of that District and educational organization. NBOE is a public board that has ethical requirements and serving on both boards is a violation of those ethics. Honestly, I doubted your commitment to NBOE from your initial election run for the seat. Being committed to Newark children is a little different than being committed to NBOE.
- Josephine Garcia still needs to resign from the Board and be held accountable for her disrespectful remarks towards the community as she is elected to serve.
- The Board is no longer an Advisory Board where the DOE appoints the Superintendent. You all need to govern appropriately or you’re all guilty of Newark losing Governance under QSAC. The community fought hard to acquire full local control and FULL LOCAL CONTROL is necessary to maintain and sustain. Whatever training you need, seek it out. Your responsibility and accountability impact people’s lives. It is a matter of life and death. Hopefully, you all know the consequence of losing Governance and will make the necessary changes for governing NBOE.
Now, I would like to discuss my main point about community schools. This is a model that encompasses the school as the hub of the community. However, the school is no longer the hub of the community especially under the neoliberalism auspices of “choice” The current One Newark Enrollment plan needs to be immediately dismantled. Families being required to choose 8 schools is not a “real choice” since people may only have 3-4 choices. As a community, we must reject the neoliberalism notion of choice because it is destabilizing our communities. This was done under state control and is continuing under local control.
Appropriate support and resources are necessary for success. One of these resources was funding for mental health supports, what happened? Inquiring minds want to know. The support is essential for all, students, staff, and faculty. The lack of support perpetuates mental health stigma and is an impediment to a safe learning environment.
Collaborate with parents and invested community members for the success and safety of NBOE schools. Facilitate a genuine survey of the community to determine their needs and desires. Survey the entire community instead of a segment of it. For the record, a Freedom School is much different than a community school.
Practice social distancing, wear a mask, wash your hands for 20 seconds, get vaccinated.
Peace and blessings.
sistateacher 