Where are the voters who elected this group of incompetent and unprofessional Board members? We have all seen the failed agenda of the Grand Slam Team ineffectively carried out by a weak and incompetent Interim Superintendent. Ms. Belin-Pyles should do herself a favor and resign along with the convicted felon that is serving as a Board member in violation of the law and a poor example for our students in Mr. Abdul-Haqq.
Why is the public silent about this? Everyday he sits on the Board he is breaking the law.
The recent transfers of principals is just another example of the lies and politics being played out by the Grand Slam Team. All of the Board members except Ms. Gilbert should step down immediately. Yes, Ms. Logan Leach, you too. You had a chance to lead this district in the right direction but instead of leading you seemed to follow and serve as a puppet to the Grand Slam team that used you.
The poor or secret planning and continued walkon items is evidence enough that the transparency promised to the voters that elected them has been denied. There is no regard for public input or for the professionalism of employees. The treatment of speakers by the Board President is unacceptable. Why do we continue to allow this to happen?
Ms. Keisha Edwards chose to step down and not run, but agreed to be placed back on the Board by her cronies without much notice or involvement of the public. The newly elected board members have disappointed greatly and proven themselves to be group thinkers and pawns to Wilma Campbell.
The massive moves of principals Tuesday night which was not placed on the public agenda is another example that things have gotten worse, not better in the district. I have received e-mails that principals were told by telephone that they were being moved shortly before the meeting. As many have posted, the Interim Superintendent was unable to give an explanation as to why the moves are being made and being made at this late hour.
This is the change that Plainfield voted for.
One comment that struck me was regarding Ms. Belin Pyles' statement that there was more than enough time to plan. The person commented simply asked the question: "How in the hell would she know"?
"The fact that she has never been a teacher let alone a principal underscores her inability to understand the work required to prepare students for the school year. She has never done such work and has no clue".
The Board President Renata Hernandez is not only an embarrassment, she is a disgrace. With her type of leadership there is no where for the district to go but down.
It has been nearly two years.
Simpy put: What has the Grand Slam Team and the Interim Superintendent done?
The answer is why it is time to clean house at the board and district level.
I'll buy the brooms and handcuffs.
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Back from Vacation
I am back from a much needed vacation. I never thought that after retiring a nice get away can make such a difference.
I returned to many comments about more shootings in Plainfield, nationally shown fights in the high school, Dr. Bilal (glad to hear he landed a new job), Marias OPRA documents (seemed that it was the lawyers), the Council, the "Assistant" Mayor, the Assemblyman, the Governor's near heart attack (strange what some people were hoping), and yes, the BOE namely the Grand Slam Team.
I will be sifting through these comments and issues and back to posting.
Thanks for checking in.
I returned to many comments about more shootings in Plainfield, nationally shown fights in the high school, Dr. Bilal (glad to hear he landed a new job), Marias OPRA documents (seemed that it was the lawyers), the Council, the "Assistant" Mayor, the Assemblyman, the Governor's near heart attack (strange what some people were hoping), and yes, the BOE namely the Grand Slam Team.
I will be sifting through these comments and issues and back to posting.
Thanks for checking in.
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Politics. Period.
The final decision to not renew Dr. Bilal is the most embarrassing and blatant act of politics that I have seen. The principal has shown that he is more than capable of running the high school and moving it forward. He presented numerous data points that showed his progress and over 100 supporters came out last week to publicly state their support for him at his Donaldson Hearing in which he agreed to be held in public.
As Dr. Bilal shared data, the Interim Superintendent Belin-Pyles showed once again why she is not qualified to hold the highest position in the district or select or evaluate district administrators. Her attempted responses in light of Bilal's well prepared and delivered presentation proved her totally incompetent and inept and made her look like the "fish out water" that she is. I don't know her personally, but so far her record over the past year, especially following Gallon who I have yet to hear anyone challenged his leadership or educational skills, is an utter failure ridden with fumbles and snafus.
The Cook relocation debacle, public statement from principals that they had not been evaluated, promotion of a principal that did not meet the minimum qualifications, pattern of hiding from the media and offering no comments or responses to direct questions, and non renewal of Dr. Bilal show that Ms. Belin Pyles is not fit to be Superintendent of Schools. Add to the fact that according to numerous comments that she has no experience as a principal or teacher for that matter, the district is on a track to failure, cronyism, and rampant politics under her leadership.
