Positive Vibes As Newark Schools Return To Local Control

NEWARK, NJ — It’s taken more than two decades, but Newark’s public school system is finally free of state control. On Thursday, school and municipal officials celebrated across the district as New Jersey officially returned control of the Newark Public School District back to the city after 23 years.

After taking over control of the district in 1995 due to allegations of severe mismanagement, the state has regulated many aspects of the Newark Public School District, such as personnel, curriculum and programs, tying local administrators' hands on many of the most important issues facing their schools.

But on Thursday, Newark took back the reins of its local schools amid several signs of progress and change in the district.

Newark’s transition plan – which has been approved by the New Jersey Department of Education – got an enthusiastic thumbs-up from former governor Chris Christie before he left office.

“This plan puts the district in the best position to transition to full local control, while ensuring that it builds on the progress it has made over the years," Christie said in December. "This is something we have been working toward throughout my administration.”

One of the most immediate signs of change is the district’s new chief administrator, Interim Superintendent of Schools Robert Gregory – who was selected by the Newark Board of Education - took the helm for departing ex-superintendent Christopher Cerf, whom Christie picked for the position in 2015.

Gregory, a third-generation Newarker who began his educational career 20 years ago in the district, will serve as interim super until a permanent replacement is appointed in July. It’s a decision that will be made by a seven-person committee composed of school board members and other Newark community members… just one of the perks of regaining control from the state.

“I am humbled and honored by the opportunity to serve Newark Public Schools during this historic time,” Gregory said. “From my early years attending the Harriet Tubman School in the South Ward to my time as a Principal at American History High School, I know first-hand the important role Newark schools play in the lives of the thousands of young people who attend them. On their behalf, we must move forward with a continued sense of urgency."

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“I believe that the City of Newark is prepared for local control,” Cerf said. “In the last few years, the conversation in this city has become more and more focused on our central goal – to improve life outcomes for Newark students. It is that collective focus by thousands of individuals – educators, community members, city leaders and others – that has created momentum in our schools and the undeniable progress being made by Newark.”

Newark Mayor Ras Baraka offered similar encouraging words about the return of local school control.

“Newark is on the rise and the return of local control, along with the progress our students are making, is one more example of how this city is on an upward trajectory,” Baraka said.

Baraka also reminded Newark residents that the students themselves also played a large part in restoring local control to the city.

"They spoke out, marched, demonstrated, mobilized their families to demand quality education and that the people of Newark regain the power to determine their own destiny," Baraka emphasized. "We must work with them and give them a voice in setting a vision for the future of education in our city.”

To underscore the role that Newark's students had in their own rise, city and school officials held a press conference to announce the return of local control in concert with student reporters and leaders at Science Park High School on Thursday.

Young journalists that participated in the event included former and current members of the Abbott Leadership Institute’s Youth Media Symposium (ALI/YMS) at Rutgers University–Newark.

PROGRESS IN NEWARK'S SCHOOLS

According to Newark school administrators, the state board of education has cited “substantial progress” in the city’s public schools that includes:

• “Since 2011, the district’s graduation rate has improved nearly 20 percentage points, from the high 50s to 78%”
• “Newark now outperforms the vast majority of comparable districts in NJ in reading and math, moving from the bottom third among comparable districts, to outperforming 80% of them today”
• “When looking just at students who qualify for free or reduced price lunch (a common proxy for poverty), Newark students outperform all other large school districts in the US that take the same exam”
• “Today, African-American students in Newark are three times more likely to attend a school with test scores above the state average than they were in 2009”
• Overall “organizational improvement” in the district and an “increased collaboration between district and city leaders around school governance”

In addition, Newark school administrators say that the district is now on “solid financial footing” for the upcoming school year due to moves such as:

• “Renegotiating health and prescription benefits, saving the district approximately $10 million annually with comparable services”
• “Identifying better ways to fund district facilities by increasing the number of projects submitted to the School Development Authority and issuing $30M bonds”
• “Moving the district’s central office building into a more modern and efficient space saving the district $2 million annually”
• “Selling 12 unused school buildings to the Newark Housing Authority in an innovative partnership, saving the district more than $1 million annually while bringing over $10 million dollars to the district immediately”
• “Increasing revenue by advocating for proper funding with the State and raising taxes to ensure Newark is paying its local fair share”
• “Renewing the progressive collective bargaining agreement established in 2012 that offers bonuses for performance and raises based on educator effectiveness, creating a predictable cost structure for the district’s largest contract through 18-19”

In October, a study from Harvard University, "Evaluating Newark's Education Reforms," stated that there have been "net gains in student achievement growth” throughout the district, including a “net growth in English,” “attendance improvements” and continued high-performances in math.

• See related article: Signs Of Progress Emerging In Newark's Schools, Harvard Study Says

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Main Photo: Kaleena Berryman, via Rutgers University - Newark