Matt Friedman's must-read briefing on the Garden State's important news of the day. nj.com - Joshua Rosario • 13h. He attended PS#9 Kennedy School, graduated 3rd in his Class at James J. Ferris High School and was voted Most Likely to Succeed and Best All-Around Student. New Jersey’s second largest city is home to what may be the biggest political fight in the state this year, with corporate and labor behemoths spending millions of dollars on five school board races and the fate of a controversial ordinance involving Airbnb. Payroll The Board of Education invites all Trenton Public School stakeholders to participate in their Superintendent Search Community Input Survey. A super PAC linked to the LeFrak Organization, one of two entities who sued the City of Jersey City over this year’s newly implemented 1 percent business payroll tax, expects to spend $250,000 on the Jersey City Board of Education race, according to campaign finance records. If the election wasn’t colorful enough, Alexander Hamilton — who’s running on the “Change for Children“ slate — sued to get onto the ballot after the Hudson County clerk invalidated his nominating petition signatures because his legal name is Vernon Alexander Hamilton. Elizabeth Public Schools Employee Portal Education. Since college, he has and continues to mentor youth, serve in his church and community, teach Financial and Technology Literacy and promote Basic Literacy through book distributions for low income children. A graduate of our public schools (P.S. The school presently serves 1,200 students in grade levels K-9. The LeFrak Organization has fought Jersey City’s new 1 percent payroll tax to help fund the city’s schools. ... South Jersey Healthcare May 2005 – June 2007 2 years 2 months. Councilman James Solomon, who represents the city’s mostly gentrified downtown, sponsored the resolution calling for the new restrictions. Jersey City is located in Jersey City, NJ. Professionally, he is the Senior Coordinator and Policy Advisor for the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention Team (ADAPT), a countywide volunteer group focusing on decreasing and preventing underage drinking and substance use/abuse, based out of Essex County, New Jersey. Apply to Director of Education, English Teacher, Ultrasonagrapher.120.57045 and more! Jersey City Council unanimously approves 1% payroll tax to fund public schools Jersey City Council OKs $6.7M in upgrades for Newark Avenue Pedestrian Plaza Fulop discusses city salaries, bike lanes, medical marijuana at caucus, clashes with Lavarro Vidya Gangadin is a long time resident of Jersey City. Sangeeta Ranade is a Director at Limehouse Partners, a sustainability and energy efficiency consulting firm. “I’m intrigued and sometimes just fascinated that people seem to be interested in Muhammed Akil,” Akil said in a phone interview. Payroll Accountant at Salem City Board of Education Bridgeton, New Jersey Education Management. Four years ago — with the support of Fulop and Airbnb — Jersey City formally passed a law legalizing and taxing the home-share site. Ms Gangadin has a vested interest in public schools and believes in quality education for all children. Edward A. Allen Mrs. Sonia Araujo Mr. Anthony Cucci Mr. William DeRosa Mrs. Willie Flood Mrs. Rosalina Mayo Mr. John Nagel. Delivered daily by 6 a.m., Trenton Brief is your must-read analysis and recap on New Jersey news, politics and policy. “It makes rents go up — it’s basic supply and demand,” he said. The city payroll tax, a 1% levy on businesses, is intended to offset cuts to state education aid. 6.5K likes. As a member of the JCBOE, Jessica will be Equity/Excellence Liaison, with her focus on special education. Micheline Amy is Human Resources Director with eBay Inc., an active member of the Journal Square Community as well as a wife and mother of two school-aged children. JERSEY CITY, NJ - After finding out that one of the biggest developers in Jersey City has not paid a payroll tax, Councilman Rolando Lavarro is asking for an audit of the system. At the JCBOE she chairs the Facilities committee. All Rutgers employees are specifically exempt. The New Jersey State Board of Education has 13 members who are appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the New Jersey State Senate. The Jersey City school board election is pitting the “Change for Children” slate of candidates, backed by the LeFrak Organization, one of the city’s biggest developers, against the “Education Matters” candidates — three of whom are incumbents — supported by the Jersey City Education Association, the New Jersey Education Association’s biggest local. Ali said that Acting City Business Administrator John Metro submitted a drafted resolution asking for the BOE to support an effort to waive interest on payroll taxes that are past due. She has worked with colleges and other institutions of learning throughout the state to secure opportunities and coursework for students. “And on the other side, I don’t feel comfortable with a ticket supported by a developer who’s suing the city so that we don’t fund the schools. Mrs. Suzanne Mack, Chairperson Mr. Franklin Williams, Vice Chairperson Rev. Fulop backs the new restrictions and has found an ally in the New York Hotel Trades Council, which donated about $30,000 to him and his council running mates in 2017, the year of his reelection. Jersey City officials want the Board of Education to support temporary amnesty for