It is common knowledge that persons that are unqualified, incompetent, or unfit to do their jobs usually survive and sometimes thrive due to politics. They make no decisions on their own, take no position on matters, and are beholding to the people that put them in place and not the organization that they should be serving. The Plainfield district and children are ill-served by this type of leadership.
And before I get any nasty comments, this post is not about how nice, kind, or sweet a person is. It is about how politics continue to run this district and city in the ground. It is the politics that votes out Lenny Cathcart but that still keeps in place a convicted felon in Abdull Haqq on the Board despite the law stating that it is illegal to do so. It is also the politics that would have the same convicted felon that is a Board member publicly state who Bilal's successor will be. The fix is already in. Such is politics.
Dr. Bilal will not be back at the high school next year. Based on his proven track record before he even arrived to Plainfield, I am sure he will land on his feet and probably be on the prevailing end of a lawsuit against the district.
If one questions whether or not there are conspiracies that play out in the back rooms of City Hall or in the Executive Sessions of Board Meetings, read the released minutes on Maria's Blog. They are very telling in the Gallon matter and I suspect he too should be licking his legal chops after reading some of the statements made by Board members and even the Board attorney.
I suspect that Dr. Bilal too would be wise to start looking into the discussions that involved his nonrewenal, the Board members that supported him, and the superintendent's take on the matter as presented to the Board.
The elections are the most obvious of the political process. They allow citizens to participate in democracy and determine who is going to represent them and their interests. Over a year ago, the process was underway to rid the district of "wayward" reforms that were brought in by a young energetic, idealistic superintendent. These same innovative reforms were celebrated by the local and State media and are still place to this day in the district. He seemed to have had a vision and was able to use data to show and measure the progress of the district and reforms that he instituted. His numbers and initiatives showed that he was doing right by the district. He was well educated and held an earned doctorate.
Plainfield was not ready for such reform from outsider, from one who was not one of their own.
Yes. I am talking about Dr. Steve Gallon. I am also talking about Dr. Brian Bilal. One is from Florida. One is from Plainfield. In an effort to move a reform agenda is doesnt matter where you are from when people are stuck on politics and maintaining the status quo. It is well known that the status quo in Plainfield is failing schools, incompetence, cronyism, nepotism, and politics.
In the midst of the gang violence and deaths of young people right here in Plainfield over the past six months who are usually black or hispanic, these two gentleman defied the odds and could have served as positive role models for the youth, especially black male youth in Plainfield.
But it won't be. The reason that it won't be has nothing to do with their ability, qualifications, credentials, work ethic, or knowledge. Those are matters that seem to apply to the current Board and district leadership. They won't win or succeed because of their ability, qualifications, credentials, work ethic, or knowledge. They win and succeeed because of their politics. They so do even at the expense of the students and downward spiral of the district.
It has everything to do with politics in Plainfield, New Jersey. Period.
As Dr. Bilal shared data, the Interim Superintendent Belin-Pyles showed once again why she is not qualified to hold the highest position in the district or select or evaluate district administrators. Her attempted responses in light of Bilal's well prepared and delivered presentation proved her totally incompetent and inept and made her look like the "fish out water" that she is. I don't know her personally, but so far her record over the past year, especially following Gallon who I have yet to hear anyone challenged his leadership or educational skills, is an utter failure ridden with fumbles and snafus.
The Cook relocation debacle, public statement from principals that they had not been evaluated, promotion of a principal that did not meet the minimum qualifications, pattern of hiding from the media and offering no comments or responses to direct questions, and non renewal of Dr. Bilal show that Ms. Belin Pyles is not fit to be Superintendent of Schools. Add to the fact that according to numerous comments that she has no experience as a principal or teacher for that matter, the district is on a track to failure, cronyism, and rampant politics under her leadership.
It is common knowledge that persons that are unqualified, incompetent, or unfit to do their jobs usually survive and sometimes thrive due to politics. They make no decisions on their own, take no position on matters, and are beholding to the people that put them in place and not the organization that they should be serving. The Plainfield district and children are ill-served by this type of leadership.
