Dear Editor:
Finally this past Jersey City School Board election broke the strong shackles that bonded the process into a total inept farce for years. Voter apathy at least, for this unique election was partially broken with a tremendous increase. The only unfortunate most essential forgotten treasure was voting yes or no on the budget question, which was proportionately lower than the actual vote count of the candidates.
The most easily winner besides the victors was quite obviously Ward E, Councilman Steven Fulop. His meek and docile past performances, involving this most important school election, always seemed to boggle the mind. Especially if he had any intentions and his ultimate goal was to become Mayor of Jersey City. He intelligently came out of his shell, flexed his muscles, and became a force to be reckoned with. He decided this year, at least, to place all his cards on the table, testing the waters, by announcing to all his preferential candidates and endorsements. They won with flying colors, heavily defeating their opposition.
The biggest losers were some the old guard, who basically had the arrogance of taking the election for granted, by assuming with past practices that a low turnout was inedible. That would guarantee them an anticipated easy victory. They were obviously fooled with these statistics, because the voters prevailed. This proves one important point that we have the power, and not voting, plays right into the hands of the questionable, incompetent and the devious.
An additional discouragement must have been felt, by the teacher’s union, by witnessing an obvious reduction of power, after years of being the top dog in a junk yard. Even though two of their three endorsed candidates were elected, eliminating the two Board members, who were totally anti-and hostile towards their blight, one did lose. This defection from Councilman Fulop choice most definitely administers him additional credit, while tipping scales in his favor as the one to beat.
Let’s hope and pray that these two new Board members elected don’t have the same characteristics of the past. Such as the elimination of essential basic school supplies and equipment, which are constantly being compromised, together with additional educational resources, computers, programs and services that are irrationally diminished? Children are being denied adequate safety and protection, from any and all hostility, in arriving, departing and participating in their educational environments.
Contrary to the Jersey City School System Administrators and Board’s accusations, that places the blame on everyone else but themselves. Parents and Guardians participation are being unreasonably withheld, muted and deliberately stymied, with a habitual forced lack of communication and involvement. Sometimes Doctor Epps doesn’t know best.
Class trips have been either canceled or completely non-existent. Yet there are numerous, disputed, created positions and highly paid over inflated administrators located throughout the system. They needlessly lease private facilities to hold meetings, instead of using their own fully equipped building on 346 Claremont Avenue. These things must change. Change is good.
William P. Frasca
Jersey City, N.J.