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A vote on the controversial contract of superintendent Charles Epps was postponed by the Jersey City Board of Education (BOE) Thursday for a second time this month, shifting the focus of the meeting away from the contract and back to the day-to-day struggle to improve Jersey City schools.

The BOE cannot vote on whether to approve Epps’ new three-year contract until it is approved by state Department of Education officials and Hudson County Executive County superintendent Timothy Brennan. Heading into Thursday’s meeting, it was unclear when that would happen. The next day brought news that the governor had fired Education Commissioner Bret Schundler over New Jersey’s bungled application for federal Race to the Top funding.

But Schundler’s departure may affect the Epps contract negotiations in other ways, as the former Jersey City mayor was the most prominent political ally of those who continue to question the lack of a national superintendent search, like board member Sterling Waterman and Ward E councilman Steven Fulop.

Though Thurday’s meeting took place before Gov. Christie dismissed Schundler, the scandal over the fateful Race to the Top error that led to his firing had already broken, and former mayor Gerald McCann made use of his time at the podium to ridicule Schundler and aggrandize Epps.

In a speech that elicited laughter from Epps and others at several points, McCann awarded officials in Trenton an “F” but gave Epps an “A,” citing the appearance of McNair Academic High School and Liberty High School on New Jersey Monthly‘s lists of best and most-improved schools in the state.

But for much of the rest of the meeting, the discussion was not about Epps and his contract, but about more parochial concerns as the district prepares to welcome students for yet another school year.

Tearethea Sims, a parent and advocate of special education programs in the district, called attention to a “lack of hospitality” and a “condescending attitude” on the part of school administrators and teachers towards parents. She requested that Epps and the board create a parent resource center to address this matter.

Elizabeth Perry brought forth similar concerns. “Parents need an opportunity to be taught how to be effectively involved in their children’s education,” she said.

Most board members agreed, saying that better communication with and resources for parents should be a top priority.

While Frances Thompson suggested that Epps create a district-wide hotline that parents could call to register complaints about teachers and administrators (think of NYC’s 311, but for the school district), Epps seemed more supportive of Angel Valentin’s suggestion that the board establish parent resource centers in each of Jersey City’s public libraries.

“I sit on the board of the library,” he said. “I will bring this suggestion to the library at the meeting next month.”

Only one issue on Thursday failed to receive unanimous votes from the board members.

Registering concern over the lack of board discussion about the closure of CREATE Charter School and the establishment of the Infinity Institute, Waterman did not vote for items approving the purchase of textbooks and materials, and the adoption of curricula, for the school, which is geared at high-achieving middle- and high-school students. Board president William DeRosa explained that closing the charter school and opening a new one was a matter handed over to the city from the state, and had not required board discussion.

The 2010-2011 school year begins on Thursday, September 9; the next public meeting of the Board of Education is Thursday, September 23 at 6pm in the auditorium of PS #11 (886 Bergen Ave.).

Photo: Steve Gold