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Dec 19

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THE SHAME OF NPS- LET THE CHILDREN GO HUNGRY

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Community

by admin

December 19, 2011

THE SHAME OF NPS

Superintendent’s Directive to NPS Principals

Cruel, Inhumane, and Illegal

 

If parents don’t have money in the pay lunch account effective November 28, 2011, don’t feed the children.  Directive to NPS Principals from the Superintendent.

 

What world is this administration operating within?

 

Our children must eat, and yes, the primary responsibility for feeding children lies with parents/guardians. BUT, in this economy, and for those children who are without strong parental/adult leadership at home, what happens to them.

 

How can anyone teach hungry children?  How can the schools maintain control if children are hungry?  How can hungry children pay attention, engage in learning?

 

What is the Board’s position on this?  I don’t believe the Board thinks this is a innovative idea — not to feed children. 

 

Suggestions

 

(1)        Perhaps, the NPS administration can release money from the 60% of the schools’ budgets that it is currently withholding for next year’s anticipated budget shortage NOW to feed our children.  What is the purpose of withholding money for an anticipated ‘crisis’ next year when children are dying NOW?  Somebody didn’t pass Logic and Ethics 101!!

 

(2)        Rework the charter school leasing contract.  Instead of the charter schools paying 1% of the market value of the lease, renegotiate the contracts to have them pay their full share – 100% of the market leasing value and feed the children with these extra dollars. 

 

(3)        Perhaps, we can eliminate some of the administrative and consultant positions and for certain, we will find enough money to feed our children.  Demand a forensic audit NOW and obtain all records through OPRA pertaining to the hiring of consultants and administrative positions at 2 Cedar Street. 

 

(4)       Volunteer an humanitarian superintndent/administrative salary pay cut to share the pain of hungry children.  I’m sure this group eats every each and every day.

 

(5)        Have NPS approach the Mayor for monies from FACEBOOK, the Charter School Fund, Newark Leadership, Prudential, and any and all other foundations to feed our children.

 

(6)        Enter a partnership with the Hillside Foodbank , the Newark Clergy, and others to determine if they can supplement the childrens’ needs during this period of crisis.  NPS should have data on patterns to determine when money is low/non-existent in student accounts, what schools, what grades, etc.

 

(7)        Have a series of community meetings and let the Community help feeds its children.

 

What is absolutely insufferable is to direct principals, some whom have a heart and live in the neighborhood, and tell them not to feed children who are in their buildings all day.
If indeed principals have true autonomy, these are the types of decisions that should be made with the parents in their buildings and not issued as a directive from DOWNTOWN.
If this is the vision for our children, perhaps, we need to do something different…..
Feeding children is not an option!
SHAME ON NPS and SHAME ON US AS
A COMMUNITY IF WE LET IT HAPPEN!
P.S. Superintendent, please advise the first Community Meeting  between now and December 7, 2011.

Wilhelmina

 

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