Community Schools

Peace and blessings

Prayers and condolences to the family of Wilhemina Holder and the Newark community.

1. The Board must embody its governing power with its only employee, the Superintendent, Chief Academic Officer.  Poor governance will lead to Newark losing it under QSAC and NJDOE will appoint a superintendent.  You all are responsible and accountable for the proper allocation of resources that are necessary for success and a positive impact on children’s lives. The amount of funding received for mental health services was squandered on services that do not address mental health, SEL.  The consequences of that squander will be felt in the lives of students, families, faculty, and staff for years to come, SOCIAL and EMOTIONAL LEARNING is a tool, not treatment and does not replace a mental health professional who can provide appropriate tools, skills, treatment, and support to the students, families, staff, and faculty which is a sustainable solution. Some of those supports are treatment, education, referrals, and consultation in times of crisis.  I am disgusted that the choice between a tool and treatment happened.  The choice perpetuates mental health stigma and shows the negligence of your fiduciary responsibility as a Board.  Also, it creates an impediment to learning and academic success. Again, which one of your friends or someone in your network received that contract?  Inquiring minds want to know.  The community fought hard to acquire full local control and FULL LOCAL CONTROL is necessary to maintain and sustain. You all need training. Hopefully, you all know the consequence of losing Governance and will make the necessary changes for governing NBOE.  
2. I have emailed you all information about NJDOE mental health guides and reports.

My main point is community schools. This model encompasses the school as the hub of the community.  If the community had input about mental health resource allocation, the propaganda would have won for it.  There are behavioral health treatment providers in Newark.  NBOE disregards the voice of the community because the school is no longer the hub, especially under the neoliberalism auspices of “choice” which is destabilizing our communities. Effective, consistent, and transparent communication is necessary that starts with executive leadership.  The Board needs more transparency and include the community in making decisions that impact the lives of NBOE students, families, staff, and faculty. Collaborate with parents and invested community members for the success and safety of NBOE schools.  It is a matter of life and death.

Belmont Runyon needs a working fax and the nurses’ office phone must be repaired.  We need to ensure bus tickets are provided to the school in a timely manner.

The current One Newark Enrollment plan needs to be immediately dismantled.  Families being required to choose 8 schools is not a “real choice”.   

Practice social distancing, wear a mask, wash your hands for 20 seconds, get vaccinated, get boosted. Peace and blessings.