And before I get any nasty comments, this post is not about how nice, kind, or sweet a person is. It is about how politics continue to run this district and city in the ground. It is the politics that votes out Lenny Cathcart but that still keeps in place a convicted felon in Abdull Haqq on the Board despite the law stating that it is illegal to do so. It is also the politics that would have the same convicted felon that is a Board member publicly state who Bilal's successor will be. The fix is already in. Such is politics.
Dr. Bilal will not be back at the high school next year. Based on his proven track record before he even arrived to Plainfield, I am sure he will land on his feet and probably be on the prevailing end of a lawsuit against the district.
If one questions whether or not there are conspiracies that play out in the back rooms of City Hall or in the Executive Sessions of Board Meetings, read the released minutes on Maria's Blog. They are very telling in the Gallon matter and I suspect he too should be licking his legal chops after reading some of the statements made by Board members and even the Board attorney.
I suspect that Dr. Bilal too would be wise to start looking into the discussions that involved his nonrewenal, the Board members that supported him, and the superintendent's take on the matter as presented to the Board.
The elections are the most obvious of the political process. They allow citizens to participate in democracy and determine who is going to represent them and their interests. Over a year ago, the process was underway to rid the district of "wayward" reforms that were brought in by a young energetic, idealistic superintendent. These same innovative reforms were celebrated by the local and State media and are still place to this day in the district. He seemed to have had a vision and was able to use data to show and measure the progress of the district and reforms that he instituted. His numbers and initiatives showed that he was doing right by the district. He was well educated and held an earned doctorate.
Plainfield was not ready for such reform from outsider, from one who was not one of their own.
Yes. I am talking about Dr. Steve Gallon. I am also talking about Dr. Brian Bilal. One is from Florida. One is from Plainfield. In an effort to move a reform agenda is doesnt matter where you are from when people are stuck on politics and maintaining the status quo. It is well known that the status quo in Plainfield is failing schools, incompetence, cronyism, nepotism, and politics.
In the midst of the gang violence and deaths of young people right here in Plainfield over the past six months who are usually black or hispanic, these two gentleman defied the odds and could have served as positive role models for the youth, especially black male youth in Plainfield.
But it won't be. The reason that it won't be has nothing to do with their ability, qualifications, credentials, work ethic, or knowledge. Those are matters that seem to apply to the current Board and district leadership. They won't win or succeed because of their ability, qualifications, credentials, work ethic, or knowledge. They win and succeeed because of their politics. They so do even at the expense of the students and downward spiral of the district.
It has everything to do with politics in Plainfield, New Jersey. Period.
Sunday, June 5, 2011
On Cowards and Politics
The mailer I received on the City Council Election is sickening. The sponsor and author shows his cowardice and what type of person he is by attacking the daughter of one of the candidates. My support for either team is not important. What is important is that I do not support below the belt, gutter politics that have become a staple of Plainfield over the past several years and of which too many of us by continuing to elect these people continue to tolerate.
This type of politics and campaigning is not only a reflection on the sponsor, author or people that are running, it is really a reflection on the community because such mailers and campaign talk clearly state that we the electorate will easily fall for it. This was the type of rhetoric that got the Grand Slam Team elected last year. They campaigned on lies and distortions against Dr. Gallon that can finally be read in the Executive Session Minutes that are now on Maria's Blog. The personnel matter can be now seen for what it is, something that the Minutes reflect Wilma Campbell knew all of the time. It seemed to had been the lawyers hand in the personnel matter and the South Plainfield enrollment issue. Both, to quote a fellow blogger, "rang hollow" but eventually accomplished their goal of getting the superintendent out of office.
So if personnel and ethics was the issue, why are we a year later facing a situation where a member of the Grand Slam Team is going to have to be removed because he is a convicted felon, a principal has been hired that did not meet the minimum qualifications while Campbell is the HR Chair, and the Board President has shown herself to be the most rude, uncouth person in a position of leadership? I dont know her but read her remarks to Olddoc and could not believe that they came from the person to be representing our district and students.
I could not resist using this as an example of how the electorate continues to be fooled by dirty politics, lies, and sensationalism. The mailer that implicated a candidates daughter that interned at PMUA was not fair, inappropriate and cowardly. There are some areas that should be sacred in politics and that is one's family and children. There have been well documented reports that even the lowest career criminals have established such codes of respect and honor in not offending one's family or children, i.e., the Mafia. They have a code.
In the Politics of Plainfield there seems not to be a code of honor or respect among some politicians who will do, say, or mail anything to get themselves or their team elected.
