Last week there was a letter in the Hoboken Reporter deriding the three Hoboken school board candidates running on the Kids First reform ticket, Theresa Minutillo, Carrie Gilliard and Bill Tobias. The writer described "the newcomers" as "reactionaries" for suggesting that many of the problems in our school system exist because of political interference, cronyism and corruption.
Judging from the well publicized goings-on at other venerable government institutions including the state's Schools Construction Corporation, now bankrupt, and the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, presently being overseen by a federal monitor, I think we would all be better off if these "reactionaries" are elected to our school board. That would give people from without the system a chance to determine if in fact political interference, cronyism and corruption are part of the problem in Hoboken's public schools.
If it turns out to be true, these reformers can effectively help clean up the mess. But if as the writer suggests no such problems exist, these "newcomers" can quickly move on to reinvigorating the Hoboken schools with new ideas and fresh approaches, putting kids first. After all, that is why these reformers are running.
On April 18 my votes go to Theresa, Carrie and Bill. I hope yours do also.
Sincerely,
James D. Vance
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