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May 10, 2023It’s Teacher Appreciation Week But Newark Teachers Aren’t Feeling It
What’s going to happen in Newark Public Schools, given that two days intended for snow cancellations weren’t used because we didn’t get snow?
It depends upon whom you ask: Newark officials or Newark Teachers Union president John Abeigon.
The district’s calendar lists the final day of school as June 23d. With no snow days keeping students home this past winter, that’s a total of 182 days for the 2022-2023 school year. New Jersey statute says districts are required to be open a minimum 180 days (half days count as long as students have four hours of instructional time) or they could lose state aid. There’s no ban on longer school calendars but that’s just not done; most snow-free districts are extending the Memorial Day weekend or ending the school year a few days early.
It’s unclear what is happening in Newark.
Tapinto dove in: “In an email, school district spokesperson Nancy Deering said the last day of school remains June 23. TAPinto Newark’s requests seeking an answer on the unused snow days issue were not returned on Friday.”
Abeigon says at the beginning of the year Superintendent Roger Leon promised staff that if snow days weren’t used, they’d get the days back. He even has it on tape:
‘If, in fact, we do not have any weather inclement reasons to close school, we will actually close schools on the 180th day — June 21 — which means the 22nd you don’t have to be at work. Enjoy your vacation, the 23rd as well,’ León is heard saying in the speech he delivered at the start of the school year.
When Abeigon reached out to the Central Office, he got nothing in reply. He also sent an email to the Newark Board of Education, writing, “Some staff, students and parents have made summer arrangements for travel on June 22nd or 23rd relying on the promise delivered at the convocation. What a sad predicament the district finds itself in during Teacher Appreciation Week.”
It’s unclear who will win this game of chicken.
1 Comment
Colleagues,
Thank you for informing us of the emails you have been receiving. Superintendent Leon has been sending emails (see below) to staff and CC’ing their principals if they reached out to the City Council, Legislators, or School Board inquiring about his promise to change the last day of school if we didn’t have any closings because of inclement weather.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MNDr0UhegkQ
We sent notice to the Reps about the many inaccuracies in this letter, but we wanted to address the entire membership directly about the most important issue being raised here. Always remember that NTU members are protected by the law and contract. This action that was taken by the Superintendent is textbook harassment and intimidation. If you or any of your colleagues received an email like this, send it to us immediately.
We understand that things like this can be intimidating, and it becomes very easy to just go along with the status quo to prevent further discomfort. I suspect many of you might be afraid of sending us your letters. But, unfortunately, change rarely comes without some discomfort, and ignoring harassment and bullying does not make it go away. It just emboldens the bully to go further. The more people who stand up against injustice, the harder it is for management to retaliate. Never forget that.
Good afternoon.
This district does not have “snow days” like other school districts. This is not a new reality for our staff in Newark, but a fact that has been true more than a decade. Since the start of this school year, it has become increasingly clear that maximizing instructional time for all of our students must be our highest priority. Two extra days off would detract from our ability to do so. As I have repeatedly addressed with your union leadership, the last day of school will be June 23, 2023.
-Mr. Leon
Superintendent