Return Of Local School Control In Newark: ‘Virtual Town Hall’

NEWARK, NJ — Want to keep updated on the return of local control in Newark’s schools, but don’t have time to make it down to city hall? Mayor Ras Baraka and municipal officials will hold a “virtual town hall” on Facebook Live to discuss the subject on Wednesday, Dec. 6 at 7 p.m.

Last September, the New Jersey Board of Education voted to return control to the locally-elected Newark school board, a decision that local officials and school administrators applauded as a new chapter in the city's history.

After taking over control of the district in 1995 due to allegations of severe mismanagement, the state had controlled several 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.

• See related article: Newark Regains Control Of Schools After 22-Year State Takeover

Following the September decision, Newark school administrators released the following statement about the next steps in the process:

“In the coming months, a transition plan will be finalized by the New Jersey Department of Education and presented to the Newark School Advisory Board. The details that are outlined in the transition plan will determine the timeline for the return of responsibilities back to the Newark School Board. The transition plan will also outline other actions that must be taken, such as an eventual city-wide vote to determine if Newark will continue to have an elected school board or a school board appointed by the mayor."

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