Orwellian. The NJEA wants to read members’ emails and letters….

Link to “membership protection” form:

https://www.njea.org/mpc/

Hearing of citizens and personal blogs…

Lodi’s By-laws:

When someone prefaces their comments that they are there to talk about a personal blog and then launches personal attacks, that might fall into the category of “irrelevant”.

There should be consistent standards that apply to all.  Joe Leto, and past board attorneys have stopped many citizens from speaking about matters that they felt weren’t school board related.

The public will expect a clear policy and consistent treatment for all citizens wishing to be heard moving forward.

Jersey City BOE member had the courage to speak out with a strong statement in an unfriendly environment…

Link to article:

https://www.nj.com/hudson/index.ssf/2018/08/jersey_city_man_rejoins_school_board.html#incart_river_index


From the article:

The public's turn to speak is over. Board member Mussab Ali makes a motion to appoint Lyons to the seat. Marilyn Roman seconds. Voting begins.

Then Matt Schapiro — who won his seat in November during the same election Lyons lost — opens his mouth.

Lyons once insulted a rival during a candidate debate, Schapiro says. Lyons used "horribly vulgar language" about district officials, Schapiro says. Voters had the chance to re-elect Lyons in November and rejected him, Schapiro says.

"When watching the board I saw Mr. Lyons disrespecting district staff over and over," Schapiro says. "It was shocking and offensive. Worse, I saw Mr. Lyons often making decisions not in the best interest of our students, but operating as a rubber stamp for the richest, most powerful political interest group in the state."

He means the statewide teachers union. Schapiro ran in November without the local teachers union's nod. Lyons had it. Schapiro is also a strong supporter of Schools Superintendent Marcia V. Lyles, while Lyons has been a sharp critic.

As Schapiro speaks, Lyons, sitting in the second row of the Snyder auditorium, at first has no expression on his face, then starts to nod his head slightly. Some in the audience listen with their eyes widened. Lorenzo Richardson, the school board vice president and a Lyons ally, eats from a plate of fruit.

Schapiro wraps up.

"It's not pleasant to raise these issues about a former board member and potential colleague but it is critical that there is a record that there was at least one voice who spoke out against the abuses of Mr. Lyons and the rich and powerful interests which he represents," he says.