Dive Summary:
- Following Gov. Chris Christie's announcement last week of a full state takeover of Camden's school system, critics of the move are now critical of the yet-to-be-appointed superintendent's role.
- The state-appointed superintendent will have more power than any of his or her predecessors, with the local Board of Education being reduced to an advisory role as the superintendent assumes all of its powers and answers directly to Education Commissioner Christopher Cerf.
- The state's monitor for Camden will also have no power to override the new superintendent's actions, and will also negotiate and decide on contract agreements with renaissance school operators, all of which is raising concerns among local education officials about the role's seemingly absolute power.
From the article:
... "There are very few instances when absolute power is a good thing, especially when it comes to public schools," said former school board member Jose Delgado. ...