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April 25, 2023Asbury Park Staff and Parents Challenge Administrators to Justify Hostile Culture–and Win!
Last Thursday evening the Asbury Park Board of Education held its monthly public school board meeting, previewed by the community when the agenda was released. Included to general shock, was a large group of staff members— an administrator, a principal, teachers, paraprofessionals, school nurses, school social workers, a drop-out prevention attendance officer— who would be subjected to “increment withholdings” or docks in pay: employees on the list don’t get their contractual annual raises based on poor performance. The agenda also listed a demotion of a custodian who happens to be an officer with the Asbury Park Education Association, as well as lay-offs of the Director of Student Services, a security manager, a special education coach, a Health and Social Services Coordinator, two librarians, a social studies teacher, an Elementary Instructional Coach, and the bilingual social worker who is part of a Child Study Team.
In reaction, Bradley Elementary School cafeteria was packed with community members, parents, administrators, teachers, family members of staff, and representatives of the teachers’ union, who filed to the microphone to share concerns about the current administration with their school board representatives.
And they won! At the end of the meeting all but two school board members voted to table the increment withholdings and demotions.
Here’s how it went down during the public comment portion of the meeting:
- Several staff members asked why employees were placed on the increment withholding list without any type of warning or corrective action plan. One staff member said that she was on this list but her evaluation score were well above the threshold of 2.65 that would warrant an increment withholding. A teacher/athletic coach of 19 years who is sometimes refer to as “Dad” by his students said he too was on this list and stressed how this punitive action only hurts the children of the school district. A speech therapist implored school board members to not approve the elimination of the bilingual social worker who had been with the district for 19 years while, simultaneously, Superintendent Rashawn Adams was telling them to add another new Child Study Team member to district payroll for a salary of over $92,000 per year
- A parent described how the social worker who was being eliminated helped her child in the past. She asked, “where the money is coming from?” when the district is “constantly” sending students out of district but can’t retain critical staff who work directly with the students.
- The Asbury Park Education Association secretary explained how the elimination of critical positions would hurt students and emphasized that no one on the withholding list had received prior notice. This shows, she said, Mr. Adams has “no respect for the staff.” She reminded board members that “our Executive team presented you with similar grievances last June 2022, all of which were settled this year before going to a costly arbitration hearing,” where the union was vindicated by experts. “You know better but, again, this insanity continues.”
- An Asbury Park Education Association officer, Mike Byers, who has been employed for over 20 years was demoted as the head custodian without explanation cried out, “I am humiliated and I will not be retaliated against by Dr. Adams.” He begged the board members to approve his demotion in fear of the continued retaliation from Mr. Adams.
Here is John Napolitani, president of the Asbury Park Education Association:
Albert Einstein said the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. This working environment is an absolute joke: it’s hostile, it is combative, and it is downright disrespectful. We can only assume that increment withholding was a corrupt act of disciplinary action. To be honest with you, it’s not going to be accepted. It’s retaliatory it’s arbitrary, and it’s egregious. The NJEA has a lot of money and I will not hesitate using all of my local association because of what’s going on in this school district.
- The Asbury Park Education Association treasurer stressed how losing the head of security could place the district in great danger and noted the many school shootings that had occurred in the U.S. this year. He reminded board members that the district currently employs a “district photographer,” Chanta Jackson, for over $100,000 a year.
- According to one observer, every time a speaker approached the microphone Mr. Adams “clenched his water bottle tightly.” At the end of the meeting he “stormed out of the school… His facial expressions reminded me of a fit of rage.”
- Also, staff members have yet to receive their annual evaluations, their Student Growth Objective scores, or their summative evaluative scores, which would be the justification for increment withholdings. The only thing these staff members have in common, we’re told, is because they made “Mr. Adam’s and Ms. Gibson’s hit list.” (Gibson is head of Human Resources).
Question: How do you get on Adams’ “hit list”?
Answer: Recent involvement in the teacher’s union, public disclosure of the hostile treatment of staff by administrators, or advocacy of children with disabilities.
“Either way,” said Napolitani, “this was a form of intimidation aimed at sabotaging the staff. It’s going to stop.”
18 Comments
Good Morning
Every time I posted a comment you disregarded it .Again Ms. Chanta Jackson is not a photographer. GET IT RIGHT! Put some respect on Dr. Adams’s name. Hamilton is nincompoop!!
I apologize, Kaline. I was told by a staff member Ms. Jackson was a photographer. I understand she is in. Communications.
Mr Adams name deserves no respect Ms Videau….. not surprised you would think it does.
Smith if that’s your real name!! Why would you think I would? HMM!!
Ms videau acutally no it’s not my real name but you do actually know me and I chose that because of bullying that happens from you and Mr Adams- which you showed right here in your unnecessary name calling about Sean Hamilton who was just trying to defend fellow staff members-
Also I believe another point he was making about a district photographer was that even “IF” the position involves a little more “communications” than that it doesn’t seem more necessary for a struggling district than media teachers or security director or other positions that are being affected. Especially ones that directly work with children-
Your statement about the need for money to pay people that are directly involved with students is accurate. someone in Communications is not needed in a district that is being squeezed financially
Madelyn you are right
Well J.Smith , stop being a coward and come out and face me. LET’S MAKE IT CLEAR DO NOT ASSOCIATE MY NAME WITH THE WORD BULLYING! ALWAYS CRYING WOLF! I SAID WHAT I SAID AND I STAND BY IT. FOR YOUR INFORMATION , you don’t know me ! You may work with me ,but you don’t know me. ACCOUNTABILITY!! SOME OF YOU NEED IT!!
Ok J.Smith I am not done with you yet! It is mind blowing that I cannot express my opinion. But it’s alright for you and Hamilton to do so. Hamilton was defending Mr. Jordan’s position and he is not even part of our union! Please elaborate on that one! Again, why is it the next day, he was bragging that he bashed Dr. Adams? If Hamilton’s intention was for the children ,he wouldn’t have done that. Now , I need to watch my back, because “ You” know me I FEEL ATTACKED!
Smith if that’s your real name!! Why would you think I would? HMM!!
Mr. Adams is a cancer draining the Asbury school district. The entire district needs to just walk out pull your kids out. His ego is more important that the education of the children of Asbury Park.
There are several districts seeking teachers. If things are so bad, then why don’t you go to another district. Things can’t be so bad if you choose to remain there and just whine.
Staff members are there because they are DEDICATED to the students and families of the district and have RELATIONSHIPS with them! they are not whining they are standing up for what is right in a place that they want to be Dr adams and his friends have come in recently and disrespected and humiliated respectable hardworking dedicated professionals that have been there for there entire careers. If they leave and go somewhere else he is just getting what he wants. They should Not have to do that- would you?
I Like that Laura! They will never leave! By typing my statement I knew I was going to receive backlash, but ask me if I care.. I stand by the truth not being fake during board meeting . While during school these people don’t do anything at all.
J. Smith,
I hope that you are not an ELA teacher. If the other teachers can’t write in Standard English, I can understand why the children are not learning.
Laura I’m actually not-and it’s not about me it’s about the treatment of the employees- Interesting that you turned the focus away from what the problem is – Dr Adams- I’ve been following what has been happening very closely since Dr Adams took over and it’s a disgrace
Oh J.Smith ,
Once I started I can’t stop. Just remember you came for me. I did not send for you. In
Contrary to your uninformed opinion, underperforming districts need communications the most. Do your research! Your negativity is hurting, not helping, everyone in the district and AP community. Now I am done!
Seems you have a short fuse- bullies usually do- I’m not here to waste time arguing with you I’m here to defend the caring people who are dedicated to the children and families of the district