We can no longer fault them when they are successful. We need to fault ourselves for falling for this silly games of lies, cowardice, and deceit. Their success in getting elected over and over again is our failure.
I thought I had seen it all last year during the school board election. After learning what I knew from my own research and seeing it confirmed in the Executive Session Minutes posted on Marias Blog, I had hoped that many, especially after seeing the district's decline in performance over the last year and rise in incompetence, cronyism, and politics, the electorate would learn and do better. I guess we will see this week. on Wednesday we will learn and know more about who we are and where we are headed. With the high taxes, rise in violent crime, and rampant incompetence at both the City and the BOE, I am sure that many will be heading out of Plainfilelf if things don't get better in the Queen City.
This week will be a test. It will show rather or not Plainfield is going to rid this community of cowardly politicians.
The recent mailer attacking the daughter of a candidate shows that we have at least one that is still in power.
This type of politics and campaigning is not only a reflection on the sponsor, author or people that are running, it is really a reflection on the community because such mailers and campaign talk clearly state that we the electorate will easily fall for it. This was the type of rhetoric that got the Grand Slam Team elected last year. They campaigned on lies and distortions against Dr. Gallon that can finally be read in the Executive Session Minutes that are now on Maria's Blog. The personnel matter can be now seen for what it is, something that the Minutes reflect Wilma Campbell knew all of the time. It seemed to had been the lawyers hand in the personnel matter and the South Plainfield enrollment issue. Both, to quote a fellow blogger, "rang hollow" but eventually accomplished their goal of getting the superintendent out of office.
So if personnel and ethics was the issue, why are we a year later facing a situation where a member of the Grand Slam Team is going to have to be removed because he is a convicted felon, a principal has been hired that did not meet the minimum qualifications while Campbell is the HR Chair, and the Board President has shown herself to be the most rude, uncouth person in a position of leadership? I dont know her but read her remarks to Olddoc and could not believe that they came from the person to be representing our district and students.
I could not resist using this as an example of how the electorate continues to be fooled by dirty politics, lies, and sensationalism. The mailer that implicated a candidates daughter that interned at PMUA was not fair, inappropriate and cowardly. There are some areas that should be sacred in politics and that is one's family and children. There have been well documented reports that even the lowest career criminals have established such codes of respect and honor in not offending one's family or children, i.e., the Mafia. They have a code.
In the Politics of Plainfield there seems not to be a code of honor or respect among some politicians who will do, say, or mail anything to get themselves or their team elected.
We can no longer fault them when they are successful. We need to fault ourselves for falling for this silly games of lies, cowardice, and deceit. Their success in getting elected over and over again is our failure.
I thought I had seen it all last year during the school board election. After learning what I knew from my own research and seeing it confirmed in the Executive Session Minutes posted on Marias Blog, I had hoped that many, especially after seeing the district's decline in performance over the last year and rise in incompetence, cronyism, and politics, the electorate would learn and do better. I guess we will see this week. on Wednesday we will learn and know more about who we are and where we are headed. With the high taxes, rise in violent crime, and rampant incompetence at both the City and the BOE, I am sure that many will be heading out of Plainfilelf if things don't get better in the Queen City.
This week will be a test. It will show rather or not Plainfield is going to rid this community of cowardly politicians.
The recent mailer attacking the daughter of a candidate shows that we have at least one that is still in power.
Thursday, June 2, 2011
WILL THOSE ELECTED TO UPHOLD THE LAW FOLLOW IT?
As I said before, it wasn't personal. But now it is the law.
Any BOE Member that was convicted of certain crimes cannot serve as a member of the Board of Education. And it is not about whether one likes the person or not.
The law is the law.
Will our elected officials at the BOE show leadership and respect for the law?
According to today's Courier News, it appears that this will not be the case. You can read the article for yourself at http://plainfield.injersey.com/
How much time and money will be spent on fighting something that was unanimously passed into law by our elected officials? I waited until the Bill was signed and for the person that may be affected to honorably step down.
Service to this community as described in the very same article does not have to come as a BOE member. Here again is the double-standards mentality that is shown by the new Board Majority. In the article, the BOE President has also seemed to take a position as the leader of the Board that is critical of the law that she was elected to uphold. This would clearly put the BOE at odds with Assemblyman Jerry Green, those who voted unanilmously for it, and the Governor who signed it into law.