businesses that are late in paying their payroll taxes, BOE … Mussab Ali, Jersey City Board of Education Member, Jersey City, New Jersey. However, the payroll tax turned out to be only a partial solution. She taught in two of the parochial schools in Jersey City for a period of five years. A graduate of Salisbury University, Micheline began her career in television production, before moving to human resources where she has been helping job seekers and employees reach their potential for over 15 years. Thirteen candidates are vying for five seats on the Jersey City Board of Education this November, with control of the nine-member body and the financial future of the district at stake. Thomas, who was once aligned with Fulop, has his own history of controversies, including allegations of misappropriation of funds at the Jersey City Employment and Training Commission, where he took the lead role in ousting former Gov. Contact Information: Pam Nanni, CPA: Payroll Supervisor, extension 2266. Mrs. Roman worked closely with board colleagues, city and county government, unions, and other partners to secure grants to increase the experience base of the students in our programs. Airbnb is reportedly willing to spend $3 million on the ballot question, which asks voters to decide the fate of the new rules. He was previously a JCBOE Board Member from 2012 until 2014, chairing the Special Education committee and functioning as the Hudson County Vice-President of the NJ School Board Association. Voters will decide next month whether to maintain or repeal the new regulations, which AirBnb opposes. Education Details: Elizabeth Public Schools - Elizabeth School District .Education Details: Students from Winfield Scott School No. Prior to her election to the Board, Sangeeta was Vice President of the Parent Teacher Association at her daughter’s school where she championed the expansion of the Dual Language Program. Gerald Lyons is in his 28th year as an educator with County Prep High School of the Hudson County Schools of Technology, having six teaching certifications and a Master’s in Education. Jersey City, because of its proximity to Manhattan, is Airbnb’s most popular destination in New Jersey. But battles between local officials and AirBnb have intensified since then, with residents complaining the law has resulted in resulted in higher rents for full-time residents. As President, Joel worked hard to bring resources to the school community, including private and public grants, Christmas gifts for the students, and meals for disadvantaged families. Mr. Richardson is currently an Accountant with over 20 years experience, and is a member of several Professional Organizations. Muhammed Akil, Fulop’s former chief of staff who was at the center of a scandal after he was caught on tape allegedly trying to rig a city bid, is an adviser to the “Change for Children” candidates. Akil — who was never charged with a crime — isn’t the only controversial figure involved with the “Change for Children” slate. So there’s issues for me on both sides.”. The Business Administrator/Board Secretary's Office is the administrative level office charged with the administration or supervision of the following functions: He runs three clubs at County Prep and is a member of many local groups including the JC Rotary Club, JC Kiwanis Club, JC University Club, JC Homeless Advocacy Group, and the Friends of Leonard Gordon Park, where he serves as treasurer. Oh, and one of the candidates is named Alexander Hamilton, who had to fight to stay on the ballot. But when New Jersey enacted changes to its school funding law last year, Jersey City took a huge hit, and is set to see around $200 million in state funding phased out. His success by God’s grace compels him to challenge the Jersey City Board of Education on doing the right thing for the children. The Jersey City Board of Education assumed control of governance and finance on April 17, 2008. As Board members, they establish policies and oversight for the Ocean City School District. “We aren’t banning [Airbnb], we are simply regulating them,” Fulop said. Jersey City was permitted under companion legislation to impose a 1% payroll tax to help fill the funding gap and did so in November of 2018. Joel graduated with a Bachelor’s of Science in Public Health and a minor in Latin American & Latino Studies with Summa Cum Laude Honors from Montclair State University (MSU). The fights in Jersey City are a major contrast to the otherwise mostly low-key elections at the top of the ballot this year for state Assembly, where Democrats and Republicans are fighting over a few seats that will determine just how blue the lower house will be come January. 