In a letter to the editor, retired teacher Perry Cecchini explains why he feels the “Education Matters” slate is the right choice in the Jersey City Board of Education race.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
The Jersey City School Board Election on November 5, 2019 is a crucial referendum on public education and funding for our schools. The Education Matters Team is committed to high quality education for every student in the Jersey City School System.
They support the important payroll tax which is key to sustained revenue for the schools.
The Education Matters team has restored sports programs which were cut under the administration of former Supt. Dr. Lyles. They have created a middle school vocational program.
They inherited a 71 million dollar deficit from the administration of Dr. Lyles and under the auspices of the state-appointed monitor.
They have restored fiscal responsibility, upgraded school facilities and have a long- range plan to support students with limited English skills and students with disabilities.
They have a working relationship with acting Supt. Of Schools, Mr. Franklin Walker and support this distinguished educator for a permanent role as superintendent.
Mr. Walker has restored a sense of morale and decency to the position and has worked closely with teachers, teacher assistants, paras, custodians, security guards, food service workers and all district employees and has negotiated fair and equitable contracts.
This is a breath of fresh air after years of animosity, chaos and uncertainty. Education Matters will keep the district moving forward for all children across the entire city.
The current board is striving to rehire teachers that were the victims of waste and inefficiency by the prior administration.
The supporters of Change for Children are the same folks who created this fiscal cliff and did nothing about it.
The same folks who created a policy to hire out of district personnel over long standing and effective employees of the district. The same folks who stood silent as teachers were laid off due to the budget.
The same folks who wouldn’t return a call or act responsibly. It’s too important now to turn
back the district to those who nearly brought it to bankruptcy.
Teachers and district employees are now covered under negotiated contracts that brought significant health care relief. Contracts that for the first time in many years were negotiated in good faith and ON TIME!!
I urge all Jersey City residents to move forward with the Education Matters Team on November 5th.
Please vote for 5D Sudhan Thomas, 6D Gerald Lyons, 7D Darwin Ona, 2E Gina Verdibello, 3E Lekendrick Shaw. It’s time to move the district forward with Education Matters and
continue the progress.
Perry Cecchini
Perry Cecchini is the brother of former JCEA hatchetman Bob Cecchini. The question that should be asked of those residents in the Newport…Pavonia….Grove Street area is….do you want the same team that is filing lawsuits against developers who are bringing JOBS….GROWTH…and PROSPERITY to your neighborhoods?..or do you want to clean house and bring real school and teacher selection choices to your neighborhoods and city that will demand the very best from your children….and you? Vote for Change for Children…and bring real honest change to the way Jersey City schools operate…