What does the Board say to a teacher or administrator if they adopt a policy or rule that may affect current employees? Disregard the policy or rule? I think not.
This is the democratic process at work. This is what makes this country great.
It seems that Mr. Abdull Haqq was no stranger to breaking the law when he was caught and convicted of possessing heroin, this after having two disordely persons offense. By my count, that is three separate brushes with the law by Mr. Abdull Haqq---three strikes for a member of the Grand Slam Team. Three strikes always means out.
Mr. Abdull Haqq can still hit a home run in the area of leadership and respect for the law. He can show respect for the law and a sense of honor and duty that he may have shown during his service in the Army by respecting and upholding the law.
He can do this by stepping down.
Any BOE Member that was convicted of certain crimes cannot serve as a member of the Board of Education. And it is not about whether one likes the person or not.
The law is the law.
Will our elected officials at the BOE show leadership and respect for the law?
According to today's Courier News, it appears that this will not be the case. You can read the article for yourself at http://plainfield.injersey.com/
How much time and money will be spent on fighting something that was unanimously passed into law by our elected officials? I waited until the Bill was signed and for the person that may be affected to honorably step down.
Service to this community as described in the very same article does not have to come as a BOE member. Here again is the double-standards mentality that is shown by the new Board Majority. In the article, the BOE President has also seemed to take a position as the leader of the Board that is critical of the law that she was elected to uphold. This would clearly put the BOE at odds with Assemblyman Jerry Green, those who voted unanilmously for it, and the Governor who signed it into law.
What does the Board say to a teacher or administrator if they adopt a policy or rule that may affect current employees? Disregard the policy or rule? I think not.
This is the democratic process at work. This is what makes this country great.
It seems that Mr. Abdull Haqq was no stranger to breaking the law when he was caught and convicted of possessing heroin, this after having two disordely persons offense. By my count, that is three separate brushes with the law by Mr. Abdull Haqq---three strikes for a member of the Grand Slam Team. Three strikes always means out.
Mr. Abdull Haqq can still hit a home run in the area of leadership and respect for the law. He can show respect for the law and a sense of honor and duty that he may have shown during his service in the Army by respecting and upholding the law.
He can do this by stepping down.
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Plainfield High School Principal Should Stay
I am taking a position on the Plainfield High School principal, Dr. Brian Bilal. I don't care if it is not popular with the BOE or the administration. The community wants answers.
Today's Courier News ran a story on the fact that the Plainfield BOE is planning on not renewing Dr. Bilal's contract despite him having made progress over the past several years.
Read here: http://www.mycentraljersey.com/article/20110527/NJNEWS/305270033/Plainfield-principal-hanging-on?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|FRONTPAGE
This seems to be a pattern of this BOE. They seem to not want to retain young, competent administrators that have documented their progress and the fact they they are making a difference. I am a white male and have stated my support of the work that Dr. Gallon did in the district. Add Dr. Bilal to this list based on his improvement of Plainfield High School. I don't know neither but met Dr. Gallon once at a community event. My support is based on facts and data that no one seems to want to look at including this interim superintendent and BOE that have decided that he should not return next year. Why?
Dr. Bilal is up for tenure in the district. He did his time. It will be nearly 3 years and a day in which he would have served the district in which according to the article he hasn't missed a day of work. The Interim Superintendent who, according to some of the comments that I received on another post pointing me to this story, has never served as a school principal or vice principal, yet has decided to that Dr. Bilal should not return as principal next year. She naturally hid behind the "no comment" cover which is often used by officials when it comes to personnel issues. Seems though she has also mastered this two liner when it came to the Cook School plan according to Maria's Blog in which she simply didn't answer questions regarding plans for Cook.
This is yet another Grand Slam decision. They appointed her as interim superintendent after Gallon's ouster. If it is in fact true that she never served as a school principal or even vice principal, then one would question what criteria, if not data is being used to not bring Dr. Bilal back.
According to the article Dr. Bilal improved test scores, reduced suspensions and raised graduation rates. He also increased advanced placement studies and had the school removed from the state's list of dangerous schools. These achievements seem to be aligned with the goals that were laid out on the district's strategic plan developed by Gallon in which he also achieved in these areas. What is with this place coming to? What are they doing here?
