In a letter to the editor, retired educator Perry Cecchini explains why he feels the Jersey City Board of Education should nix their superintendent search and appoint Dr. Norma Fernandez, the interim schools chief, to the role.
Dear Editor,
I’m writing this letter in support of current Interim Superintendent of Schools in Jersey City, Dr. Norma Fernandez.
Dr. Fernandez, the first female Latina superintendent of schools, has stepped in to a most difficult role and after two months, there is an ill conceived plan to not appoint Dr. Fernandez to the position. The plan calls for a “search.”
Dr. Fernandez has spent her entire 40-year career in Jersey City in various positions without controversy and is extremely qualified and dedicated to the children, parents, and the entire Jersey City community.
Sadly, behind the scenes political machinations are at work once again. The last “Search” was a disaster with secret board meetings and the installation of Dr. Lyles. Any Jersey City staff member can address that these searches are fruitless.
Inevitably it’s an “outsider“ with no vision or knowledge of Jersey City. That last “search” set the district back decades.
Dr. Fernandez has visited all the schools, has the requisite talent and ability for this role. Why spend enormous amounts of money for this search?
In closing, I hope that the Jersey City Board of Education abandons this notion of “search” and allows Dr. Fernandez to continue to lead the 30,000 student school district. She is a proven educational leader and role model.
Thank you.
Perry Cecchini
Retired educator