Fulop Leads Petition Charge Asking Gov. Christie to Overturn Epps Contract Extension
By Jon Whiten • Jul 6th, 2010 • Category: Blog, News, Politics
This afternoon, Ward E councilman Steven Fulop sent a message out to his supporters asking them to sign a petition asking Gov. Christie and Education Commissioner Bret Schundler to overturn the Jersey City Board of Education’s (BOE) recent vote to extend Superintendent Charles Epps’ contract by two years when it ends on June 30, 2011.
Fulop says nearly 500 people signed the petition in the first hour and a half it was online.
The petition comes in the wake of last week’s news that BOE member Sterling Waterman, who ran on a Fulop-supported slate this April, was planning to contest the vote with a state ethics complaint, saying the public was not given required notice.
“I am disheartened, outraged, and am reaching out to you for help,” the letter to Christie and Schundler reads. “I hope you will take action in Jersey City to rectify this unacceptable situation by overturning the vote to extend the contract for Dr. Epps — a vote that was made in direct conflict of the state law that requires public involvement. This is an opportunity to improve Jersey City schools and do a real national search for leadership.”
As we noted last week we noted that the state Department of Education is reviewing the contract extension; the school district has maintained it followed all the proper legal actions.
Like what you've read here? Please consider making a donation or becoming a sustaining member. As a grassroots news organization, we rely on community support -- as well as paid advertising -- to survive.
Jon Whiten is the founding editor of the Jersey City Independent; he now works for a public-policy nonprofit in Trenton.
Email this author | All posts by Jon Whiten