These guys seemed to had been moving the school and district forward only to be thwarted by decisions that had no rhyme or reason. We know that Gallon's hiring of staff began a series of events that fueled public discontent and ended up with him being charged in the South Plainfield matter although the OFAC report shows that the hiring issue was mainly a function of an incompetent HR department and the South Plainfield matter was dismissed without ever going before a grand jury. But what is this with Dr. Bilal? He is a product from the community and graduate from Plainfield High school.
If after reading today's article the community does not have questions, well I do.
Interim Superintendent Belin Pyles and Board President Hernandez why are you two deciding to get rid of a man who has seemed to have done a good job at the school?
Why would you want to continue the instability of leadership of the high school?
What information or data are you using to decide not to bring Dr. Bilal back?
Are there other principals that are not being brought back next year?
Are you using the same criteria to determine who stays and who goes as a principal for next year?
Are there other principals that were hired after Dr. Bilal?
Has Dr. Bilal and other district administrators been evaluated according to the law?
What role if any does the HR department have in this decision?
These are questions that should be answered by this administration and BOE.
Should Dr. Bilal be allowed to stay as principal of Plainfield High School?
Why is Ms. Belin Pyles and the BOE taking this action against Dr. Bilal?
Can anyone shed some light?
Today's Courier News ran a story on the fact that the Plainfield BOE is planning on not renewing Dr. Bilal's contract despite him having made progress over the past several years.
Read here: http://www.mycentraljersey.com/article/20110527/NJNEWS/305270033/Plainfield-principal-hanging-on?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|FRONTPAGE
This seems to be a pattern of this BOE. They seem to not want to retain young, competent administrators that have documented their progress and the fact they they are making a difference. I am a white male and have stated my support of the work that Dr. Gallon did in the district. Add Dr. Bilal to this list based on his improvement of Plainfield High School. I don't know neither but met Dr. Gallon once at a community event. My support is based on facts and data that no one seems to want to look at including this interim superintendent and BOE that have decided that he should not return next year. Why?
Dr. Bilal is up for tenure in the district. He did his time. It will be nearly 3 years and a day in which he would have served the district in which according to the article he hasn't missed a day of work. The Interim Superintendent who, according to some of the comments that I received on another post pointing me to this story, has never served as a school principal or vice principal, yet has decided to that Dr. Bilal should not return as principal next year. She naturally hid behind the "no comment" cover which is often used by officials when it comes to personnel issues. Seems though she has also mastered this two liner when it came to the Cook School plan according to Maria's Blog in which she simply didn't answer questions regarding plans for Cook.
This is yet another Grand Slam decision. They appointed her as interim superintendent after Gallon's ouster. If it is in fact true that she never served as a school principal or even vice principal, then one would question what criteria, if not data is being used to not bring Dr. Bilal back.
According to the article Dr. Bilal improved test scores, reduced suspensions and raised graduation rates. He also increased advanced placement studies and had the school removed from the state's list of dangerous schools. These achievements seem to be aligned with the goals that were laid out on the district's strategic plan developed by Gallon in which he also achieved in these areas. What is with this place coming to? What are they doing here?
These guys seemed to had been moving the school and district forward only to be thwarted by decisions that had no rhyme or reason. We know that Gallon's hiring of staff began a series of events that fueled public discontent and ended up with him being charged in the South Plainfield matter although the OFAC report shows that the hiring issue was mainly a function of an incompetent HR department and the South Plainfield matter was dismissed without ever going before a grand jury. But what is this with Dr. Bilal? He is a product from the community and graduate from Plainfield High school.
If after reading today's article the community does not have questions, well I do.
Interim Superintendent Belin Pyles and Board President Hernandez why are you two deciding to get rid of a man who has seemed to have done a good job at the school?
Why would you want to continue the instability of leadership of the high school?
What information or data are you using to decide not to bring Dr. Bilal back?
Are there other principals that are not being brought back next year?
Are you using the same criteria to determine who stays and who goes as a principal for next year?
Are there other principals that were hired after Dr. Bilal?
Has Dr. Bilal and other district administrators been evaluated according to the law?
What role if any does the HR department have in this decision?
These are questions that should be answered by this administration and BOE.
Should Dr. Bilal be allowed to stay as principal of Plainfield High School?
Why is Ms. Belin Pyles and the BOE taking this action against Dr. Bilal?
Can anyone shed some light?