2, Joseph Battin School No. The LeFraks and another major developer, Mack Cali, have challenged the 1 percent levy on businesses in court, so far unsuccessfully. The other big fight involves an ordinance the City Council passed this summer that places restrictions on AirBnb and companies like it. He also advocated on a local- and state-level for much needed modifications and improvements to the school facility. POLITICO New Jersey Pro’s high-level outlook on the policy issues driving the month in New Jersey. “I really just see myself as a regular guy who lives in Ward F and is doing community things. The Jersey City Board of Education held its public budget meeting on Friday where many argued for increased funding in the upcoming budget. Ms Gangadin is a very active parent of four children currently attending public schools. Jessica Daye, a Jersey City native, is the Educational Advocacy Coordinator at New York Lawyers for the Public Interest, a nonprofit civil rights law firm, where she promotes and protects the educational rights of students with emotional, developmental, and physical disabilities in New York City schools. | AP Photo. Prior to her election she was the Vice President of Parent Teacher’s Partnership, Member of the School Leadership Committee, Member of the Citywide Parent Advisory at Academy I Middle School and Member of the Jersey City Coalition of PTO. Connect with Jersey City City Directory Newsroom Resident Response Center Resident Resources Report A Problem Parking Alerts Parking Permit Open Data Portal How do I? He looks forward to working with the entire Board, administration, employees of the district, and members of the community to make our schools the best that they can be and he invites you to participate in this process. “And it hollows out the community.”. She is a wife and mother of two young daughters, the older of whom attends Jersey City public schools. On the other side of the issue is the Hotel Trades Council, the union representing the city’s hotel workers, and a hotel union-backed group called Share Better, which together expect to spend around $1 million in their effort to keep the regulations in place. Mrs. Roman was the Director of Special Projects for 5 1/2 years for the Hudson County Schools of Technology and worked on several boards throughout the city and county over a numer of years, which enhanced her ability to function according to the proper decorum and procedure. Jim McGreevey over how McGreevey handled the organization’s funds. He is also a community activist involved in issues including, but not limited to, education, Autism, health and senior services, and support services for Latino children and families throughout Jersey City. The election comes as the district is being run by an interim superintendent after the Board of Education forced out the former superintendent, Marcia Lyles. (The school board is challenging the budget cuts in court). Proudly powered by Ninevolts.Com. 16 & McNair), Jessica is fluent in Spanish and English, and has master’s degrees in psychological counseling and education from Columbia University’s Teachers College. Mrs. Roman was a Director of the Education Business Alliance in the JCPS with responsibilty for the creation and implementation of the magnet school small learning communities, and training and internship partnerships with large and small businesses throughout the city such as Merrill Lynch, Pershing Corporation, Provident Bank, and Hyatt Hotels among others. Her children attend the Jersey City Public Schools. Jersey City officials want the Board of Education to support temporary amnesty for businesses that are late in paying their payroll taxes, BOE President Mussab Ali said. Ms Gangadin has a Bachelor’s degree in Finance and works in the private sector over 20 plus years as a Financial Analyst and Operations Manager. Our children deserve nothing less than the best. Additionally, education employees are exempt and are defined as an employee of any school district or the board of education. The LeFrak-backed super PAC, Fairer NJ, and the NJEA super PAC, Garden State Forward, are papering residents’ mailboxes with flyers and airing local television ads in support of their preferred candidates. These members serve without compensation for six-year terms. Among other things, the ordinance prevents homeowners from renting their properties short-term for more than 60-days a year if they don’t live there, bars short-term rentals in buildings with more than four units and does not allow renters to sublet their units short-term. The tax has become a vital financial tool for the cash-strapped Jersey City school district. In 2017, parent leaders with Jersey City Together created an education team to address issues they were seeing in the schools. And, of course, the rent. She also taught at PS 41 for approximately twelve years as well as PS 34 for a year and PS 9 for two. And they’re spending a lot of money in order to get there.”. Conceptual design and development by NineVolts.Com LLC. Delivered monthly, New Jersey CEO Report gives you a high-level outlook on policy issues driving the agenda in the Garden State. Over $86 million will go to the Jersey City School District collected through the city’s new payroll tax. The Board of Education is composed of nine citizens elected from Ocean City and three representatives from Upper Township who are appointed by the Upper Township Board of Education. At least one LeFrak-backed super PAC, Fairer NJ, plans to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on the election, while an NJEA super PAC called Garden State Forward is blanketing the city with mailers. Hamilton won the lawsuit without having to engage in a duel. The election also comes as the district is being run by an interim superintendent after the Board of Education forced out the former superintendent, Marcia Lyles, who is now suing after a tumultuous tenure riddled with fights with the Jersey City Education Association. She is a wife and mother of a child who attends a JCPS school. Jersey City Public Schools Board Of Education Members. Jeremy Farrell, who worked for years as Jersey City corporation counsel under Fulop and who is now a senior director at the LeFrak Organization, is chairman of Fairer NJ. BelovED is a high-performing charter school in Jersey City, NJ. He clearly understands that Education is the key to rise from poverty and ignorance and shows you the path to your purpose. As if that’s not enough, Airbnb, the home-share website, is spending millions to fight a city ordinance that has placed new restrictions on short-term rentals. As a member of the JCBOE, Ellen will be media and community relations liaison. “But now, these thousands of residents may be in serious financial jeopardy, with some even at risk of foreclosure or bankruptcy — all because of the Mayor’s short-term rental ban, crafted at the behest of the hotel industry’s special interests.