Pearls of Wisdom
On June 26, 2012, the Fort Lee Board of Education will have a special meeting. The new Superintendent will be named at this meeting. There is every indication that the new superintendent named will be the current Interim Superintendent, Steven Engravalle. And at that moment in time, the Borough of Fort Lee will have a choice, to move forward or to push our community toward educational oblivion.
The forces of the Anti-Engravalle movement, individuals who have dominated the BOE meetings with rhetoric for the past nine months, will have a choice. They will have the option to accept the BOE decision or to create a major civil war in this community. They will have the option to create havoc, with denouncements of the current BOE members, with pronouncements of prejudice, with accusations that the BOE members obstructed the search firm’s ability to do a legitimate search, etc., etc., etc. If they choose the path of havoc, they will be condemning the Fort Lee community to a future where our children suffer and our educational system suffers.
This is not about right or wrong. This is not about winning a war. This is about the future of Fort Lee and the children of Fort Lee, a future very much in jeopardy right now. We have the Centuria project down the road, bringing a potential influx of students into an already overcrowded system. We have a school budget which limits us severely in providing the true education needs of our students. We have a Board of Education whose members often function dysfunctionally, with members missing multiple meetings, and others with personal agendas. We have two excellent BOE members who have chosen not to run for office again this year and will be sorely missed. Last year, Fort Lee citizens/voters barely passed a referendum to repair our schools, one which only covered the bare essential construction needs of the school buildings. And we have little hope of passing a 2nd referendum to upgrade and expand the buildings to solve the overcrowding issue. FORT LEE IS A COMMUNITY IN CRISIS!
As a citizen with three children in the school system, I am deeply concerned. It appears that everyone is so caught up in their own personal battles that they are missing the big picture, i.e. the future of our children is all that really matters! Whoever the BOE members may be; whoever the superintendent may be; we have to work with them or there can be no hope for the future of Fort Lee education. We have a BOE election in November; there will be at least two new BOE members. As of this week, we will have a final appointment of a school superintendent. And after seeing six superintendents in the last decade, I am personally fed up with the entire selection process.
Finally, if Mr. Engravalle is selected, as I predict, let’s attempt to work with him. Let’s give him a chance to implement policies that he believes will improve the Fort Lee educational system. There really are no other choices. All other choices clearly lead to educational oblivion for Fort Lee. The war has to end, and sooner is better than later.
Tracy Mattei
3:15 pm on Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Fully agreed. Lets refocus on the reason we are there---its to ensure the best education for our children, all children. That reason is assumed, but hiiden by rhetoric and gets lost in it to the point of ineffectiveness. Our common ground is the children and that is where we need to join forces.
Tracy Mattei
3:42 pm on Monday, June 25, 2012
Fully agreed. Lets refocus on the reason we are there---its to ensure the best education for our children, all children. That reason is assumed, but hidden by rhetoric and gets lost in it to the point of ineffectiveness. Our common ground is the children and that is where we need to join forces.
Lisa Salvato
4:47 pm on Monday, June 25, 2012
Just be nice and I agree we should refocus on the issue at hand.
William Mays
4:47 pm on Monday, June 25, 2012
Why is it creating a civil war if we don't want Engravalle? I refuse to believe that the man who fires good teachers and then when asked why he didn't evaluate them simply states that he doesn't have to, is the right choice to lead our town's schools. And don't worry Howard, we all know that Engravalle is going to be selected.
Hide Faktz
6:43 pm on Monday, June 25, 2012
Excellent point, Billy. Should the State Dept. of Education be investigating this whole situation? The Board has still not posted the supt. vacancy on the website yet is using school funds to pay a search firm to present candidates when they have already decided not to consider others.
William Mays
7:12 pm on Monday, June 25, 2012
I agree with you, they should be investigating, but no one has reported it yet.
oracle
7:40 am on Tuesday, June 26, 2012
I agree that we should support the new superintendent and that the schools have become a disaster. I however strongly disagree that Engravalle is the person to do it or that the boe members who are quitting were any good. He does not have the experience to lead this school district. Under his watch the school district has plummeted, and yes, I am counting his tenure under that disaster Bandlow. The past few months have really lead me to question his leadership. He thinks he does not have to publicly answer to the taxpayers for questionable actions. There have been accusations of veiled threats against board members and town officials. He has continued to take very political positions aligning himself with Gov. Christie and continues to attack the teacher's union. He is inexperienced, and is only interested in promoting himself. If he did get it, he would be looking for the next big position almost immediately.
All that being said, if he is the person chosen, then he should be allowed to lead, but he must be more transparent and not run away from questions.
This board is a completely different matter. The departing members are just as responsible as the rest of the lot for the state of our schools. They are misinformed political nitwits, and have done a poor job looking out for Fort Lee's children. They have made the meeting contentious by refusing to answer question and hiding behind an inept lawyer. Good riddance, and hopefully next week we still start anew.
Luca D.
12:56 pm on Tuesday, June 26, 2012
It is impossible to take someone seriously when the person states generalizations, rumor, innuendo and inflammatory language to support a position.
William Mays
5:24 pm on Tuesday, June 26, 2012
I'm sick of them hiding behind the lawyer. We elected them, they should talk to us without a guy telling them what they can and can't say.
Zachary David
3:28 pm on Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Howard's post is absolutely on point. Rather than ranting unproductively and without rational thinking about who you don't like, and how incompetent everyone in power is, let's call a truce and let whoever is in the job focus on the future. Those who just like to criticize in a semi literate manner should think about another outlet for their negativity.
carol simon
9:57 pm on Tuesday, June 26, 2012
No doubt Steve Engravalle will be appointed as I write. I agree with your sentiments to unite together for the benefit of Fort Lee Schools in acceptance of the decision. Mr. Engravalle has many good qualities and will grow into his position as he learns how to lead. Ongoing bickering would not be productive at this juncture. hopefully like good soldiers we will march in step for the greater good.