Thursday, May 19, 2011
SHOULD A CONVICTED FELON BE ALLOWED TO SERVE ON THE PLAINFIELD BOARD OF EDUCATION?
This isn't personal. It can't be as I have not met the person in question.
Although there are over 600 school districts throughout New Jersey, Plainfield will find itself again in the unique position of potentially having to remove a sitting school board member. Despite the unusual silence from a usual voiceful Board of Education and community, the legislation to bar those convicted of crimes from serving on school boards and requiring board members to undergo criminal checks was approved again and is moving through the process.
Frankly, at this point it really doesn't matter what many have spoken locally think or feel about this issue. There were some emotional remarks about second chances and turning one's life around of which I understand. Despite their being a splash of articles and commentary about whether the current school board member should be removed for his past criminal record and conviction, the elected officials in Trenton, including our very own Assemblyman, clearly and unanimously stated their position in their 76 to 0 approval of the Bill. The slightly revised version of one that passed the Legislature in February was conditionally vetoed by the governor.
Apparently, the Governor's veto was not a sign of hope for convicted felons currently serving on school board. It was a notice that the Bill would be signed once the stronger language was included. The conditional veto added language barring people convicted of bias intimidation and any fourth degree crime involving a child. The bill also would require each member of a board of education to undergo a criminal history background check within 30 days of being elected or appointed.
Clearly, he wanted to make the Bill even tougher and place board members that are convicted felons on notice that their time is up.
Under the bill, any person elected or appointed to a board of education would be disqualified from serving if they have been convicted of any crime that, under existing law, would disqualify them from being employed in a public school. The cost of the criminal background check will be the responsibility of the school board member, but unexpended campaign funds may be used in the case of an elected member.
The Bill it would also amend the oath of office taken by new board members to include a specific declaration that the member is not disqualified from service due to conviction of one of those crimes and any member who falsely swears that he or she is not disqualified would face penalties of up to 18 months in prison and $10,000 in fines.
The revised Bill was sent back to the Senate.
The crimes included under the bill include any crime of the first or second degree; an offense involving the manufacture, transportation, sale, possession, distribution or habitual use of a controlled dangerous substance or "drug paraphernalia; a crime involving the use of force or the threat of force to or upon a person or property including, but not limited to, robbery, aggravated assault, stalking, kidnapping, arson, manslaughter and murder; a third degree crime, or any of the following crimes: recklessly endangering another person; terroristic threats; criminal restraint; luring, enticing child into motor vehicle structure or isolated area; causing or risking widespread injury or damage; criminal mischief; burglary; threats and other improper influence; perjury and false swearing; resisting arrest; any crime of the fourth degree involving a victim who is a minor; or conspiracy to commit or an attempt to commit any of the aforesaid crimes.
The Bill is for those that were convicted of the crimes listed above. It does not apply to instances in which a person may have been arrested or even charged with such crimes. Sadly, we just lost from the Board a law abiding citizen with a clean record and known service to the community in Lenny Cathcart. There were other candidates last year with impecable resumes, records of service, and yes, clean criminal backgrounds that were not elected to the Board.
This issue would again place the Plainfield Board of Education in the middle of this debate. A member of the Grand Slam Team has been identifed as a convicted felon that would be subject to removal. That would leave the Grand Slam Team slate that swept last year's board election down to two after one member who was an educator decided not to run after only one year in office. Was her decision not to run due to district's gloomy financial picture, signs of what would be a failed reform agenda, an inability to keep campaign promises, politics, knowledge of the limited powers that board members have to run the daily affairs, or all of the above? I guess we will never know.
What we do know is that the Grand Slam Team and the Plainfield Board of Education is going to have to show real leadership and practice what it preaches. Accountability. Transparency. Ethics. Honesty. Law.
These will be guiding words that will shape how they deal with one of their own who just last year served as Vice President and held major sway on the runnings in the district.
The Board and community have been extremely silent on this issue.
Should a convicted felon be allowed to serve in a position of leadership and authority over a school district when the people employed in the district under that authority could not be hired if they were convicted of similar crimes?
This is a question that will have to be answered soon. It is my hope that the Board of Education lead and the convicted board member bow out graciously and step down. Any other option would be politics as usual in the Queen City.
No more silence. Let's get it out in the open and talk about it.
What do you think?