“. At stake is how Jersey City funds its schools in the wake of massive cuts in state aid and a newly enacted 1 percent business payroll tax. In SY14-15, the NJ Department of Education ranked BelovED as the top public school in New Jersey for pace of student learning growth, among schools serving demographically similar students. By law, at least three members of the State Board must be women, and no two members may be appointed from the same county. A morning email with must-read analysis and breaking news on New Jersey politics and policy. A graduate of Northwestern University, Ellen is co-founder of Parents for Progress, which works for excellent schools for every child in Jersey City. Lorenzo Richardson was born and raised in Jersey City in the Montgomery Gardens Housing Projects where he learned early on that the key to success is a good education and to use that education to help others. Jersey City Board Of Education Contact Information District Office: 346 Claremont Ave. Jersey City, NJ 07305 201.915.6000 Anti-Bullying Director Paula Christen - 201-915-6227 Report bullying: pchristen@jcboe.org Contact Us: EMAIL US / Directory Joel Torres, born and raised in Jersey City, is the father of three children who currently attend a local public school. Velazquez, who spent decades as a teacher and administrator in Jersey City’s schools, was suspended from her Murphy administration job last year and required to undergo sensitivity training after she made social media posts deriding evangelical Christians. General Counsel - … “Since Mayor Fulop first welcomed short-term rentals into Jersey City four years ago, thousands of residents have benefited from the corresponding growth in the local tourism economy, including our host community, the people cleaning or managing short-term rentals, and local small businesses out in McGinley Square and The Heights,” Liz DeBold Fusco, northeast press secretary for AirBnb, said in a statement. She specializes in starting up energy programs for government agencies and utilities. Ellen Simon is a freelance financial writer who previously worked at The Associated Press and The Star-Ledger. In May 2014, he received his Masters of Arts in Public and Organizational Relations from MSU. He said that’s caused problems with loud parties, trash and parking. They’re upset, which is why they’re bringing this slate of people and trying to mitigate that.”. The Business Administrator/Board Secretary's Office provides support to the district and instructional staff so that they can focus on our true purpose - the education of our children. Velazquez said in a statement that her posts were an impassioned response to Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh’s hearings and “could have been softer.”, “For this misstep I was reprimanded, paid my due punishment and provided a public apology,” Velazquez said. Original federal and state policy documents, Jersey City elections a battle between corporate and labor behemoths, New Jersey Health Care Morning Newsletter, Pulse: State Health Care: The sprint to May 1, Prosecutors seek a slowdown in Capitol attack cases, calling probe the ‘most complex’ in history, RWJBarnabas backing bill allowing hospitals to provide affordable housing, support services, ‘We all lost something’: Biden honors Covid victims, accelerates vaccine timeline, OSHA may slam the door on some Covid reopenings. He earned a Bachelors and Masters Degree in Accounting from Saint Peter’s College (now Saint Peter’s University) and was active in student government and the community during his studies. Mrs. Roman was an elementary supervisor for the Jersey City Public School District for seven years, and with a supervisory colleague, wrote and secured the planning grant for the creation of the first preschool program in the Jersey City Public Schools. “The city is growing rapidly and I think that you have a lot of overlapping interests,” Fulop said in a phone interview. His passion for equitable education has spanned 14 years with advocacy on the local, state and national levels. Rowan University. Mayor Steve Fulop expects that between the two local contests, interested parties will spend $5 million in what normally would be a low-turnout, off-year election. “It’s kind of sad, because these guys have been able to grow through the various benefits that the city dished out to them in the form of abatements,” Thomas said. To cope with the revenue loss, the state enacted a law allowing the city to pass a payroll tax, which it promptly did. jersey city public schools reopening plan 2020-2021 Superintendent's Presentation-Reopening Schools February 25, 2020 Jersey City Public Schools Senior Staff Contact Information “Finally, after