The Jersey City Board of Education is in a tough spot.
The newly politically powerful Muslim community is flexing its muscles to get the school district to declare one or two Muslim holy days as holidays.
While Board of Education members have for the most part agreed that these religious observances should be honored, they are under pressure to do it immediately.
Mayor Steven Fulop and the City Council are backing the holiday proposal. Unfortunately, good politics doesn’t always mean good policy.
The state requires schools to be open 180 days even if there are closures due to weather and other unforeseen circumstances. The district can reduce days off, such as in the winter break, but the school year cannot extend beyond July 1.
If they wish, students can take off for religious observance without being penalized with a reported absence. But parents of Muslim students claim this could result in their students missing schoolwork and falling behind non-Muslim students. School districts are not supposed to hold tests or delve into new lessons on days when students stay out for religious observance. But the state officially recognizes nearly 150 days that someone can take off for religious reasons. So it is unrealistic to hold back on new lessons for each of these days.
The problem is that the school year has already started, and normally school boards set the calendar for the school year in spring for the upcoming school year. Many of the board members are willing to look to next year. But this apparently isn’t good enough.
Pressure is mounting to switch some holidays to allow everybody to have off at the same time. Mayor Fulop has endorsed the change, putting him at odds once more with a board that he largely helped get elected.
Jersey City has one of the largest percentages of immigrants from the Middle East in the United States. Many of these people are very involved in the community, and also represent a voting bloc that Fulop will need if he intends to run for governor in 2017.
Back where they started
The signs are back on trees and in storefront windows in Bayonne protesting the lack of a contract for the district’s teachers. Although the school board settled the previous contract, teachers are back negotiating a new contract for the next three years.
The talks have an uncomfortable political tinge. During the municipal election last year, the unresolved teachers’ contract played a vital role in uniting political opposition to then Mayor Mark Smith.
Back then, the board was appointed by the mayor, but since then, voters have passed a referendum calling for an elected school board. A number of the people running in this election, as well as those whose seats are not being challenged, are connected to Smith.
This suggests that the anti-Smith people are reviving their old campaign in order to get their own candidates elected. They are trying to sell the idea that if people associated with Smith are allowed to get back on the board, the old problems with teachers’ contracts will continue.
In some ways, the Board of Education election is test of the strength of Mayor Jimmy Davis. Not only will some candidates use the board as a platform to run for City Council or mayor in 2018, but some will study the voter turnout to see if there is any erosion in support for Davis.
Of course, this Smith vs. Davis perception is an illusion. As much as Smith might want to run again, that ship has sailed. The most likely candidates will be Ray Greaves, Jason O’Donnell, Gary LaPelusa, and a few players to be named later. Davis’ reelection will hinge on whether his administration can control rising taxes, and if he can bring in new development quickly enough to offset rising costs of operating government.
Hoboken clashes
If you expected fireworks in the 2nd Ward after Councilwoman Beth Mason’s decision not to run for reelection, you will be sadly disappointed. Bonnie Murray, Peter Biancamano, and Tiffanie Fisher are so polite to each other, you could almost fall asleep listening to them debate. But you should listen. Each appears to be fully versed in the issues, and has intelligent ideas.
The real fights in Hoboken are in the 1st Ward, where Councilwoman Theresa Castellano is fending off a challenge by Michael DeFusco.
DeFusco is trying to label Castellano as an obstructionist (when it comes to Mayor Dawn Zimmer’s agenda) while at the same time trying not to seem too connected to Zimmer.
Zimmer has endorsed five candidates, leaving Michael Russo to run unopposed. But there is a feeling even among some of her own people that she isn’t too concerned about winning another seat to obtain a supermajority on the council.
“She plays the victim very well,” said one source close to the campaign.
In fact, Zimmer might win even if some of her candidates lose. Dana Wefer and Jennifer Giattino are potential rivals in the 2017 race for mayor – if Zimmer decides to run.
Former Councilman Tony Soares is already rumored to be considering a run for mayor as well. Although considered a reformer, Soares has been critical of many of Zimmer’s policies, especially in regards to her perceived lack of interest in supporting local business.
Others said the Zimmer vision for Hoboken often conflicts with her ability to run the city.
“She wants to make Hoboken into a L.L. Bean catalogue,” one source said. “She’s more concerned with lowering the volume of ambulance sirens than doing anything about speeders. She should stop cutting ribbons and start cutting red tape.”
Recently, Jersey City Mayor Fulop was seen visiting small businesses on First Street in Hoboken. There is a suspicion that he may be trying to lure them to downtown Jersey City.
Al Sullivan may be reached at asullivan@hudsonreporter.com.