Thread by @CivicParent

This picture tells a story, but it doesn't show the backstory.
This during the BOE meeting at Snyder HS auditorium, which I attended w another JCPS parent & also to support @Harshal623 who, along w Teacher @jnaatus, is driving a civic effort to get filtered fountains in McNair.

https://twitter.com/jnaatus/status/1045633790977167362

I signed up to speak during public comment last night. I wanted to ask a question on record about Special Education. I've been learning about the potential impacts of under-funding for those students from parents. Before publi comment began, this happened:

https://twitter.com/CivicParent/status/1045452932248997889

So when I got up to speak, I asked my planned Q, but I also asked: "You spent 30 min debating $5K, but you have a $30 million cut next spring & none of you are debating that. Why? And related Q: when will we start to see earnest dialog & details from BOE re: #PayrollTax"?

So I asked my Q then sat back down in the public gallery, which the picture from @jnaatus shows. A minute later, the BOE President @ThomasForNJ appeared, and sat down behind me and started having a sideline, basically offline discussion with me that was in response to my Q.

And here I'd like to pause & agree 100% w @jnaatus: "Should public questions in a public meeting be answered and discussed publicly in a democracy? Seems strange to turn publicly posed questions into a private debate at a public forum."
I agree!
But there's a 2nd thing:

I was not comfortable w this exchange for a few reasons. First...Mr. Thomas got up from the dais, then walked abt 25 yards to where I was sitting to speak w me about my question. But none of what he said was on the record. That's not ok. And secondly...

I honestly asked myself: how am I being perceived here? I was extremely grateful to be sitting with a fellow parent who witnessed the entire exchange & heard 100% of what Mr. Thomas shared with me. Very grateful for #MomSolidarity in that moment. As Mr Thomas spoke to me...

...I listened to what he had to say, unable to verify the veracity of any of it, & also realizing he & I had divergent points of view (he acknowledged as much too). BTW-he was explaining his position on the #PayrollTax. A few things on his "position":

1-As 1 BOE member he can't/doesn't represent the BOE, a governing body requiring a quorum to function. He can't/doesn't represent the body (tho I read him as trying to convey that he represented the BOE POV). But in reality he is 1 member of a body having a sideline convo.

2-I don't know if he shared his position on the #PayrollTax with the public once comments ended & the BOE reclaimed the floor (I had to leave shortly after this exchange; my kids were w me and it was past their bedtime). I hope he did share his POV, because it's important...

...Important 'cause he's 1 of 9 individuals in #JerseyCity w agency to oversee @jcps_district. His POV does matter, but in context/concert w/ other 8 BOE members:
@Amy_DeGise @LorenzoRichJC @MussabAliJC @MattSchapiroJC @njgerald @pastorlipe #VidyaGangadin #MarilynRoman

These 9 individuals have oversight of a public school system for 30K of our kids-all of these kids should be well educated. Including the more than 70% of whom qualify for free/reduced lunch, 14% of whom are in Special Education, & 10% of whom are English language learners.

I point out enrollment stats only to highlight how concerning it is that we've got:
1-known shortfall at the current moment (we are $100M under-funded)
2-known increase in that shortfall of $25M per year starting this spring
3-BOE that is debating $5K & engaging Qs in this manner

A few minutes after this picture was clicked, I watched Harshal speak & was reminded again of why funding our schools & supporting our schools is so important. Our public schools are educating, molding our future leaders & we have to fund that public good

https://twitter.com/CivicParent/status/1045466780905472001

Then I got up to leave & this evening ended with a final bizarre twist. Ms. Mary Cruz was speaking-she had waited her turn & was finally at the podium addressing the BOE. While I was walking out, Mr. Thomas interrupted her, from his seat on the dais, to call out to me...

...Telling me that there was going to be School Funding related event on (I think I heard this right) 10/24. He did this RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF HER PUBLIC COMMENT. Ms. Cruz rightly asked for her time to be preserved given the interruption. Not sure if she was granted that.

This is how our BOE is functioning.
It's v concerning.
I think many incl teachers & staff have been witness to dysfunction over the years. I've heard some say it's gotten worse.
I've been really tuned in the past year & I'm generally appalled.

IMO we are seeing the logical impact of TREMENDOUS budgetary pressure. JCPS is under profound budgetary stress & it's only going to get worse, & our elected officials seem used to this backdoor, handshake politicking. I come from public accounting accounting background tho, so...

...I believe the $ money trail & the documented context around the $. That's my bias.
I get the need for politics to gain consensus, corral votes, etc. But I fear we're not seeing that...we're just seeing chaos & dysfunction. That chills me given the fiscal reality.