many years, they’re being asked to contribute to one of the many pieces of the puzzle — which is school funding — in the form of a payroll tax. Marilyn Roman is a widow with two sons and six grandchildren. First, a 2018 change in the formula by which the state helps fund school districts hit Jersey City particularly hard. The survey results will assist the board as they develop the requirements, qualities, and characteristics that we … Our morning email about New Jersey health care policy and politics. The developer-backed effort has two former top Fulop staffers working behind the scenes. “Airbnb and the LeFraks are focused on money, ultimately, and they’re using the political system to protect their interests. Even though Gov. “I’ve expressed to Sudhan that I had some concerns over some stories that came,” Fulop said, referring to the complaint by a former Jersey City Employment and Training Commission employee alleging Thomas misappropriated funds. Her Motto is We need to provide excellent educational experiences and services to inspire every student to think, to learn, to achieve, and to care. The official page for Mussab Ali, Jersey City Board of Education Member. Delivered daily by 6 a.m., New Jersey Health Care is your daily guide to health care news and policy in Trenton and around the Garden State. Education. In the 2017-2018 school year, we pressed for and won a $5.3 million investment in Jersey City Public Schools by asking the Board of Education … The BOE has been beset by challenges. She is an educator with more than 40 years experience in teaching, supervision and administration, 32 years of which were in the Jersey City Public Schools. As of October 2010, although governance had been restored to local control in the form of an elected school board, the state district superintendent remained to manage personnel and curriculum functions. “As I move forward with this election, I am confident that my 45 years of service as an educator in the Jersey City Schools is what voters will be focused on come Election Day.”. Sangeeta has her MBA in Finance and Master of Science in Natural Resource Policy from the University of Michigan and a Bachelor of Science in environmental engineering from Northwestern University. AirBnb, working with local homeowners, collected 20,000 signatures over the summer in order to force a vote on whether to overturn the new rules. 2020-2021 Agendas & Minutes; 2019-2020 Agendas & Minutes; 2018-2019 Agendas & Minutes; 2017-2018 Agendas & Minutes; 2016-2017 Agendas & Minutes ; 2015-2016 Agendas & Minutes Solomon said 10 percent of the residential units in his ward are short-term rentals, compared to 3 percent for the rest of the city. As a member of the JCBOE, Micheline will chair the Talent committee. Jersey City Board of Education President Sudhan Thomas believes opposition to the payroll tax is at the heart of the developers backing the “Change for Children“ slate. Jersey City seventh-grader Mujtaba Raja of Academy I, left, and fifth-grader Vansh Sunil Patel of School 27, the Alfred Zampella School, also in Jersey City, won the junior champion title in the 2021 Hudson County Spelling Bee. “We are looking for change and transparency in the way the Board is run today, which has led us to a financial disaster and legal chaos among other issues for the last two years under the current leadership of Education Matters candidates [Sudhan] Thomas, [Gerald] Lyons and [Gina] Verdibello,” Czehut said. Jersey City excludes all government employees, including Federal, State and Local governments. Despite a residential boom and an influx of wealthy residents fleeing the higher housing prices in New York City, Jersey City has long relied upon state aid for the bulk of its school funding. (AirBnb, which at the time was not on the outs with Fulop, also gave about $10,000.). … The focus should be on the kids rather than things that may provide some entertainment value.”, David Czehut, one of the “Change for Children” candidates, said in a statement that his campaign is striving for the “restoration of sanity to the [school] Board, a refocus on our students, and a common-sense approach to governance.”. Phil Murphy is a staunch backer of the NJEA, a constituent relations staffer in his administration, Noemi Velazquez, is running for one of the school board seats on the anti-NJEA “Change for Children“ ticket. 4,943 Board of Education jobs available in New Jersey on Indeed.com. Boards of education should still have an advertised meeting place, which, is connected to the meeting through New Jersey Department of Education 18 Updated March 23, 2020 communications equipment, unless otherwise directed by state or local emergency management or health officials, consistent with Executive Order 103. Jersey City Board of Education President Sudhan Thomas believes opposition to the payroll tax is at the heart of the developers backing the “Change for Children“ slate. The city for decades has also awarded payments in lieu of taxes, or PILOTS, that have kept much of the newcomers’ tax dollars from going to schools. “In fact, a majority of Jersey City voters support short-term rentals in their neighborhoods,” she said. A controversial cast of characters who have come under fire over allegations of corruption and religious bigotry are also involved, both as candidates and behind the scenes. In addition, he served as the President of the Alfred E. Zampella PS #27 Parent Teacher Association.