Should a convicted felon be allowed to continue to serve on the Plainfield Board of Education when the law passes? Yes or No.
Remember, it is not personal.
Although there are over 600 school districts throughout New Jersey, Plainfield will find itself again in the unique position of potentially having to remove a sitting school board member. Despite the unusual silence from a usual voiceful Board of Education and community, the legislation to bar those convicted of crimes from serving on school boards and requiring board members to undergo criminal checks was approved again and is moving through the process.
Frankly, at this point it really doesn't matter what many have spoken locally think or feel about this issue. There were some emotional remarks about second chances and turning one's life around of which I understand. Despite their being a splash of articles and commentary about whether the current school board member should be removed for his past criminal record and conviction, the elected officials in Trenton, including our very own Assemblyman, clearly and unanimously stated their position in their 76 to 0 approval of the Bill. The slightly revised version of one that passed the Legislature in February was conditionally vetoed by the governor.
Apparently, the Governor's veto was not a sign of hope for convicted felons currently serving on school board. It was a notice that the Bill would be signed once the stronger language was included. The conditional veto added language barring people convicted of bias intimidation and any fourth degree crime involving a child. The bill also would require each member of a board of education to undergo a criminal history background check within 30 days of being elected or appointed.
Clearly, he wanted to make the Bill even tougher and place board members that are convicted felons on notice that their time is up.
Under the bill, any person elected or appointed to a board of education would be disqualified from serving if they have been convicted of any crime that, under existing law, would disqualify them from being employed in a public school. The cost of the criminal background check will be the responsibility of the school board member, but unexpended campaign funds may be used in the case of an elected member.
The Bill it would also amend the oath of office taken by new board members to include a specific declaration that the member is not disqualified from service due to conviction of one of those crimes and any member who falsely swears that he or she is not disqualified would face penalties of up to 18 months in prison and $10,000 in fines.
The revised Bill was sent back to the Senate.
The crimes included under the bill include any crime of the first or second degree; an offense involving the manufacture, transportation, sale, possession, distribution or habitual use of a controlled dangerous substance or "drug paraphernalia; a crime involving the use of force or the threat of force to or upon a person or property including, but not limited to, robbery, aggravated assault, stalking, kidnapping, arson, manslaughter and murder; a third degree crime, or any of the following crimes: recklessly endangering another person; terroristic threats; criminal restraint; luring, enticing child into motor vehicle structure or isolated area; causing or risking widespread injury or damage; criminal mischief; burglary; threats and other improper influence; perjury and false swearing; resisting arrest; any crime of the fourth degree involving a victim who is a minor; or conspiracy to commit or an attempt to commit any of the aforesaid crimes.
The Bill is for those that were convicted of the crimes listed above. It does not apply to instances in which a person may have been arrested or even charged with such crimes. Sadly, we just lost from the Board a law abiding citizen with a clean record and known service to the community in Lenny Cathcart. There were other candidates last year with impecable resumes, records of service, and yes, clean criminal backgrounds that were not elected to the Board.
This issue would again place the Plainfield Board of Education in the middle of this debate. A member of the Grand Slam Team has been identifed as a convicted felon that would be subject to removal. That would leave the Grand Slam Team slate that swept last year's board election down to two after one member who was an educator decided not to run after only one year in office. Was her decision not to run due to district's gloomy financial picture, signs of what would be a failed reform agenda, an inability to keep campaign promises, politics, knowledge of the limited powers that board members have to run the daily affairs, or all of the above? I guess we will never know.
What we do know is that the Grand Slam Team and the Plainfield Board of Education is going to have to show real leadership and practice what it preaches. Accountability. Transparency. Ethics. Honesty. Law.
These will be guiding words that will shape how they deal with one of their own who just last year served as Vice President and held major sway on the runnings in the district.
The Board and community have been extremely silent on this issue.
Should a convicted felon be allowed to serve in a position of leadership and authority over a school district when the people employed in the district under that authority could not be hired if they were convicted of similar crimes?
This is a question that will have to be answered soon. It is my hope that the Board of Education lead and the convicted board member bow out graciously and step down. Any other option would be politics as usual in the Queen City.
No more silence. Let's get it out in the open and talk about it.
What do you think?
Should a convicted felon be allowed to continue to serve on the Plainfield Board of Education when the law passes? Yes or No.
Remember, it is not personal.
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