Dear Editor:
The Jersey City Board of Education met Tuesday evening to vote on a $631 million budget prepared by Jersey City school officials under the supervision of Dr. Charles Epps, the superintendent. The board approved the 700-page budget even though they received it less than a week before. Board members Sterling Waterman and Carol Lester voted against it, saying they had not had enough time to study it.
But Epps wasn’t there for the vote. He left halfway through the meeting to attend a political fundraiser. That shows Epps’s utter contempt for the board and to the public. It’s also a terrible example for the district’s teachers and students. How can the school district crack down on absenteeism if the person in charge of the schools simply walks out on the job?
Epps should be fired for shirking his responsibilities. This is a very serious dereliction of duty.
After the meeting I asked Board Chairman William DeRosa where Epps had gone. He said he did not know. He certainly should know. It’s unfortunate that none of the board members said anything about Epps’s departure. It should be in the minutes. What a farce!
Bill Armbruster