Jersey City Superintendent of Schools Dr. Marcia Lyles received a new four-year contract with the district at last night’s board of education meeting – despite the fact the board never voted on the measure.Â
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
BOE Vice President Marilyn Roman told Hudson County View that the way board counsel Ramon Rivera explained the situation to the board, five members must be eligible to vote on a superintendent’s contract.
While seven trustees were present for the meeting: Roman, Vidya Gangadin, Ellen Simon, Sangeeta Ranade, Micheline Amy, Jessica Daye and Joel Torres, three were ineligible to vote due to family members who work in the district.
Roman explained that for that reason, herself, Daye and Torres were exempt from voting on the amended resolution – which asked the board if they would reject the renewal of Lyles’ contract.
Since only four members were eligible to vote, the measure did not receive a call to vote.
A retired 43-year educator who has had her differences with Lyles in the past, Roman expressed disdain for the way the new contract was granted.
“We’re now going to work for somebody who won by default,” she said, also claiming that the board refused to call a special meeting before the end of the year where Trustees Gerald Lyons and/or Lorenzo Richardson could have been present.
The board had to make a decision on Lyles contract by December 31 of this year.
“As an educator, I wouldn’t want to work in a place where no one even voted for me. Still, in terms of myself, I will work with anybody,” she added, stressing that the children of the school district need to come first.
Roman also said she was unaware of the exact details of Lyles’ new deal at the moment.
Mark Ann Dickar, Lyles chief of staff, is not in the office today and no one else from her office was immediately available to comment.